Luwino Reef Zebra Chilumba

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?

how many hiding places are there it might not be enough
whats the temp in the tank
also some of my fish are hard to get them to start but what i found worked for me is a 50% water change or more and also alittle salt seems to do it for me

Try cold water changes. 50% every 1-2 weeks for the next few months. The change in water ( temp and water change) seem to trigger for me.

The cooler water simulates the rainy season which is when they spawn in nature.

K. I always add warmer water on water changes and I generally do about a 35 percent change. Regular temp is 80 degrees. I normally get fish to breed within a week or two of when I try. I've been trying with these guys for about 2 months. I'll try the cooler water and go from there. I know that warmer water works for my plecos and cories, so we'll try this.

Here are some pics of the set-up they are in currently. Let me know what you guys think:

























Enjoy!

More rocks and caves and if you still have that sub dom male add him back in. Sometimes competition makes them get it in gear.


Ya that tank is entirely too open for breeding, dont stack much or you will hate yourself later but you need many more caves and hidey holes in there

Sub-dom male is still around. More caves it shall be then.

competition and cover does a bunch to get them breeding.

I just don't have a lot of caves, so I'm going to have to request some for Christmas... lol!

Go rock hunting, they are cichlids so you can pretty much use any old rock you find, alkaline or neutral they will like it.

I like the hollow rocks though because they are light. I hate using natural rocks because they are so heavy and can easily cause cracks.

you don't have to stack much, they dont have to be big, just well placed

I added two more caves and moved some stuff around and put the sub-dominant male back in the tank. I also did a 25% water change with cold water. It seems to have really created a lot of action. Hopefully this will do the trick!

action is good!!

I feel like a breeding noob. I've had lots of fish breed and many different types. These have been the most stubborn.

it doesn't matter how long or how many fish you have breed each new pair or batch seems to do something different.

Well I'm several weeks in now and still no action. Not sure what else to do.

You could always show them how

Haha...

patience my lil friend patience

It's hard to be patient when they haven't even started...

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