Convincing Jewel cichlids to spawn again

I've got three jewel cichlids, two of which I've had nearly a year and are
in the rather big and ugly phase of life, one who's a bit smaller and newer
that I got back in the winter. The first two have spawned three times, but
the only one with surviving fry was last october, they did it twice more a
couple times apart but the eggs/fry must have been eaten, and they haven't
spawned since. Are they past breeding age? Are they too used to each
other? Is there anything I can do to revive the romance between the two of
them, or one of them and the third? They don't do much anymore other than
lurk in corners... :-( Better food? Temperature change? Vacation?

Arrhae wrote in message
...
I've got three jewel cichlids, two of which I've had nearly a year and are
in the rather big and ugly phase of life, one who's a bit smaller and
newer
that I got back in the winter. The first two have spawned three times,
but
the only one with surviving fry was last october, they did it twice more a
couple times apart but the eggs/fry must have been eaten, and they haven't
spawned since. Are they past breeding age? Are they too used to each
other? Is there anything I can do to revive the romance between the two
of
them, or one of them and the third? They don't do much anymore other than
lurk in corners... :-( Better food? Temperature change? Vacation?


Your jewels are not too old to spawn. Perhaps a separation of the proven
breeders, with the best foods will restore the urge. Check reference
material to ensure your water and tank parameters are adequate.

Jim

Just to add to Jim,

I find with my Jewels the spawning happens at erratic intervals. But usually
when I do a large water change with aged water it sparks them off. I don't
have a special diet for them, they do just fine on normal flakes & pellets.
Just keep your water quality good. Oh and also they seem to like a strong
current in the tank. HTH

Regards
Cameron

On 8/5/03 3:54 AM, in article , "Cam"
wrote:

I find with my Jewels the spawning happens at erratic intervals. But usually
when I do a large water change with aged water it sparks them off. I don't
have a special diet for them, they do just fine on normal flakes & pellets.
Just keep your water quality good. Oh and also they seem to like a strong
current in the tank. HTH

I did a large water change yesterday and fed them some frozen brine shrimp
last night...today one of the fish was looking a little more reddish than
normal and was lip fighting with another...either my flowerpot to cichlid
ratio is insufficient, or just *maybe* there was some chemistry there, at
least a little?

On 8/5/03 11:23 PM, in article , "Arrhae"
wrote:

I find with my Jewels the spawning happens at erratic intervals. But usually
when I do a large water change with aged water it sparks them off. I don't
have a special diet for them, they do just fine on normal flakes & pellets.
Just keep your water quality good. Oh and also they seem to like a strong
current in the tank. HTH

I did a large water change yesterday and fed them some frozen brine shrimp
last night...today one of the fish was looking a little more reddish than
normal and was lip fighting with another...either my flowerpot to cichlid
ratio is insufficient, or just *maybe* there was some chemistry there, at
least a little?


I don't think anything good came of it, now one's dead, one's claimed the
flowerpot, and the other's in the opposite corner.