[Anima928]

I have had my Kenyi Cichlid for a little more then 6 months it has been alone in the tank the entire time and today I found babies swimming around. Anyone know why after 6 months I suddenly had baby cichlids and fish appears to be male

 

[Cyphro]

I've heard of some african cichlids reproducing asexually but never seen it.

 

[DJRansome]

If there was no other fish in the tank at all with the kenyi...it seems impossible that you have babies. Even if the fish were already holding babies in it's mouth when acquired, it would have spit them out in about 28 days.

 

[BC in SK]

It's rare, but it is possible for a cichlid to be hermaphrodite and self- fertilize. It's even been observed and documented by science:
http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/3/3/150684
https://gup-server.ub.gu.se/v1/asset_data/202057
There was a thread at cichlidae.com, which I cannot find, where someone had an mbuna in isolation with no other fish, and it reproduced. I believe it was Chromedome who was discussing it with this person in this thread, so he may know more about all the details. I believe it is virtually identical to the claim in this thread.
Another thread from cichlidae.com which mentions some other claims of hermaphrodite cichlid self-fertilization:
https://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=2001

 

[BC in SK]

There was a thread at cichlidae.com, which I cannot find, where someone had an mbuna in isolation with no other fish, and it reproduced.

Found the thread: https://www.cichlidae.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=9735

 

[Anima928]

If there was no other fish in the tank at all with the kenyi...it seems impossible that you have babies. Even if the fish were already holding babies in it's mouth when acquired, it would have spit them out in about 28 days.

All that was with it was a Raphael Cat fish and the Kenyi is also albino

 

[Anima928]

I talked to a fish guy and he said it's not uncommon for them to adapt and do whatever is nessary to reproduce example some species of two males are together then one will become female. But it still surprised him.

 

[DJRansome]

I've seen articles about a mbuna changing sex in a lab setting, but new info for me that a single individual can be both male and female in African cichlids. Always something new.