is my female saulosi holding eggs?

[axiom]

Just checked on my fish and I think one of my females might be holding. There's this bulge under her mouth and I've read that can be a sign. I'm still learning about cichlids, but I did see a female and the dominant male swimming in circles a few days ago - looked like they were getting ready to breed.

I've got some pics, but they're not great since she won't stop moving.

If someone can confirm she's holding, I'll start looking into what I need to do next.

[waveborn]

The buccal cavity does appear full in those pictures, so I'd say yes, she's holding. Congrats are in order.

One thing to look out for is whether she's eating at all - if not, that's a pretty strong indication she's holding.

It's worth noting many cichlids don't hold full term the first time around, but others do, so we'll just have to wait and see how this plays out.

[axiom]

I'll take a closer look tomorrow during the next feed, the pictures really don't do it justice - the bulge is way more noticeable in person. What's my next step here? This definitely wasn't on my radar just yet, not part of the plan, at least not this soon anyway.

[waveborn]

Just checked on my fish and I think one of my females might be holding. There's this bulge under her mouth and I've read that can be a sign. I'm still learning about cichlids, but I did see a female and the dominant male swimming in circles a few days ago - looked like they were getting ready to breed.

I've got some pics, but they're not great since she won't stop moving.

If someone can confirm she's holding, I'll start looking into what I need to do next.

You can let her release them naturally in 2-3 weeks, some might make it on their own. No big deal, they'll definitely spawn again.

If you want to keep them all, a 10-gallon fry tank with a simple sponge filter would be enough to start. No need to pull her right away. I can give you more details if you decide to keep them, like when to pull the mom or strip her, and feeding schedules.

By the way, they're giving you a huge compliment - your tank is perfect for them and they feel comfortable enough to breed.

[sapphire8]

Just checked on my fish and I think one of my females might be holding. There's this bulge under her mouth and I've read that can be a sign. I'm still learning about cichlids, but I did see a female and the dominant male swimming in circles a few days ago - looked like they were getting ready to breed.

I've got some pics, but they're not great since she won't stop moving.

If someone can confirm she's holding, I'll start looking into what I need to do next.

I'd just observe her for now, no need to intervene. Chances are, only a couple might make it in a community tank anyway. It's actually quite fascinating to watch her spit them out and then round them up again. If you're serious about keeping them, consider separating her to a different tank.

[axiom]

I'll leave her be for now, wasn't expecting them to breed this soon. I've got all the equipment from my discus breeding days, but I used smaller tanks, 30L ones, which is roughly 6 gallons. Not sure if that'll be enough for these little ones, might need to get a new tank unless someone says the smaller ones will work.

[waveborn]

Just checked on my fish and I think one of my females might be holding. There's this bulge under her mouth and I've read that can be a sign. I'm still learning about cichlids, but I did see a female and the dominant male swimming in circles a few days ago - looked like they were getting ready to breed.

I've got some pics, but they're not great since she won't stop moving.

If someone can confirm she's holding, I'll start looking into what I need to do next.

I think 6G is a bit on the small side, personally, but it could work for a few weeks if you stay on top of water changes and keep it clean. Wouldn't be suitable for long-term growth, though. My Acei fry are all over the place and super active by 3 weeks. Just make sure the mom isn't getting hassled too much - with your male to female ratios, I'm sure that won't be an issue, if I recall your previous posts correctly.

[axiom]

Just checked on my fish and I think one of my females might be holding. There's this bulge under her mouth and I've read that can be a sign. I'm still learning about cichlids, but I did see a female and the dominant male swimming in circles a few days ago - looked like they were getting ready to breed.

I've got some pics, but they're not great since she won't stop moving.

If someone can confirm she's holding, I'll start looking into what I need to do next.

She's the one doing the chasing, so I think she's good for now. I'll keep an eye on it though. As for the ratio, I'm still not entirely sure - I've got 14 in there at the moment and 8 more on the way. Once I get a better idea of the numbers, I'll thin out the males.

I used to breed discus in those tanks with 35+ fry and never had any issues, but I think it's worth getting a bigger tank for these guys. I'm looking for a cheap 90L tank - I've already got all the other equipment I need.

[waveborn]

Just checked on my fish and I think one of my females might be holding. There's this bulge under her mouth and I've read that can be a sign. I'm still learning about cichlids, but I did see a female and the dominant male swimming in circles a few days ago - looked like they were getting ready to breed.

I've got some pics, but they're not great since she won't stop moving.

If someone can confirm she's holding, I'll start looking into what I need to do next.

I'm glad to hear she's doing the chasing, that's a good sign. Keep a close eye on her, though. As for your ratio, don't worry too much about it, you'll get a better idea once you've got all the new fish settled in. I think you'll be okay, you seem to know what you're doing.

Those 30L tanks might work for a bit, but like I said, I think they're a bit small. You've had success with them in the past, but these cichlids can get pretty active. If you can get a 90L tank for cheap, that'd be the way to go. Just make sure you're keeping up with the water changes and keeping everything clean.

[axiom]

She probably won't be eating for a bit then?