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How to Breed Electric Yellow Cichlids

With its vibrant golden hues, the Electric Yellow Cichlid (Labidochromis caeruleus) is a popular aquarium species. Native to Lake Malawi in Africa, the Electric Yellow is categorized as a Mbuna Cichlid. Unusual for its species, the Electric Yellow has a mild temperament and generally gets along with its own kind. However, it's unwise to keep too many adult males together. This omnivorous cichlid is easy to breed and not too fussy about what it's fed in an aquarium.

Things You'll Need

Breeding tank
Maternity tank
Breeding trap

Instructions

- 1
  Set up a breeding tank of at least 55 gallons in size and place a dominant adult male in the tank. Although cichlids will happily breed in the main aquarium, a breeding tank gives you more control over the process and results in less disruption to the other fish. A dominant adult male is easy to identify -- its yellow coloration is more vivid than other males and its black anal and ventral fins will stand out starkly against its body. A male is larger than a female of the same age.
- 2
  Place at least two females with the male so you maximize the number of fry, and ensure the area is well lit. A background is useful as it will calm the fish. The water temperature should be between 72 and 83 F, although breeding behavior is stimulated by warmer water.
- 3
  Ensure you have rocks, crevices and other hiding places in the breeding tank, making it easier for the male to entice the female to his site. When she's ready to mate, the female will release her eggs and the male will fertilize them. The female takes up the eggs in her mouth, known as mouthbrooding. Fertilization of all the eggs is ensured by the male using the "egg spot" on his anal fin to trick the female into thinking they're more eggs. As she goes to gather them, he releases sperm into her mouth to ensure the eggs are fertilized.
- 4
  Remove the female (or females) to a well-planted maternity tank. Electric Yellow females are renowned for being outstanding mothers and will refuse to eat for about 21 days while mouthbrooding. To protect her from becoming too weak -- and to prevent her from eating the fry -- ''strip'' the female of the fry after about 18 days. This entails gently holding her face in the water of the tank temporarily prepared for the fry, and slowly squeezing her mouth until she releases the fry. Feed the female within an hour.
- 5
  Place the fry in a breeding trap in the main tank, and feed them baby brine shrimp for at least two months. After this, you can release them into the tank, where they will eat a range of commercial fish flakes and cichlid pellets. However, don't feed the fry too much protein as they can succumb to bloat, a disease to which cichlids are particularly vulnerable.

Animals & Science