CichlidFish.com - Fish That Think.

I have a 30 gallon tank with one male and one female. The problem starts after they have babies (which they do quite well).....they are ok for a week or so, then the male runs the female off of the nest and will not let her get close.....she has to hover at the top of the tank and hope he doesn't spot her. The last time they had babies, he almost killed her. What can I do? I have one extra tank that I moved her to, but don't want her there as it is set up for other fish if I can ever get her back to her original tank. The male seems to do very well with the babies, but he is being quite the butthead about the female. Any suggestions?

Mine do the same thing. I have to remove the Male at 1 week of the fry being free swim. I have other tanks so it is easier. If you can get another small tank and house her with some of the fry, you can watch her scrounge for food in the gravel, it is important to have Med 'round' gravel so she will not tear her stomic up as she wiggles in it to unrest the food their. You can leave her with the fry for 4-5 weeks, or until you see the fry eating on her slime coat, They will pick sores on her so then you have to move her. I had my first batch in a 10 gal. but try and get a 29 gal. so the fry can be raised for what ever purpose, Feeders/sell/LFS.. I have permantly seperated mine, Too many fry!