Copadichromis azureus Breeding Guide

Breeding the Azure Cichlid (Copadichromis azureus): an open-water utaka planktivore with harem spawning and three-to-four-week mouthbrooding.

Overview

Copadichromis azureus, the Azure Cichlid, is endemic to the southern region of Lake Malawi, recorded from the Maleri Islands, Mbenji Islands, Nkhomo reef and Eccles reef at depths of around 20-30 m near rocky shores and reefs. It is a utaka open-water planktivore that uses large eyes to spot plankton and a highly protrusible upper jaw to seize prey. Males reach about 16 cm. It is a maternal mouthbrooder.

Sexing

Males are larger, far more colourful and have longer fins than females. Females are a dull grey-brown, like most Copadichromis females, with three black spots visible on the flank. Males carry egg-like spots on the anal fin used during spawning.

Conditioning

Condition the breeding group on a high-quality diet appropriate to an open-water planktivore; small prepared and frozen foods that mimic plankton suit this micropredator and bring fish into spawning condition.

Breeding Setup

Breed in a harem of one male with at least three to four females. Provide open swimming space and substrate where the male can prepare a spawning site; he typically clears a simple depression in the substrate, often under or beside a stone.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

The male prepares and defends his depression and displays to females. The female lays eggs and takes them into her mouth; attracted to the egg spots on the male's anal fin, she attempts to add them to her brood, prompting the male to release sperm and fertilise the eggs.

Egg & Fry Care

The female carries the brood for three to four weeks before releasing free-swimming fry. As with related species, the fry can be raised on newly hatched brine shrimp or finely crushed prepared foods.