Re: A. cacatoides spawning

[BigJohnW@webtv.net (John Wubbolt)]

It's been my experiece that the eggs take a few days to hatch and become
wigglers.   Once they become wigglers it takes about 3 to 4 days before
they turn from bright red little wigglers and become free swimming.
Once the they hatch and become wigglers the female will be very diligent
about guarding them.   If the male starts hanging out too close to the
fry the female will chase him away or allow him to take turns guarding
the fry while she goes out and eat.   I've had pairs where the male was
a good parent and helped in raising the fry and I've also had males that
just liked to chomp down on the fry.   The best thing I can tell you is
to observe the males behavior.  If he doesn't eat the fry you're in
luck.   But  if he does you'll have to remove him or wait until the next
spawn and then remove him.  The females are always good moms.   I've
never had a problem with any female eating her fry.   I raise both
Double Reds and the Wild blue form and I have to remove the dads from
the tank while the females guards her clutch of fry.   Once the fry are
about 1 month old and eating everything you offer them, they should be
about alittle bigger than a 1/4 inch and looking like little cichlids.
It's at this time that I set a new tank and place the male and female in
it together so they can spawn again.   Good luck.   It's always fun
watching them spawn.   


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