Old Age?

[kribensis12]

I posted this in the AC section, but that area doesn't get a lot of traffic so I'm hoping someone here might be able to advise.

"Hello,

I have a wild caught pair of Kribensis "Moliwe"; I've owned them for a little over a year and they arrived fully grown (so at least 1.5 years old).

They have had several successful batches of fry that I have raised. They were very easy to breed and took excellent care of their eggs.

I've had no new batches of fry in 2 months. The coloration of the fish is great, they both exhibit breeding behavior non-stop (coloration, large belly with/ slightly protruded ovipositor tube, dancing and trying to convince the other to mate) and yet.... nothing. Water parameters are great, they get a varied diet (live daphnia, cichlid pellets, frozen brine shrimp etc.) and do not appear ill whatsoever.

Is it possible that they are simply too old to actually breed? I would think that if this was the case, they would not exhibit breeding behavior....
I'm perplexed - any advice is appreciated."

 

[GaryE]

I was able to breed this fish with between 5 and 10 different couples, and all kept producing til the end. But all took seasonal breaks as well. It is dry season in Cameroon now, and they may be running on seasonal clocks. Rainy season usually ends in December, so the timing seems right.

That is my favourite Cichlid.

 

[kribensis12]

I was able to breed this fish with between 5 and 10 different couples, and all kept producing til the end. But all took seasonal breaks as well. It is dry season in Cameroon now, and they may be running on seasonal clocks. Rainy season usually ends in December, so the timing seems right.

That is my favourite Cichlid.

Well, this may be correct, but....

I just went to go feed them and the female was dead. I'm very sad; she was gorgeous. I've got some fry at the 1 inch mark but my WC male is HUGE. Like pushing 4 inches, so that won't work.

Wish I had easy access to another female, but without spending $50 with shipping, I just don't.

 

[GaryE]

Well, that was an alternative explanation - an unfortunate one.

They are the best Cichlid no one knows about. That makes them expensive because you have to track them down. I have none now and regret that.