Herichthys carpintis Breeding Guide

Breeding the pearlscale cichlid Herichthys carpintis, a large biparental substrate spawner that lays 150-1000 eggs on cleaned rock and turns black-and-white when guarding.

Overview

Herichthys carpintis, the pearlscale cichlid, is a large Mexican cichlid from the Panuco drainage lagoons of northern Mexico, reaching up to about 30 cm. It is a biparental substrate spawner that becomes very territorial and sometimes aggressive when breeding.

Sexing

The female has a black blotch on the dorsal fin and is usually longer and deeper-bodied than the male. During breeding both sexes change colour to a striking black at the rear of the body and white at the front.

Conditioning

Seriously Fish gives a temperature of about 24-26 C, pH around 7.0 and hardness of 8-14 dGH. The species begins breeding at around 3 to 4 inches. Good water quality and a varied diet bring fish into condition.

Breeding Setup

• Provide flat smooth surfaces such as rock or slate, plus flower pots, as spawning sites.
• Use sand substrate so the pair can excavate pits.
• Provide a large tank; a minimum around 213 L (about 48 inches long) suits a pair, and bigger is better for this large, territorial fish.
• Consider a tank divider in case the male becomes aggressive toward the female.

Spawning Behavior & Trigger

The pair bonds and displays to each other, circling and flapping their tails, then cleans a spawning site. The female lays anywhere from 150 to 1,000 eggs for a large pair, and the male moves in to fertilise them. Both parents fan the eggs with their pelvic fins to supply oxygen.

Egg & Fry Care

Eggs can take up to 2 days to hatch, and the fry become free-swimming up to a week later. Both parents guard and care for eggs and fry.

Common Challenges

These fish can be very territorial and downright aggressive when breeding, and small fish may be treated as food. The male may turn on the female, so monitor the pair and be ready to use a divider.