32 replies to this topic

[scottvh]

Hi there...

Brand new expecting parents of EY young and we would like to keep as many of the fry as possible.
Do we need to separate the female and put her in her own tank? (not our preference)
Or is it better to just grab one of the plastic floating "holding cells" and put her in that.
Or will the fry just take to the safety of the plants and other small holes etc....when they are let go?

I dont want to stress her out either.....

[Cawdor]

Wait 2 weeks. Then:

 

1. strip her (instruction video can be found here)

 

or

 

2. put her in a frysaver and let her spit on her own

 

Then separate the fry from adults, otherwise they will get eaten.

[Malawi Freak]

Well you can wait until she has been holding around 18 days.

 

Then you can fill a bucket (Big one) with water from the tank, and put a net/grille the fry can fall through in the bottom.

 

Then fish her out and wait for her to spit the fry. They will fall through the net/grille.

 

Then you can put the mother back in the tank after a few hours (3-4 hours). If it's her first time I would let her spit on the own and not strip her, because she won't learn to take care of them otherwise.

 

The fry you can put in a separate tank and let them grow up. Feed them 2 times a day and they'll grow fast.

[scottvh]

the stripping videos on youtube are great and there are a heap of them....... but will leave that alone for the moment and go for the frysaver.

I am guessing these are picked up from any of the major stores?

 

Or, If I left her in her own tank will she eat her own Fry?

[Malawi Freak]

She will not eat the fry if she gets something to eat from you.

 

Or well she will if you keep her alone together with the fry too long after she did the final release.

But just as soon you see she doesn't pick them up anymore you can just take her into the tank with the other fish again.

[scottvh]

Thanks Malawi

[scottvh]

Well that was a frikkin effort.......... purchased some nets off Morely Aquariums last night which was the easy part.

Just put the mum into the net but really freaked her out and she was sucking it in big time when we got her there.... hopefully she will calm down shorty.

[werdna]

The more you stress her the greater the chance she will swallow the eggs.

 

Next time wait till after the lights have been out for a couple of hours.

Net her out with a torch.

By the time she wakes up she will be in the net, out of the water

[scottvh]

Thanks Werdna, I am pretty sure we have seen an eye or two in her mouth.... think the eggs have hatched

So hopefully she didnt swallow them

[Malawi Freak]

Nah, if they have had the eggs/fry for 2 weeks they won't swallow them because she won't give up after all the effort. -> She would likely spit them out in the net to save them (Pick them up again in the other tank)

[scottvh]

Can I just ask, as getting confused.... is the entire time from eggs to releasing fry 18 days approx?

Or is it 18 days from time eggs hatch in the mouth?

[Malawi Freak]

At the 18th day the fry normally is mature enough to take care of themselves. Depending on the species.

Between 18 and 21 days they  are normally released from the mother. It can take longer though.

[scottvh]

Thanks Malawi
All looking better now....

Edited by scottvh, 05 July 2013 - 08:13 PM.

[Angelo]

I found using cotton tips to strip the female was the best method for me. 

[scottvh]

I posted the first time in this thread on 26 June and I am pretty sure i didnt pick up that the female was holding on day 1....... It is now the 15th July and still no sighting of the fry? Mum is in a frysaver by herself and we are all keeping a close watch on her..... but nothing doing. Do note that although the holding cell is not that large, she seems to have slowed right down and not moving a heap.

 

Cn we expect something soon?

[sandgroper]

Yellows are buggers for holding, after 4 weeks have past i strip them using a tooth pick.

[Angelo]

there's no harm trying to strip the female now, even if you loose some fry you would at least know what stage their at.  

[scottvh]

ok - thanks for the replies..... might give it a few more days as we did a big water change to move the tank and will let them settle down a bit.....

Will also give me some time have another look at those videos......

[scottvh]

Well that didnt go well !!!!!

 

Got four out but they still had egg sacks on them...... so I am guessing way too early.

Wasnt easy either and ended up dropping mum back in the main tank.......

So will leave her in there now and get some coverage for the fry when she does eventually spit them out.

 

All part of learning I guess

[scottvh]

and these four dont seem too mobile ?????