Help Breeding

[eretmodusking]

Hello,

So I had a group of 21 tropheus mpulungu and lost a lot due to stress and bloat. I am now left with 7 and they have been perfect in the tank for about 6 months. I vented them and it looked like 2 males and 5 females. They all look a little bit up besides the alpha male. I also have a moliro smaller then moops and one eretmodus. I put some aquarium salt in there. During water changes I do see some attempts of breeding but nothing yet. They are wild caught in a 75 with 2 canisters and one power head. Any suggestions or tips for breeding? Do I need more or should I let them do their thing? I see the alpha male hide in his spot then goes up to each fish to check up on them then he usually bites them or chases them.

[eretmodusking]

I have a decent amount of decor and rocks in the tank. Should I pack it out with rocks so it's harder for the alpha male to harass everyone else?

[renoguy]

I find it best to bore them to death. Once you have it setup the way you like it leave it alone.

[mikevxr]

You don't say how big/old your Tropheus are? I have had young starting show interest in breeding at about 2" but mine take about three go's to get it right. The temptation is to strip them or whip them out the tank first time you see them holding - the problem with young fish is that young males may not be fully fertile to do the deed and young females are equally inexperienced and may eat their eggs if disturbed initially. I leave mine to hold their first brood full term to let them get the expereince. I wouldn't get overly concerned they WILL breed as long as their is a male and female in the tank - problem is once they start they are like rabbits they won't stop and you can become overrun with fry

[eretmodusking]

Thanks! And they are fully grown, temp is at 83. I just added in more rocks but the alpha male still seems to pick on everyone. There is definitely a male and female in the tank. I was thinking about putting in another small group of trophs to distract the aggression. Thoughts?

[mikevxr]

Temp seems a bit high in my opinion, I run my tanks a big cooler 78-80. In a 300 litre tank I change between 30-40% of water each week, I run the water off 24 hours in advance and store beside the tank after adding tap water conditioner and Lake salts - I find when I change the water the combination of slightly cooler water and "new" water acts as a stimulant to breeding.
I also keep my ph around Ph8 - I have bred them in ph6.5 water but I get better results and colours when ph is higher.
Have you noticed any females with their egg tubes showing? Around 48 hours before females lay eggs you should notice their egg tube showing (looks like a small dimple protruding around this time the males start getting excited and start chasing her. I would condition your fish prior to spawning with several small feeds a day with a high quality spirulina based flake ( Sera flora or Tropical Super Spirulina or equivalent) along with vegetarian based pellet ( I use Northfin).
As to adding fish - my first group was 12 fish in a 300 litre tank on their own - as they matured there was 1 female and 11 males - she always spawned with the dominant male who also chased off any other males who approached her.

[mikevxr]

if adding another group be careful to avoid cross breeding - their are varieties that can be kept together but I wouldn't for example keep two types of Tropheus Moori together but would keep for example Tropheus Moori with Tropheus Duboisi or Another variety of Tropheus such as Brichardi ?
Just my own opinion for what it's worth.

[eretmodusking]

Thanks for all the information! I do half water changes every week and use stress coat along with baking soda and epsolm salt. Lately I've been using prime. I feed them omega one super veggie flakes. I haven't noticed any egg tubes, I wasent aware of that and thanks for that tip! I hoping the addition of more rocks will keep the aggression down. And I'm assuming the egg tube is where her eggs come out off so I will keep an eye out for that! Thanks again.

[mikevxr]

Your welcome - don't worry they WILL breed eventually.

[rare]

Just for learning, I think this is a great chat on a few subject in relationship with the OP question... You guys adding backing soda (alk) and epsom salt. (magnesium) Do you have probes to monitor your water parameters like Apex or Milwaukee to insure a well balance on the pH side/salinity. Any kits to test for magnesium?

What are you water reading before hand? And water reason afterwards. What is your target and why?

My thought is to keep it simple and let them adjust to the water I have so I'm not throwing their water off balance on every water change and stressing them out more than what they should... I do about 50% / 75% W/C once every week. I just wanted it the same or as close as possible every Water change. From water temps to pH.

Now, with that being said, I know that my pH is not the same. New water pH is at 8.4 give or take. After it gas off goes to a 7.4+-. This is just off the water testing kits I have. Both GH/KH are not high either and forgot where i stand of them until I buy the kit again.

What I might do...So, I will be purchasing another apex soon when i get a good deal. I did snooze on one for $400 that if new was $600 too $700. Also, invest on some white dolomite which is calcium magnesium carbonate. Either the sand version or small pebbles size rocks. This is just to keep things as close as possible every water change.