Cichlid Breeding

Cichlid breeding involves selecting healthy adult fish, often a male and female, to spawn in controlled environments. The female typically lays eggs on a flat surface or substrate, and the male fertilizes them externally. Some cichlids are mouthbrooders, carrying eggs and fry in their mouths for protection. Breeders maintain optimal water conditions, stable temperatures, and proper diet to encourage breeding. After hatching, fry are usually fed specialized foods, and parents may guard or care for them until they are slightly larger. Successful breeding requires understanding specific species behaviors and providing suitable habitat conditions.