Mouth Brooding Female!

[Krib Crazy]

I am So excited today after coming home from school, I came in my room to feed my fish. When I was watching them i noticed that one of my fish was missing, and then her she comes out of the corner of my 29 gallon with a mouth full of eggs.

This isn't the first time she has done this but her first brood she swallowed it after about three days. I cant wait to see little fry swimming around in a little bit. I hope she doesnt swallow them this time.

 

[mamafish68]

HOORAY!!!!!
what type of cichlid?? any pics?
If there are other fish, chances are they'll be brunch when she releases them unless you have
a spare 10g to put her in.

 

[Krib Crazy]

Thanx I dont know what type of cichlid she is I got her out of wal-mart when she was about 1" now shes about 4". I will try to put on some pics and I do have a spare tank I might transfer her to it. Do you know any specific time that I should transfer her so she doesn't get stressed too much?

 

[mamafish68]

I'm concerned about what she is and the possible mate she has. Often people buy from the
"assorted africans" tank in walmarts (coughSPITcough @ fish dept) and a year later there are hybrids being spawned.
If your like most in the hobby that agree hybrids are trash then I'd seperate her if she isnt paired with her own kind and when available, dispose of the fry. Since some cichs can hold 30+ in their mouth are you prepared to house all of these fry?
If their hybrids I certainly would hope you will never sell, give or pass them on to anyone.
Start looking here since most "assorteds" are mbuna:

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/profiles/category.php?cat=2

 

[Krib Crazy]

I found her and him my male just changed to a blue a couple of months ago shes a Melanochromis lepidiadaptes. And mine doesnt eat scales! Jus as a question how long does it take for the eggs to hatch?

 

[freddyk]

Jus as a question how long does it take for the eggs to hatch?

There is no exact number since it depends a lot on water parameters, but the eggs generally hatch after about 16 days and they generally release the fry after about 24 days.

 

[Krib Crazy]

Thats a long time to not eat i couldnt do it. Thanx for the info.

 

[mamafish68]

Good luck!
Yours are a tad more agressive then the Melanochromis I had.
cyaneorhabdos (Maingano)
and to this day I regret selling them. Really nice little fish!

 

[Krib Crazy]

I am so happy. After a stressful mouthbrooding period where I thought she had eaten her eggs thought I had lost all hope. Then I saw a baby this morning. It was soo cute it is the luv of my life! I took it out and put in my spare tank. Its starting to get its color I have no idea how long it has been in there but its pretty big its about the size of a molly fry. Now all I need to do is take care of it and hope I find some of its brothers and sisters in the main tank.

 

[scotto]

A similar thing happened to me about a year ago with my maingano. I only ever found the 1 little critter, but it's almost all grown up now... isn't it a great feeling.