depends on what you want to breed. basically you will want to create and environment much like the one in the wild where they would breed. some of the africans, mbuna especially, are harem breeders. meaning that the male needs atleast 3-5 females to avoid over aggression. some of the cichlids are mouthbrooders. meaning that the females will lay the eggs in a birthing pit the male has dug and then the male will swim over the eggs and fertilize them. the female will then scoop up the eggs in her mouth and hold them for about three weeks. when the fry are free swimming she will then spit out the fry.
some are shelldwellers and will live and lay eggs in shells found on the substrate. convicts will clean a flat peice of stone and then lay aobut 100-150 eggs guarding the batch until they hatch.
most cichlids do require being conditioned to breed through food. also the right water condition and temp is important also.
depends on what you want to breed.
semper fi
