First time with cacs

[Electric Snowman]

I got a pair of cacs about a month ago, and they are doing very well. Last night I noticed my female was turning yellow. I got excited and am hoping for them to breed, but today when I woke up, she was plain old grey again. she was like this for most of the day, until night, then she again turned yellow? can anyone tell me what is going on? is this normal? and if so, how long can I expect to wait until they breed? (assuming they will)
Thanks for your help!

 

[Electric Snowman]

The same thing happened this morning. When I woke up, only her fins showed the slightest hint of yellow, then within a half hour she was completely grey again.

 

[Mike Wise]

Like most cichlids apistos change colors for a variety of reasons. You will know that she has eggs when she hides most of the time & becomes more aggressive toward the male. She will really turn yellow/back when the fry become freeswimming.

 

[Electric Snowman]

So it doesn't automatically mean she is ready to breed if she changes colors? Thanks for the response!

 

[Electric Snowman]

Hello all,
Ok, my female has been continueing this pattern every day since the day of my first post. Tonight I saw something that I know has to be courting behavior. The female is "bumping and grinding" on the male, and keeps trying to lure him into her cave. (an overturned flowerpot with a hole cut in it) and he actually followed her in once. He left right away, but I think it is progress since the male does not look too interested. But I do have a question, It looks like she is getting fat... is the full of eggs? Can you notice when a female is carrying eggs? Anyways, I hope to have my very first batch of fry very soon!

 

[mooman]

yes, I could see a marked difference in my female cac's girth before she laid eggs. It is most pronounced when you look at her head-on and down the side of her body. You will also notice a prominate "deflation" of her abdomin after she lays the eggs.
From what I've heard it is usually the male that is more interested in territory defence than breeding. I'm sure he'll come around. For what it's worth, I saw an increase in pre-spawning behavior from both parents as soon as I started feeding live bbs. It doesn't seem to me like they would get too much nutrition from this, and I speculate it is an envirnmental trigger to breed (hey look at all this fry sized food!!).

Good Luck, let us know when the event occurs

 

[dwarf_puffer]

mine laid eggs 3 days ago they were eaten though. i notices a more yellow colour and a black dot on both side of its body here is a resent picture the dots gone but anyways i dont really no im am just bored sio her is a picture of her

sry i no the pictures a little on the big side lol she only 4 months and shes laid eggs hahahahaa

 

[cdawson]

josh that picture is WAY too big.

I would give her an overturned flowerpot with a small slice cut out of the bottom (top) so she can defend it better. It'll also make her more secure. I've had more luck with only one small entrance rather than just a "cave". If she sees you constantly she's going to eat her eggs because she'll see you as a predator and she would rather retake the nutrients than have another fish steal her eggs.