Star Sapphire Cichlid Care and Breeding: A Big Beautiful Fish!!

Hello Everyone,
In this video we discuss the care and breeding of the Star Sapphire Cichlid, Placidochromis species "phenochilus Tanzania". This is a big Haplochromis of Lake Malawi, but doesn't get too aggressive. Definitely worth a closer look.
Check out these other species profiles on some cool cichlids:
Eureka Red Cichlid: • Eureka Red Cichlid Bre...
Pseudotropheus acei: • Pseudotropheus acei Ca...
Red Zebra Cichlid: • Red Zebra Cichlid Bree...
Pseudotropheus saulosi: • Pseudotropheus acei Ca...
How to Breed Fish and Keep Fish Fry Alive: • How to Care for Baby F...
How Much Filtration do You Really Need: • Fish Tank Filtration: ...
If you want to see more behind the scenes stuff, exclusive videos and support the channel consider becoming a member! / @primetimeaquatics
Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimea...
For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics
Thanks for watching!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Check out these other species profiles on some cool cichlids: Eureka Red Cichlid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5fUYo2QoN-WhdE Pseudotropheus acei: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2LIaJJmrtF7rNk Red Zebra Cichlid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nKrWn2tnqt-artk Pseudotropheus saulosi: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2LIaJJmrtF7rNk How to Breed Fish and Keep Fish Fry Alive: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gX3cc4uvrpl0nq8 How Much Filtration do You Really Need: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l4u9oKuFa9eIhas If you want to see more behind the scenes stuff, exclusive videos and support the channel consider becoming a member! kzbin.info/door/YVN7EN0ALL6CE4U7NpMUTAjoin Also, our new shirts can be found at: www.primetimeaquatics.com/merch For the latest in the fish room check us out on Instagram primetime_aquatics

[@joshuawatts1911]

Can star sapphires go well with giraffe cichlids

[@radneyvous]

Great fish! I have 9 right now in a 67g tank. They were less than an inch when I bough them last December(2020). They're around 3-4" now. Looking forward for them to breed!

[@elementsoflife000]

Post a video on your channel of them

[@Ourfrenchiegirls]

Another informative professional classy video!! Thanks! Always love watching and learning from your channel!!! 🐠 🐟

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Appreciate you being here!

[@cichlidscape]

Beautiful fish & video👌🏻 I have one in my 125 gallon right now. He’s slowly getting his chips🔥 looks awesome

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They look better and better the longer you keep them. : -)

[@dennisruedel]

Beautiful looking fish Jason! I have one around 8” that is fully chipped up. They are definitely a fun fish to keep. Thanks for sharing 👍.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They are so cool looking!

[@bigevil78200578]

Great content keep it up🤘

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching!

[@eyadjamus7126]

I love this fish. I just purchased 2 males for my show tank.

[@audreyflores9089]

Gorgeous coloration! They almost look like they have green neon body paint sprayed on and are ready to party! But seriously, awesome fish. Thanks for sharing

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They have even better color in person. : --)

[@cichlidguru1163]

One of my favorite fish. Also love sponge filters

[@dhammaboy1203]

I have a single male (with other haps and peacocks) starting to chip up now. Probably my favourite equal fish along with the Placidochromis Gissel!

[@rvdfrog]

You think a gissell is too similar to a mdoka?

[@dhammaboy1203]

@@rvdfrog the Gissel has no interest in either my Mdoko nor my Star Sapphire - but the other 2 hate each other! My Gissel occasionally has a brief fight with my (blue peacock) tank boss because he wants to be king! (Essentially the Gissel is concerned by the 2 fish above him not the 2 Placidochromis that are - presently - below him in the herorachy). But who knows - things can change! Generally yes - I try to avoid similar looking fish as a rule!

[@GSP-76]

I have a 5 inch male coming this week... looking forward to having him in my 220g African tank

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They certainly add a unique look!

[@elementsoflife000]

Post a video of your tank on your channel

[@marksadventurechannel8471]

Perfect timing! I just bought 5 of them at the club auction for $6. I was doing research on them today. Lots of conflicting info, so it is nice to get info from someone I trust. How long did it take to get them to that size? I also got some red tops and some eureka reds.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That's a great score! I found them to be relatively slow growing. I think I've had them for a year at least.

[@russellturner579]

Good news I just got two big chipped up 🌟🤩⭐💫🌠

[@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030]

stunning

[@tuanta6447]

Where you got that purple star sapphire? Thank you

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I got them at a GCCA meeting at one point.

[@Killer-bm9gu]

Hey Jason do these usually breathe like that

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

If they are a little stressed with someone sticking a camera in their face they will. : -)

[@johnn6094]

Would you think I can keep congo tetras with the Star sapphires ? Will the star sapphires nip at the male fins?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Tough to say for sure, but it’s a combo I might try. 😀

[@TEAMRamey]

I have a 1 male to 5 female group without any success thus far . What would you recommend in hopes to getting the breeding going? They are currently in a 45 gallon with him doing a bit of chasing.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

It can take some time with them. Usually patience (assuming water parameters are correct).

