Lots of hobbyists maintain community tanks. Lots of hobbyists also breed cichlids. So, what happens when a breeding pair of one cichlid species occupies the same tank as other cichlid species?
The answer could be “a lot” and could be “nothing.” The behavior of cichlids is often unpredictable, but there are many behaviors that are predictable. One is how a breeding pair of cichlids behave when they spawn. Nearly all species fiercely guard eggs and off-spring. Sometimes it’s both parents, sometimes only one.
When a pair of cichlids spawns and there are other tank occupants, a lot of bad things can happen. The “bad” depends on several factors – size of the tank, occupant species, breeding species. Nonetheless, you CAN have success breeding cichlids in community tanks.
As you can see in the video, one of my previous 75g Tanganyikan cichlid community tanks contained several cichlid species. An adult pair of Julidochromis regani spawned in the tank, successfully producing and raising offspring. You can also see some cichlid predators in the tank, namely the three Altolamprologus calvus, a Neolamprologus tretocephalus, and a pair of Telmatochromis temporalis. Though some of the regani fry might have been predated, quite a few survived.
I have even had success with both Julidochromis and Lamprologus species producing offspring concurrently in a 40g breeder. In my experience, the three factors I list above are the most important when determining the probability/success of breeding cichlids in community tanks.
I would encourage you to understand the breeding behavior of any breeding pairs you have in a tank. Having some knowledge of the normal breeding behavior of a species will better equip you in your planning.
I’m successfully breeding Convict Cichlids in a community tank.