Socolifi Lady Carrying Fry!

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I have girly carrying fry in her mouth right now. Am unsure how long she has been holding for as she only came into my possession today but her lower jaw is dark and extended. Due to losing one of the females after just two days when I first set up the tank back in November I was one short. She's bright and active but obviouslt being moved to the tank only today makes me think she's likely to abort. If she does spit them what can I do to help the fry survive? I have no experience of cichlid young.
Hugs,
P.
Edit:Oh darn it I must have put this in the wrong cichlid section. I do apologise. )

 

[freddyk]

If you want to raise all the fry then you'll need to move the female to the fry tank and let her spit in there, and then move her back to the main tank afterwards. Mouthbrooding fry when spit are pretty large and healthy and easy to raise, and you can start feeding them small foods like baby brine shrimp and powdered spirulina and cichlids flakes. I also like to put an algae covered rock in there with them for them to pick at.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Thanks Freddy. She had the young about 4 days ago, although at the time I was unaware of this. I actually thought she'd aborted due to the move in the cold she'd had to endure. I only discovered the fry yesterday evening.
Haven't seen more then a few so I suspect some were got by the adults (who have all decided to colour up big time and go on mad nymph spree. ) They do seem to be doing well. I put in some frozen daphnia (defrosted of course) at the same time as the adults had their bloodworm and mussel (V.popular).
And yes I was amazed at the size of them. Having seen livebearer fry and gourami fry at new born (small and tiny) their size really was quite shocking. How many do the mothers carry!! Surely they can't carry all that many at that size?
The big problem now is I can't get near them since they were spit in the main tank. They have found the Malawi rock and excellent spot to keep away from the adults, due to it's shape being deep ridges casting nice dark spots right inside. I will try to move them if I get given the chance, but I suspect I will have to leave this one up to survival. Pity but fingers crossed for them. I don't have an algae covered rocks but I can certainly get some going for the next time round when I have a cichlid fry tank actually set up and ready. I will feed them bbs aswell and have plenty of fry food in the house. Shall try to draw the adults off the opposite end of the tank with their food while the babes get theirs put in. Wish me luck.
Happy New Year!
Hugs,
P.