Stripping Labs

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kribensis12

I know where you live
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Okay, my female Lab has been holding for about 2 weeks. I intended to wait and see if she would spit them on her own. BUT, the longer she starves, the weaker she'll get. I don't have another tank for her to go in to recouperate. I need to put her back in the 30g with the other labs. I'd rather not let her starve any longer, because she will need all the energy she can get. So, would it be okay if I stripped her today? I was planning on using a Q-Tip instead of my fingernail or something, so I don't damage her mouth.
 
I would just let her be if she's in a seperate tank. these fish have developed over millions of years to do this mouthbrooding.

Some of mine have only 3-4 days between batches to feed up....Which is mad but if u saw the size of the tank and the rocks your understand why i cant do anything.

If you have too do it though i would wait another week, at 14 days the eggs should of hatched but the fry would be very weak.
 
But once she has spit, won't she eat the fry? That is what a guy at our fish club told me. I would prefer to let her spit them herselves, I just don't have a tank to put her in to re-couperate. I just don't to lose her, as the male is very presistant with breeding!
 
If their plenty of rocks, Ocean rock is great then the fry will live amount that and survive, labs tend not to touch their fry one their use to them.
However other fish will.
 
She is in her own 20g tank. Only fish in there. A PVC pipe, 2 fake plants, a piece of Bogwood, a coconut cave. Thats her tank atm. The other tank has some rockwork in it.
 
I agree with helterskelter just let her alone, IME labs are probably the hardest to strip due to their small mouths. And no, she won't eat her own fry, she will however allow them to hide in her mouth for the first week or so if they get scared of something. :wub:
 
Okay, I will leave her. And I'm going to be working at a Church camp on the 21st till the 4th of July. So, if she spits during that 2 weeks, will a Gel Vacation feeder( the only ones I trust) provide adequate food for them?
 
I stripped her today. I got about 9 fry. They are really healthy and swimming around. Should I be expecting more? She looks like she might have a couple left, I just couldnt get anymore out from her. She seems to be doing great after the stripping.
 
I stripped her today. I got about 9 fry. They are really healthy and swimming around. Should I be expecting more? She looks like she might have a couple left, I just couldnt get anymore out from her. She seems to be doing great after the stripping.

If she's really small and it's her first holding that may be all. I always found they'd hide a few no matter how hard I tried. :lol: To tell for sure you can turn off the room and tank lights at night and then shine a flash light on her buccal pouch. If you can see eyes and movement there's more in there.
 
9 sounds about right - I've just had 7 (that survived at least) from my female Socolofi. :good:
 
I had stripped her again, last night. I now have 13 fry. They are good sized. The female is doing great. I ahd a talk with a guy at my fish club, and he told me to bring them in a bag tonight, and he will put them in with his Lab fry until I get back. We have a cook out tonight, and Im going ot double bag them, fill it up with quite a bit of water, and add some oxygen pills I got from an auction.
 
Well, I just got back form working at a camp. It turns out the female has died. She died the day after I left( I moved her into the bigger tank with the other labs, as she seemed like she was in great health). I havent talked to the guy about the lab fry, but he keeps them all the time, so I'm sure they are doing great.
 
Well, I just got back form working at a camp. It turns out the female has died. She died the day after I left( I moved her into the bigger tank with the other labs, as she seemed like she was in great health). I havent talked to the guy about the lab fry, but he keeps them all the time, so I'm sure they are doing great.

I'm sorry to hear that, any idea what caused it?
 
I only have one idea. It wasnt the health it issue. It may be the fact that I had forgot to re-arrange the tank before putting her in established territorys.
 

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