Keyhole Cichlids

[snowyangel]

Who I believe is the mom, checking out her precious

Time to steal some cory pellets

Cory realizing there's more Keyholes coming " Gotta get outta hereeeeee....."

I like this shot, kinda blurry cus they're in motion but its feels like your amongst them.....or maybe its just me.

I'll post more closeups on the eggs later
Enjoy!

 

[cutechic]

Great pics, Snowy!

 

[Arashi]

Nice pics! Congrats on the eggs! Good luck with them!

 

[aloaring]

Congratulations snowy, just to warn you if this is the first time they have bred they might eat the eggs after a few days (Thats what my pair did!!) but they will spawn again and supposedly they make great parents i am still waiting for my pair to try again but they are very skittish in their new tank so will have to do something to sort that out ! ( Silly Fish ) Good luck Snowy!!

 

[Ben]

i love keyholes!!

ncie pics

btw what size tank you got them in?and what fishies?
and how long did it take em to spawn?

soz bout the Qs. i just wanna breed them

 

[cometcattle]

Congrats snowy!

 

[Waterloo Kid]

I'm completely jealous!

Mine spawned twice before within a week but as the female laid the eggs she simply turned round and ate them. The male didn't even get to fertilise most of them! Hmmph!

Good luck with yous

WK

 

[guppygirl]

Cory realizing there's more Keyholes coming " Gotta get outta hereeeeee....."

I love that pic!!! It's like, 'attack of the keyholes'!!
Great job Snowy. It's a great honor that you have such a great tank for such great fishies.

 

[snowyangel]

Thanks you for wonderful replies and support guys. I just really enjoy knowing my fish are comfortable enough to breed in my tank. This is the 2nd species to breed in this tank(that being the blue rams) which i think it crazy cus u always read the best way to breed them is in their own tank, etc.
Aloaring thank you for the advice, I have already researched and am prepared for the eggs to go "missing" one day, but thats alright because I dunno how much space i have for about 150 of them. I do aggree that they are very shy, it took them a about a month to get comfotable and breed.
Edit: Eggs are still there the next day!
Dwarf_dude the tank is a 4ft long 55gallon with driftwood, large rocks, and quite a few live plants. The 8 keyholes share their space with a severum, 4 blue and 3 gold Rams, adult pleco, 7 cories and 4 pymgy cories. As said before, it took them a little over a month to be comfortable and spawn. What i did the day before they bred was adding more plants(they love places to hide) and 30% water change, but i think it was adding more shelter the better for them. Also they get fed frozen bloodworms, tubifex worms and brine shrimp. They're also big big fans of brine shrimp pellets.
As I said before, here's better closeup on the eggs:

 

[coconutman39]

i love your pics! i think the eggs would be better if they were tie die.

 

[shrks1fan]

Ahhh, how cute I'm actually planning on getting a couple Keyholes myself. I've heard they have wonderful personalities. A fish shop near me has a breeding pair for $20, I'm not sure if I want to start with adults or look for youngsters though, which is why I haven't gotten any yet, still trying to decide, Lol.

Linda

 

[Snowie]

I've always wanted keyholes, they seem "friendlier" than most cichlids.

How big is the tank? Can we get a picture (or several) of it?

 

[snowyangel]

Thanks for the replies, your making me blush here guys )
shrks1fan keyholes was the first cichlids i wanted to get when i decided to have a cichlid tank. Definitely don't pass up the option, they're so beautiful and well behaved(don't uproot the plants like some ). Just a tip, if you plan on having them breed, buy them as juvies(mine are only 2-3 inches big when they bred) instead of the adults. But either way you'll love 'em.
Hey snowie you're right on their extremely friendly behaviour which is why it's not reccomended to have them in with aggressive cichlids. Infact they're so friendly you can have them in a regular community tank even. The tank size i mentioned above, its a 4ft long 55 gallon. Here's few pics of it:

This time with lower lighting and no fish hiding...

 

[digital_run]

Very nice snowy....i have 2 keyholes and they are just amazing little fish...never had a problem with them and if i had the room id get another pair ...Good luck with your and make sure you keep us posted on the baby keyhole situation..id love to see some keyhole fry ....again great pics!

 

[Silva_Fishy]

WOW! I love that one with the very intense markings. Do keyholes live well with small cichlids?