Making African Cichlids happy to breed?

I have a male Melanochromis johannI and 4 other kinds of african cichlids in a 15 gallon tank. I read somewhere that the female Melanochromis johannI are bright yellow and 2 of my cichlids are yellow (picture included). I was just wondering if I should take one ore two of my cichlids out in order for the tank to be happy and I was wondering how to breed african cichlids. I know absolutelyy nothing on these fish because I just bought them from a local pet store that was getting turned over to a new owner so the stock was all be sold. If anyone has any information on the breeding of these fish or just their general well being I would be grateful to hear it.

Thanks for your help,
Cichlids

 

You might want to give them a bigger tank so they can claim their own territories. When we get tehm positively I.D.'d then we can figure out teh breeding particulars Hope that helps
Carol

 

Yes that is what they both look like I have one of the blue ones and 2 of the yellow ones along with a grey looking thing and a tiny looking one in this 15 gallon tank. What ones should I take out and is it possible to breed any of my fish? How do you tell if the yellow ones are male or female? Illl include pictures of my other 2 fish in a separate post. Thanks for your help and hope to hear from you soon!!!

Thanks, Cichlids

 

Butterfly is correct in saying that you need a bigger tank for your four cichlids. I'm in the midst of setting up a 20H that I had, and from everything I've read and through this forum and speaking to others, I couldn't hold more than 2 of the fish you currently have, and they would not be happy when full grown. Crowding leads to aggression and death. Upgrade soon and enjoy!

 

Thanks for the help Dahly. As a said before I do have a 10G tank that I am not currently using so would putting 2 in that solve my space porblem? And if anyone knows anything on there behaviour and whether or not they are a tI'm id fish that would also be a lot of help. And also I was wondering about the breeding of the electric yellows ones and the blue one.

Thanks again,
Cichlids

 

I do want a Cichlid tank with labs and johnnies et al, but will wait until I have at least a 55 gallon. My local aquarium society has many tanksand stands, of various sizes, at great prices. When I get ready to add another, I will buy my tank and stand through the local society. I'd recommend to anyone to check to see what's going on in your area. Fish, plants and equipment are readily available at low prices. So many hobbiests have equipment they no longer use and are willing to trade and/or sell. Gunnie and Butterfly steered me in this direction and I am very grateful for their advise. Enjoy!

 

Dino is our Cichlid man (That's mainly what he's going to raise in the new fish house) and he can answer your questions about breeding easier than I can.
  He can also give you an idea what would be a good idea to keep and with what
He's been busy being Santa or he would have picked this up already.
Carol

 

ok well I'm off to buy a bigger tank for all my cichlids. What size of tank would hold all 4 of them?
And since I am moving them to a bigger tank then ill have a 15G and a 10G to stock with some other fish. Also my other 10G with white clouds is doing really good and my white clouds are looking reallly nice. I was also wanting to put more of them in there, at the moment there are only seven. Is there enough room? And if any one knows anything about breeding white clouds I would like to know about that as well. Any suggestions for nice 10 and 15 G setups would also be appreciated.

I guess that's about all for now.... I will show more pictures tommorow of my white clouds and my cichlids.

Thanks,
Cichlids

 

White clouds do really well in lower temperatures(65-75 degrees) I had 6 in a 20 G long unheated tank and they spawned for me this fall. White clouds love frozen blood worms and water changes, this will usually lead them to spawn
Seven in a ten gallon is quite enough, maybe a three corys for the bottom. Even that max's the bioload.
Without knowing what the other cichlids are it's hard to suggest a tank size but I would suggest at least 55G. with lots of hiding places and caves. Remember bigger is always better. hope that helps.
Carol

 

The two yellow fish shown are yellow labs.
These fish and most Rift Lake cichlids need lots of rocks as hiding areas.

The smallest tank I wouild put 4 Rift cichlids that get the size these do in, would be a 30 gallon long.
As for breeding, most Rifts need a ratio of 3 females to 1 male to spread the male's aggressiveness around.
Once that is achieved, you will be hard pressed to STOP them from breeding.

Dino

 

Thank you so much Dino! I was just wondering what my other 2 fish are, here's the pictures. Hope you can identify them .
I can't wait to start breeding them so fist I have to accomidate them with a bigger tank. Also I was wondering if you know how to tell if the yellow labs are male or female so I can get some more.

Thanks,
Cichlids

 

I think the males have brighter colours and something about the black on their fins can't remember

 

Thanks jman,
Cichlids