F1 Malawi Shell Dwellers - Maylandia livingstonii 'Nakantenga Island'

Hey Guys, I brought a F1 adult group of these malawi shell dwellers (Maylandia livingstonii 'Nakantenga Island') a few months back and have been trying to breed them since. I definitely have males and females and have seen all the behaviour I expected for breeding but am yet to get any of the females holding. They're lovely fish and although they seem grey in the pics they are a lovely powder blue with bright blue lips and stunning light blue strips throughout the tail. They have some really interesting behaviour. I can only find little snippets of information about them so i'm not quite sure how to encourage them to breed.

Sub-dominant Male (right)




Most Dominant Female


Less Dominant Female (left)


Smallest Unknown Sex - likely Female (right)


I'm keeping them like most other malawi cichlids in hard water and feeding them on spirulina pellets but they definitely have a taste for more meaty foods. I'm not sure how much protein to give them as I don't want them to get bloat.

Anyway, enjoy the pics,

Sam

Wow Sam those are just lovely, fingers crossed you get some fry

Isn't it just typical, right after I post about not having bred them yet they go and breed!

I returned home form work today to find the smallest fish (right hand fish in the last picture) holding. The only change to the tank/conditions is that I added a half coconut shell which I thought may imitate a shell? Who knows if this made any difference or whether it was just the right time. I'm hoping the other females will get the idea now.

I'm a little concerned that she is the smallest fish and will now not eat for about 16 days, as well as the fact that I'm eager to ensure the survival of this batch. I'm considering making an egg tumbler, do you think this is a step too far? If not I'd love some help to make one.

Sam

The man you need is Anthony, I know he has great sucess with the frontosa he had off me, I will mail him for you

I have heard back from Anthony, he is going to do a video on the egg tumbler for you, he makes them and they work wonders.

As for stripping a female of the eggs, I have only read up on it never actually done it personally, but anthony has

Thanks Star! That sounds great. I'm going to leave her to it for a while so the fry are more developed when I strip her, give them the best chance.

I've stripped females in the past so that shouldn't be too bad.

Sam

Ah thats half the battle I was tempted with my frontosa, but although I am ok holding fish I get terrified and the thought of stripping them I just couldnt do it

Well she's still holding one week on. I've been trying to see into her mouth as she breaths and can make out the orange yolk sacs of the fry.

I will probably look at stripping her some time early next week before she spits them out and they get eaten. I've got everything ready for the little guys and am hopeful I can raise them.

Sam

Brilliant looking forward to seeing what happens

Beautiful little fish!
Just out of curiosity, how do you strip a fish? o.O

The way I've done it in the past is to carefully catch the fish without stressing her out too much and then with wet hands you hold her in one hand whilst opening her mouth with the other. You can then dip her head into a tank of water and the babies are released. You have to do it until you get a couple of dunks where no fry come out as they can hold onto them for longer than you think.

Sam

sorry i ent done the vid yet as iv bin really busy, did ya still want me to make 1 or do ya want me t tell ya how to make them.

Im hoping this time I won't need it but I might next time. So there is no need to rush the video. It'd still be great to see.

Sam

ok, will do it when its quite hear an iv got 5 mins, will cost around £5 to make 1. or i can sell ya 1, lol

Hey Guys,

Haven't updated this thread in a while. The female held for 14 days and then i stripped her of the fry. She had 14 of which 13 (one jumped into the parents tank and was eaten) are still living and have just been moved to bigger accommodation. Here they are a week ago:



They've grown considerably since these pics were taken but I haven't been able to get any more pics.

I had to move them as the same female had been holding for the last 14 days and so I stripped her again tonight. She was carrying 53 fry!!!! A MASSIVE improvement on last time and I am throughly unprepared for this many.



I've now got to try and figure out how I am going to grow on so many! It's fair to say there may be a few juveniles to sell on in the future.

Sam

Oh wow Sam that is a brilliant second spawn!!!!!, do you have enough tanks to grow them all out!

Definately not, I've had to set up a temporary polybox 'tank' for the larger fry. Which were 13 but are now 14! I found the escapee in the adults tank. They'd left him alone and he seems to have been doing quite well.

Sam

Fantastic news about all the fry though They're so pretty, even as fry.

I wish I had been able to keep my Clear-Seal tank, I've wanted shell dwellers for years and would have had a load off you >.<

How are these doing Sam

I'm away in the US for 10 days so I don't really know. The last time I saw them they were all doing well and eating fine. I'm thinking I need to move the adults and fry on at some point soon. The problem is they'll need to be larger. It may be a different story when I get back.

Sam

I bet they will have grown holiday or business your us trip

Kind of a business trip. All the fish are in the hands of the OH who is starting to get used to it and normally does a good job.

Sam