Cave spawner in harems: the male spawns with several females, sometimes at once. Each female guards eggs and larvae aggressively, attaching the young to the cave roof and even chewing them free of the egg case. Very soft, acidic water is generally needed.
Keep one male with 2-4 females; each female claims a cave, pot or coconut shell.
A 30 L tank with a sponge or gentle filter, fine sand, many small caves, terracotta pots and leaf litter, with soft, slightly acidic water.
Soft, slightly acidic water, warmer temperatures, frequent water changes and live or frozen foods.
20-50 eggs
The female guards the wrigglers and then the free-swimming fry; feed microworms and newly hatched brine shrimp from day 4-5.
One breeding tank for the sunset dwarf cichlid, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 27–30 °C · pH 4.5–5.8 · soft water · sand bottom
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 5 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 sunset dwarf cichlid in numbers.
In total: 4 tanks, about 180 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.
Males are bigger with more vivid patterning; females are smaller but still have a blue-spotted tail fin.
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.