Baby Malawi Cichlids?

Question

I have malawi cichlids and noticed 2 babies swimming in and out of the rocks, will these get eaten?

p.s

I thought it was hard to breed them?

Answer 1

Not hard if you have the right type of tank and parameters.  Some are more difficult then others, but pretty much if you have a healthy male and female, it's really not that hard to breed them.  Most Mbuna are mouth brooders.

Yes, your fry are at risk of being eaten.  Usually a brood from an experienced mother, and depending on species could be anywhere from 20 or 30 to maybe even 100.  As mothers age, they tend to be able to deliver larger broods.

If you only see 2 either there are a group more hiding somewhere in the rocks and caves a Malawi tank should have, OR the males already got to them.  Males would be the threat.  Females are very low threat to the fry and this only makes sense since they carry the brood in their mouth for three weeks and take the released brood back in their mouth for protection if needed.

You're best bet, though you cannot do it now, is as soon as you know a female is holding a brood, to put her in a seperate tank if you want higher numbers of fry to survive.  In this case, I'd reccomend you do a water change, and when doing it, take all the decor out of the tank and net the fry as soon as you can, put them in their own tank.  Otherwise, they are going to be at risk of being eaten by every male in that tank.

What species do you have?

HOLY COW!!! Lolo, have you EVER bred African cichlids before?  Do you know how compromised information on wiki is?  Boy boy boy.

Steph,

My advice then would be for this particular brood, if you can't catch them, you  have to let them take their chances.  It's very possible some will find  a safe spot in the tank and grow up to become adults.

Watch the females mouths, and you'll see a pronounced pouch in her mouth throat area, and if the female is not eating food, she's holding a brood.  Put holding females in their own tanks before they spit the fry out.  Incubation is anywhere from 17-22 days.  Take them out of the main tank at about 7-10 days.  Make sure you leave the females with the fry in that tank for about 2 weeks so the female can recover from holding that brood.

Answer 2

http://www.aquariumfish.net/information/...

this is a good information site bout your question hope it helps u out and good luck  

Answer 3

They won't get eaten. Cichlid parents are known for their loving care of their young.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cichlids#Re...

(about 1/4 of the way down the page)