Curious Keyhole Behavior

[omplmpa3]

I have a pair of Keyhole Cichlids who (thankfully) took a two and a half month hiatus from breeding while raising their 75 children. Today I saw the female depositing about two dozen eggs on some driftwood. When I checked the tank ten minutes later, the eggs on the driftwood were gone and she was depositing her eggs on top of the sand, which the children were greedily eating. The male, not knowing what to do, started fertilizing sand. I'm fine with the eggs being eaten, I have baby Keyholes coming out of my ears, but is this going to stress out the parents? Any thoughts would be most appreciated.

Oh..... and does anyone know if there is a market for Keyhole Cichlids? Please!!!

[RTR]

I really like keyholes - they are very good captive fish. But I rarely see them in LFS anymore. they sem to have gone out of fashion.

If you have large LFS with significant Cichlid customers and tank presence in the store, or have a Cichlid society in the area, you might get rid of some periodically.

[omplmpa3]

I hadn't thought of Cichlid societies, that's a great idea! I did bring about thirty of the little keyholes to a LFS. I have a good relationship with the owner and he always has numerous extra tanks up and running in the store's basement, so I was able to set them up in a 55 gallon.

I've only seen keyholes a few times in LFS and they were always in tanks with seemingly more aggressive cichlids, looking despondent and their fins in tatters. I had admired their body shape and coloring, but I ultimately bought my first one because I felt sorry for it. After a little time and TLC that once shabby looking little fish in now just beautiful, IMO anyway.

[RTR]

Not all Cichlids act like Cichlids. Keyholes are (almost) all Mr. Nice Guy. The do not get along with most of their kin. But as you know, a breeding tank of them is always a showpiece. Rift Lake coloration is not everything in a show tank. Some of the tangs with somewhat similar body shape are not really very showy either, but they are prized - because they are from the Rift. The family is huge. Not everybody needs to a rock star. [Is that a pun or a double-entendre?]