Red Forrest Jewels

[computerman]

I have two tanks, one I had is a the 120 gallon set up as a community tank, with red forrest jewels, convicts, several bristle nose cat fish, and 2 pairs of other varieties that I wouldnt have a clue what they are, several days a go, much to my delight, a pair of jewels laid a couple of hundred eggs and the male was busy doing his business!!! http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif the next day while I was at work, my wife called me to tell me that one of my convicts was eating the eggs, my wife tried in vain to keep the convicts away, but failed. I have noticed today 2 pair of jewels coloured up nicly and looking at the same nesting place, so I removed all but the cat fish out of the tank, appart from someone telling me I'm an idiot, can some one tell me how frequently they will breed, or have I go my hopes up after only a week?

This is the first and only forum I;ve every joined jo be gentle with me

Regards

Marc

[joz]

Don't fret Robbo,the Jewels will most likely have gotten into a breeding cycle.
Usually within 7 days you'll be back in business.

[computerman]

Have been ten days now, have put all the jewels back in just in case I broke up the pair, now now sign of any breeding!!!

Any tricks?

[joz]

Feed them regularily with live food,then after about a week do some 25-30% waters changes.
it usually sparks breeding.

[computerman]

Has been near a month now and strill nothing!!!

[computerman]

At last they are starting to color up again, fingers crossed

Regards

marc

[devil san]

i used to breed these and sell them a few years back, once you get the primiters right, they will breed like rabbits :biggrin:
i used to drop the temp in the tank by a few degrees for a few days , then bump it up so it was about 3 degrees over the original temp. its just tricking them into thinking its a season change, and starts them into their breeding cycle (meant to work with most chiclids, especially oscars)mine would lay a few hundred eggs and raise them till tehy were about 1cm , then would lay more eggs,
if its the first time they have bred its not unusual for the first lot of eggs to be discarded straight away ( hence the convicts getting a feed) just give it tme and you will have more babies than you know what to do with :wacko: you will know when they are really into it as the male will go almost blood red, and the female BRIGHT orange :biggrin: they are the most beautiful fish when breeding. just make sure your tank has plenty of hiding places for the babies once hatched, put a few plants in there for them.

hope this helps you :wink: