Starving Mom Seems Inhuman (i Mean Infishman)

[plecoguy]

if its been about 3 weeks, you could always strip the babies. the babies will live, and the mother will get to eat.

 

[mikeg]

yes thats true i'm sure, but i'm too big of a chicken#### to strip the eggs!

Mike

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I'm the same. I know how it's done and handle my fish without trouble (Thankfully most are happy to let me hold them and many have been reared from birth) but the idea of stripping her of her fry really freaks me. I know it's not the same as stripping a human of their baby before term but as a Mother the idea simply stresses me! And I have no doubt the fish would feel them stress vibes coming from me. Let her finish carrying, it won't harm her. One of my Socolfi girls carried for over 3 weeks and spat looking thinner then I like. Her head looked too big for the rest of her. But she was back in fighting fit condition within a week. And yes both those foods mentioned will do great. Veer more towards the spirulina and don't crush too fine. The fry aren't that small!
Hugs,
P.

 

[mamafish68]

http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

DAPHNIA =excellent fry food!!

I've raised many many fry on it.!

 

[plecoguy]

stripping is really easy. just get a good hold of her, and place her upside down and dip her in and out of the water, she will drop them all in the first couple dips normally. then you can give her time to eat and recover, and the babies will start eating soon after as well.

 

[dthoffsett]

DAPHNIA =excellent fry food!!

I've raised many many fry on it.!

Oh my god, I so agree. I gave my lab fry (about a week old) some daphnia yesterday, you should have seen them racing to snap it up, it was so cute. They also really seem to like the brine shrimp, and of course the adults definately do.

 

[mikeg]

stripping is really easy. just get a good hold of her, and place her upside down and dip her in and out of the water, she will drop them all in the first couple dips normally. then you can give her time to eat and recover, and the babies will start eating soon after as well.

OK....OK....I'll admit it. I am a grownup - at least chronologically speaking, but it freaks me to think about picking up these guys with my hands. I guess its no big deal? I guess they don't bite, and I guess you don't have to worry about squishing them? right?

Maybe I should practice a little. I love your idea about dipping her in and out of the water. Very clever!
She isn't looking as happy the last couple of days. She stays in her one little spot behind a rock and just stays put. I guess thats normal too?

Mike

 

[SamUK]

yea thats ok too. where she is is probably a good spot to her and shes resting.



good luck with the fry!


i didnt have a spare tank at the time so ive got a couple of little fry swimmin around all my rockscaping. been in there a while too so there gonna be ok i think.

 

[plecoguy]

make sure your hands are wet when you do it and all should be fine. i find it easiest to do this in a large cup/bowl with tank water, or in a net that is in the tank. that way you can keep the babies seperate while the mom recovers. just net the mom fish, hold her with her head towards your thumb and body in the palm of your hand, hold firm enough not to just drop her, but not enough to hurt her. just up and down, it will force water through the gills and out come the babies. in my opinion it is better than letting her starve.

 

[ringham]

yes thats true i'm sure, but i'm too big of a chicken#### to strip the eggs!

Mike

I am the same I could never strip my mouth brooders for fear of harming them. But my Mozambican mouth brooder went for 5 weeks without food!!!! she has recently spat out all of her fry and she eats TONNES of food. I guess that the females just try to restock whenever they don't have fry. But not eating is the way that it is supposed to be, it's not cruel.

 

[mikeg]

One more week.......... (as he sits there impatiently tapping his middle finger in front of the tank!)

 

[mikeg]

Well she had 9 fry. They are now 4 days old and have nearly tripled in size. First time any fish I have had had babies. It is so cool. Last night my wife had her bookclub meeting at our place. All the ladies (10 of them I think) really thought the babies were out of sight.

I want to thank all you for the calming advice telling me not to worry about the female possibly exploding during her 32 day holding period. hehe!

 

[trace1]

oh congratulations on ya fry