Open (substrate) brooder in harems: the male spawns with several females and defends the territory, while each female attaches about 200 eggs to a plant or stone and tends eggs and young herself.
Raise 6 juveniles together and let a pair form, then remove the rest or provide a very large tank.
A 60 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, flat stones, clay caves or flowerpots, and a sand bed.
Strong conditioning on frozen and live food plus a large water change with slightly warmer water.
About 200 eggs per clutch.
Both parents guard the brood; feed fry newly hatched brine shrimp and finely crushed flake.
One breeding tank for the spotted dwarf cichlid, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 23–27 °C · pH 5–6 · sand bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 12 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the spotted dwarf cichlid in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 300 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Sequential hermaphrodite: all young are females, and one dominant female turns into a male (at about 8 months to a year, or when no male is present). Males grow larger; sexually active females are easy to spot by their bright orange pelvic fins.
Typical for cave spawners
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
Eggs are laid inside the cave and guarded, usually by the male.
Eggs hatch in 3–7 days depending on the species and temperature.
Feed baby brine shrimp and crushed food. Plecos need wood and vegetables.
Fry grow on in their own tank.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
Give one cave per pair or female, plus a varied diet.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.