African Ciclids -eating babies

Guest · Posted: Tue Dec 05, 2006 3:54 am Post subject: African Ciclids -eating babies

HI we have and African tank and some of them had babies without our knowledge, however they are being eaten.

We have been told that they eat the babies when they are scared or threatened so we are now not allowed to stand near the tank.

I have a feeling they would eat them anyway.

Does anyone have any thougts on whether standing near the tank will increase the liklyhood of them being eaten?

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

I doubt you standing near the tank will make them more likely to eat their babies. While a mother is still in the holding phase (the female incubates them in her mouth for about 3 weeks while they develop) she'll occasionally let them out then take them back in if she feels there's danger nearby, but once she's released them for good, they're pretty much on their own. If one of the other fish can catch them, they're going to get eaten.

-Chelle