Son wanted some of the Rio's in his 55gal fish tank. Started with around 8 then weeded them down to 6. Then a few started changing colors and I knew what was next. Had to take some out (getting beatup) and one died. Now he's down to two 5-6" and a whole lot of babies.
I took a hundred out and put in a grow out tank before taking these pictures. Plans are to put in my brothers new pond he built this spring. If they make it that long. Cool project for a 6yo.

They are eating well now and exploring the whole tank now. I didn't think to take another picture before I left. About a week old now. I did clean the glass since then and we need a water change still. Just didn't want them to get freaked out. Phosphates are running high.

Wow super beautiful fish! Love those colors. How long has he had em? Are they doing well in the aquarium? Very nicely done. Good job.




Side Note: Keep us posted on their growth.

Man I can watch those Rios for days on end! That would really make me want to get after em. Problem is I would go crazy watching em during the winter time.




Very nicely done. Those Rios are some beautiful fish. Are they mixed with others different fish? Just curious on how they get along with other fish in close quarters.

Very cool that you had a spawn. Keep us posted on the pair and their fry.

That is absolutely awesome! Sometimes keeping native fish healthy can be a challenge, but then to have them so adapted and healthy that they actually spawned in your tank!...now that is flipping cool!

I wonder if it has been done before? With thier limited range, I'm not sure how many may be kept in home aquariums let alone breeding in one!

Thanks ,
We tried a couple bluegill,green, red breast and a rio. Mixing species didn't work for us. The biggest fish kept the others too scared to do anything. I released them when they started looking stressed out. Keeping just Rios seemed to work best.
We had these for about 5 months.
They adapted pretty good to aquarium life. I started them on freeze dried meal worms then to flake food,then to African chiclid food. They still dart down when you enter the room but come quick to food or after they see its just you.
They have been pretty cool to watch.

Oh it's been done before,really they say 125 gal to a pair of these. 55gal with rocks is ok. Key is major weekly water changes until they eat the food quickly and cleanly. Trying to feed them and they don't want to yet can ruin the water quality quick.
I used to have African Chiclids and raised a few babies too. All about what and when to do a water change to make them spawn. Not that we're taking perfect care or we're special. Making babies isn't rocket science you know.

very cool

Cool.Ive had that thought of doing something similiar but,with longears.

Rios are very protective with their fry. Cichlids are known to have taken their young one by one in their mouth and move em to a safer place. They are also very dedicated on protecting their nest and young.

cool!
frequent small water changes is less stressful than fewer large water changes.
Cichlids are awesome. they also eat their own young without notice.
So congrats! LOL

Point well made!

very cool!

Great tank fish. A very good friend of mine has two that he has had for a couple of years now. Both fish doing good. Both of em are males.

All the babies are doing good. Eating flake food. If they were $10 a piece African Cichlids, I'd remove the adults. Rather see how well they do raising babies in the aquarium.