Hemichromis stellifer

[tjudy]

Has anyone spawned this species? I have a group of three of them. One (which I assume is a male) is twice teh size of the other two (which I hope are females). I have had them since January. About a month ago I really started pumping the conditioning food to them in hopes of inducing a spawn now that thunderstorm season is here. I feed them a lot of meaty live foods, including earthworms, crickets (they love crickets), wax worms (a moth larvae), and 'spikes' (a fly maggot as far as I can tell). (I have discovered the wonders of fishing bait in the fishroom). I also feed daphnia, white worms and pellet/flake foods. The fish really look great. I am setting up for a photo shoot of the male tonight. The two smaller fish are not filling out as much as they should be. They are not particularly abused by the larger fish and get plenty to eat. I am looking for suggestions on getting them over the hump into breeding condition.

 

[Randall]

Hello Ted,

My concern about Hemichromis stellifer is how to get them to STOP breeding!

Mine are housed in soft, slightly acidic water at 76 degrees, and their diet includes some vegetable matter. I've found that the presence of attack/dither fish strengthen pairs bonds and induce spawning. If the tank is not large enough (<55 gallons), however, please remove the extra fish, lest they be toast.

Good luck!

Randall Kohn

 

[freshwaterfishfan]

H. stellifer

Ted,

I tend to agree with Randall. I have a group of 7-8 in a 40G with some guentheri and they hold there own and spawn like clock work. I cull most of the fry as no one seems to want them...
Attractive hemichromis IMO.
Steve

 

[tjudy]

I do not think that my females are very healthy. They just do not plump up at all.... if they are females. I set up some new tanks today, and will be able to give them a larger tanks and some dithers next week. Maybe that will help.

 

[tjudy]

Here are my three H. stellifer. I now think that the large and the medium are males, and the smallest is a female... but a somewhat sickly fish.

Here is a better image of the big male: