Mouth brooder

[Tracie6283]

We have a holding female and I'm just wondering how long to wait before moving her to her own tank? She hasn't eaten the last couple days but today is the first day she's really "showing". Thoughts?

 

[HUKIT]

Whether you choose to keep the fry or not is up to you(I'm a hybrid snob) but they hold for 21-28 days so when you move her is irrelevant.

 

[Tracie6283]

I'd like to try and keep the fry. This is our first holder so I'm pretty green. We have an established 20 g that has nothing in it right now so we thought about moving her there til whatever happens, happens. I don't want to stress her or something that'll make us lose the babies

 

[HUKIT]

They can be difficult to catch sometimes when they're holding so I usually try to grab them fairly early after you notice her holding if you intend to keep the fry. Don't worry too much with regards to stressing her since mbuna ladies are one of the toughest female fish IMO.

 

[Tracie6283]

Haha ok. Also is there a specific temp I should put the 20 at that's more ideal for her? Or just try to match what I have the tank she's in now?

 

[HUKIT]

Haha ok. Also is there a specific temp I should put the 20 at that's more ideal for her? Or just try to match what I have the tank she's in now?

I keep all my Africans at 78F.

 

[Tracie6283]

Thanks so much! Here are some pics of her. Don't know how much you can see, but she looks like a pelican with a fish in it's mouth.

 

[HUKIT]

She's definitely holding, what is the father?

 

[Tracie6283]

Red shoulder peacock. Best guess hes been harassing her and he's still tryin to get from her Here's some better photos

 

[Tracie6283]

Sorry here are the pics

 

[HUKIT]

That's interesting combo, most of my hybrids look like crap...like when you were a kid and you used every crayon in the box to make a cool color but it always looked like poop. I hope yours look better than mine. Good luck.

 

[Tracie6283]

Haha thanks! I'll post pictures if everything goes through!

 

[Oblivion]

nice looking fish, they got some really cool markings.

if mine are still holding a week after i noticed, i move them as its more likely theyll carry them full term.
ive had a couple of fish now that held for about 2 or 3 days the one day they surface at meal time, hungry as ever

 

[Tracie6283]

We moved her to the 20. Hopefully I'll get to see some babies! I feel bad for her though bc she's gotta be starving!

 

[HUKIT]

We moved her to the 20. Hopefully I'll get to see some babies! I feel bad for her though bc she's gotta be starving!

She'll be ravenous after she spits, it's prettery funny to watch them shove full size males around to get food.

 

[Tracie6283]

Awesome. I can't wait!

 

[Tracie6283]

Also is there a way to tell when she's getting close to being done? Or just when I see babies I know?

 

[T-man02]

it normally ends in a 25-30 day holding time that's when i start looking for fry then when you notice fry that's when

 

[Tracie6283]

Babies!!!! What do I feed them? Can I just crush up what I've been using for the big guys? Or I have some hikari first bites. Will that work?

 

[Cichildlife]

awwwwwe they are soooo cute! and yes, you can feed them that, or finely crushed flakes. good luck!