Male To Female Ratio

[fatheadminnow]

What is a good female to male ratio for African cichlids?

I heard 1 male to every 3 females? Is this ratio any good?

Thanks
-FHM

 

[fish are friends....]

yea, thats sounds a good ratio to me! But does depend what sort of african cichlid your after as some breed in pair such as the kribensis, but the mbuna usually breed in harams (1male to 2/3 female)

 

[fatheadminnow]

yea, thats sounds a good ratio to me! But does depend what sort of african cichlid your after as some breed in pair such as the kribensis, but the mbuna usually breed in harams (1male to 2/3 female)

Yeah they are mbuna cichlids.

Thanks for the reply!
-FHM

 

[Gouken]

1:3 is usually the best since you want to give the male a few more options once one of the females is carrying

 

[fatheadminnow]

Will the males be aggressive to females if there are more males than females in the tank?

Thanks for the replies guys!
-FHM

 

[kribensis12]

^ Males with be aggressive with each other, AND the females.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay, thanks for that info.

-FHM

 

[kj23502]

Ya know, it really depends on the species. Some need a higher female ratio like 4 and others are fine with 2 females.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Well, according to what you guys said, I need to get more females, or get rid of some males somehow?

Right now I have 4 males and 3 females....So I need to do something about that.

I think I might get 2 more females, that way I will be over stocked a little which will spread aggression around more, and they will be less aggressive as a result of that.

-FHM

 

[kribensis12]

I would take that number of males down to 1. Maybe 2( depending on how many caves you have). Females, I would purchase 3 more.

 

[fatheadminnow]

Okay thanks.

The only limiting factor is that they are all in a 29 gallon

But that should change here soon this summer when I can start work again, and I am going to be selling my mustang, so I will be able to get some stuff when I do that.

55, or maybe even a 75 gallon is in the REAL near future for me!

-FHM

 

[Bert]

Go for the 75

 

[fatheadminnow]

Go for the 75

lol

I am going to try my hardest to do so!

But with the economy the way it is; it might be a little hard to do that, unless I can find a used one for a decent price!

-FHM

 

[kribensis12]

At the auction here, they were selling 6 ft tank for 200 dollars. You SHOULD have been there.

 

[fatheadminnow]

At the auction here, they were selling 6 ft tank for 200 dollars. You SHOULD have been there.

Wow, I would of so of bought one!

-FHM