My Convicts won't breed what's wrong?

[Amaster131]

I have had my convicts for close to 4 months now. They have tried 2 times to breed but the eggs didn't hatch. My male is constantly chasing my female and somtimes he flares his gills at her. She doesn't seem to to like being chased around. What can i do to influence them to breed?

Thanks for any advice

 

[SinisterKisses]

Well, you obviously don't have to induce them into breeding - they already are going through the motions.

Female convicts become sexually mature quite a bit before males do. My guess is that the female is ready (hense laying the eggs), but the male is still a little immature and not ready (hense the infertile eggs). Give them time. Before long you'll be whining about what to do with all the babies

 

[Unexpected]

Change 20% of the water a day. Increase the temperature by 2 degrees. It only takes a slight turn of the dial for this. Don't go over 82 degrees though. Feed freeze dried bloodworms. If you can obtain live or frozen brine shrimp feed a few of them to your fish a day. If you can obtain live blackworms feed both of your cichlids about 3 worms a day. Are they in a 20 litter tank or a 20 gallon. 20 gallons is the minimum. 20 litters is probably too small.

 

[Amaster131]

Yea, but the last time she laid eggs was about a month ago.They are in a 20 gallon tank. Thanks for the help

 

[jessey]

are you sure you don't have two females laying infertile eggs?

 

[Amaster131]

No I have a male and female, one has an orange side the other doesn't