Luwino Reef Zebra Chilumba

First topic message reminder :

So here's my dilemma...

I had 9 very nice Luwino Reef Zebra Chilumba. I took the sub-dominant male and a female with a crooked spine out of the main tank and left the dominant male and 6 females in a 75 gallon tank by themselves to get down. It's been two months and I have had no luck. I feed cichlid pellets, frozen bloodworms, and frozen spirullina brine shrimp. The pH is about 7.6 and the water is naturally hard here. I keep up with the water changes and the fish seem to be happy. I can't seem to understand why they don't want to breed for me.

Any suggestions?

they could not have reached the breeding age yet or the water temp isnt just right have you googled them to read about there breeding habbits and what gets them going

Yeah. I got it down and perfect. I think Fern or you may be right. It may be hiding spots or age. I would tend to lean on age, but I've had them for about 5-6 months and they were at least 2 months old when I got them, so they are nearing a year old.

its all in size not age just be patient i know its hard

You tell me this. Normally I'm the one giving advice! lol

Another question. These are a Metraclima African Cichlid. Can they be mixed with another type of African that will not cross breed to give the tank some more action? Or is 7 adult fish enough in a 75?

Peacocks

Anything else?

You can pretty much look at either Tangs or Vic fish, but if you want Malawans completelly avoid any Pseudotropheos, Metriaclimas, Labeotropheous, Cynotilapia, basicaly most of your rock dwellin mbunas. Those are excellent specimens you have there keep that line clean.

So Haps, Vics, and Peacocks?

What is their aggression level?

They don't seem to be super aggressive. No torn fins, no male fighting, just some good chasing every once and a while.

Sounds like haplachromis ruby green would be a good match then. They are a very stunning fish especially when the dom male is fully colored! They are fairly mild mannered with mostly just a good chase now and then unless there is a contestant for the dominant in the tank, then they can get nasty. And they breed quite young!

do you have heater in ?

Now watching them I see that my Dominant Male seems to want to nip at the others. I have no idea what he thinks he is guarding, but he is definitely more aggressive than he has been in a while. Still not really doing any damage, just shooing away. And I like ruby greens. That would be awesome. What about some kyoga flamebacks?

Two heaters actually. They are at 78-80.

try 82 thats work for me some times good luck

If that does not fix it, you may want to consider removing some of that wood out of the tank, see your ph from the tap might be perfect but the wood could be making the water chemistry change enough to make the fish feel a little weird, but only make changes one at the time after ample amount of time with the temp going up, if you do more than one thing at the same time and they spawn you wont know what triggered the spawn, good luck. ps, I would like to aquire some of your fry when you get there.

Not sure on flamebacks, never had them. But I do have a nice clean colony of ruby greens!

Fry for everyone when I get some! lol

I know you can do it !!!

I'm hoping!

Never had that kind of fish but... i read about it and they need a pH of 7.8 - 8.0

Males claim a cave among the rocks, which is fiercely guarded against intruders. Spawning takes place within this cave, in seclusion. Brooding females take cover among holes in the rocks.
Temperature 78 - 82 F
PH 7.8 - 8.6
These africans are not easy to breed be patience is the key

Temp and PH is perfect. My alpha male is guarding like crazy, but he's always been like that. I think I need more caves.

Stop worrying about it so much, as soon as you stop looking for holding females you will find some It has worked like that with all my fish I get young, I fret and worry and want them to breed and as soon as I stop tinkering around trying to get them to breed that's when it happens!

Good varied diet, good temp, clean water, decent set up.... that's all it takes other than time.

I had some info for you just a week AGO, i hope you understand why the AGO, remember when I adviced you last week not to make more than one change at a time in your case last week it was a temp issue, when I meat give them time I meant at least 3 weeks ok I did not adviced you to wait at least 3 wks but, Yes 3 weeks you have to be patient in this hobbie, unless you would want to come and work for me repairing Air conditioners and when you don't get it in 5 hours I start harpping you why its not done yet, I was being nice I can solve the issue in 30 minutes, but see, and I dont mean any desrespect, fish are fish and all we can do is give them the right or what we think are the best parameters for their requirements, like fern said stop looking at them and just feed them every day and I have faith they will do their thing, remember I was the first one in line for fry, I have faith in you and your fish, your gona get there dont worry about when, just let it happen and enjoy the ride, its only going to happen once for the first time dont miss it.