[@Pdjgamer]

Nice video

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@VStag]

Awesome Video Thanks for Sharing FishFam NJAE19

[@leeandmandybattersby5958]

not sure if you can help but my breeding pair of jade eye cichlids arent doing well .. when ever anyone walks pass the tank or even moves in the same room they go crazy to a point where they bang off the glass until they are near unconcious then 10 minutes later they are ok again .. i was wondering if they could have been kept in a shed or a room where no people go with them being used for breeding so they arent used to people .. what do you think and do you think they will be ok thank you in advance for any help you can give

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That could be the case. Also, depending on how they were grown out, they could have been grown out in a plastic been with solid walls or concrete container. That may make them jumpy. You could try dimming the light in the room so they can't see what's going on as easy and provide more hiding places. Often dither fish work (like large tetras), but since it is a breeding pair you may not want other fish in the tank picking off babies.

[@leeandmandybattersby5958]

thank you i appreciate you answering my question i think i will add some dither fish just to see if they calm down i can always take them out in the future once there settled

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

Beautiful. How old are they and how many inches?. Mine grow slowly?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They're over a year old. I'd say the largest males are around 5-6 inches. And Yes! They do grow slowly. : -)

[@johnnyshaooni398]

Amazing

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@Dave_Andre]

I want to have some of these with my rusty and yellow lab. My question is, Is it ok for them (for the rusty and yellow) to be fed/share diet with these big guys? Im kinda worried if my small ones might end up eating too much protein.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They can generally share the same diet as the Rustys and yellow labs.

[@DavidDK1975]

Hello I liked the info from your video... I have a group but i wanted to know what age and size they start spawning...?? What is the minimum size of the tank for a bredding colony??

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I think a 40 breeder is as small as I would go for a pair. Mine started breeding at about 4" or so?

[@YeshuaisEMET]

Hi Jason, i have 2 males and 1 female but she looks very blue but her fins are rounded males fins look very pointy does this seem right

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The females will have vertical bars with a somewhat muted blue color. The males get much larger and have very distinct spots!

[@YeshuaisEMET]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics mine is abit purple blue she has the bars , she also has rounded anal fin, the males are much pointy its just her colour puts me off bcos she is so blue

[@YeshuaisEMET]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics she is about 10cm

[@angs8068]

Just curious but can you keep a breeding pair in a 35-40 gallon tank? Or is it still recommended to go no less than a 75.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Angie Stebb They start breeding relatively small - about 3.5”-4” and at that size a 40 breeder works. My males are probably 5” and they are looking cramped . I think even if I just reduce my group down to a pair I’m going to move them anyway. They are fairly active open water fish.

[@angs8068]

Ok thank you 😊

[@madonna1971ot]

Can you tell me if the small or large spots fish better? Thanks, Amanda

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I like them both!

[@cichlidmama4191]

I just bought this and I have so many questions! Mine are 2 inches. When will the male start looking like a male?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They take a while to get the spots. I think ours were at least 3.5 - 4" before the males started showing spots?

[@cichlidmama4191]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics thank you! Will the male before then get more blue than the females by then atleast to tell before that

[@EggSpotTank]

why are they fat? is it from Lupingu or Tanzania?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They actually fill out a lot when they are at full size!

[@EggSpotTank]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics usually when they get their full size? I mean what age?

[@DavidDK1975]

It would really be helpfull if you could give your expert advice... thanks

[@norazman4919]

👍 👍 👍

[@petepeterson3920]

At what size can you tell if it is a male or female?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Usually about 3.5” the males start showing their spots.

[@adamgatt719]

Fishos call them ‘mirror balls’ in Australia. 😎

[@ranilperera6127]

yea mirrorballs is what aussies call em

[@HalfManHalfCichlid]

Do you treat your Africans with meds for internal parasites? I bought some farm raised Africans and the internal parasites have wiped out a lot of my prized specimens

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I don't only because I always get them from local hobbyists.

[@TurboFish]

First 😎

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Woohoo!

[@AussieRic]

Airation is too low, gills should beat once per second.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I agree - we adjusted it up quite a bit in that tank.

[@GrowingInterest]

They have a peculiar mouth :D

[@曾國銘-q2e]

一口可以吃一罐了

[@phongphu5057]

Which food are u feeding them , lock them so fat

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

They are getting a combination of tetra flake food, Hikari pellets, New Life Spectrum pellets, frozen blood worms, frozen brine shrimp and repashy community plus.

[@phongphu5057]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics wow so many , looking great

[@russellturner579]

Just lost mine u no were I get two good sized males chipped uplet me no please

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I'm not sure - you would probably have to look on aquabid? Most places sell only juveniles.

[@cmammen]

these fish are pricey now

[@deepkeeper4762]

Can i keep a single peacock cichlid in a tank??? What should be the minimum tank size for one single peacock cichlid???

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

A 40 breeder would work well for one.