Anyone have experience with this?

I have read most of the basics... mimic their environment... acidic water around 5.0-7.0, warm 80-85, bunches of plants, natural borders, lots of hiding places, very clean water... great filtration with high bioload.. flat rocks for eggs.

How would I get the ph this low, aside from the recommended peat moss? already have lots of driftwood in there.

Now it is also recommended not to keep these fish alone, but to use dither fish.. braver fish that do their own thing... exactly what type of fish would be best for this situation?

I've read that without seeing dither fish, rams and other fish won't feel safe enough to come out and act naturally and their activity could be surpressed. So what kind of fish would be best?

Also read two pairs in a 40 breeder, one pair in a 20 long or so...

I have 4 pairs... do I really need to give them that much room? Do you think it would be too much to have the 4 piars in a 40 breeder with lots of plants, caves, hiding, borders, etc.?

Would it be better to seperate them into 2 groups of 2 pairs in 2 seperate 20 longs?

all 4 pairs in a 75g?

I don't remember reading if it is best to leave the fry to be raised with the parents, and if that would cause problems with other adults/pairs in the tank...

Just trying to get this right to do the best possible!

Ok by no means an expert here...but was also looking into rams
Dither fish heard fast movers giant danios that stay near the top of the tank are good.

Pairs should be by themselves with dithers...competion for breeding space could make them press other breeding pairs


I have read several articles that recomend having a night light on the tank to help parents protect fish after lights go out (small battery powered led light)

Kent makes a buffer drops and holds ph about 6.2 (check with your breeder if you can, some rams have been aclimated to breeding in 7.0 ph water). Also just read an article in TFH about using leaves (the kind you rake) to lower pH and mimic SA cichlids natural environment.

They preferr caves flowerpot on its side for breeding.

Just what i have read over the last few weeks

Thanks, good stuff, and it seems that giant danios would make good dither fish BUT would they mess with and try to eat eggs and fry?

I don't know if the rams would be able to defend well or quick enough... giant danios are FAST!

Use that guppy trio you have, those cherry barbs would also work.... same with those tiger barbs. You have quite a few fish that would work well as dithers so you really dont need to go out and buy some

don't think any of those fish would come down to eat the eggs or fry?

plus I have only one 40g breeder... either rams or corys...

they might try but rams are excellent parents usually...thats why they use caves (flowerpot) so they only have to protect one side.

the lower ph will help by tons of plants and the rotting of leaves thats why my 55 is at 6.o ph, of course once the leaves are starting to be a little disgusting take them out. plenty of wood!!! my 100 gallon has 2 pieces of wood but my ph is 7.6, so im going to add another piece of wood to it, but this time im going to bake it and throw it in the dish washer to get it wet and a bit soaked lol then throw it in the 100 gallon.

I had reasonably good success with the SA Dwarf Cichlids using 1 pair or trio per 10 gallon tank......The parents were not distracted having to defend territory.....The parents or fry were easier to remove if you wanted to separate them so the fry could grow out and the parents would then be inclined to breed again.

I have had various SA dwarf cichlids breed in mixed aquariums, but getting any number of fry to survive was an iffy thing........This included the Rams and other types of apistogramma

Dano is right. Dwarfs are much better to breed in smaller tanks. Easier to lower pH and easier to move parents to keep fry alive. Also easier to do small water changes. Good luck!

i've read that one should raise a few youngsters and let them pair off naturally for best results.

If I just throw random pairs in 10g's, will it be hit or miss, or will they all eventually breed?

and should I still use dither fish in the 10g setup?

It is best to let them pir off by themselves...keep youngsters together for a while till one pairs off then put them into a 10 gal tank rinse repeat

If you think they are paired and not sure I can swing by and watch them and let you know.