Breeding: Mouthbrooding: Spitting

[Ant 0]

Just wondering wether they eat them straight after spitting, because thats why i am weary of letting them spit, because i don't want to end up with no fry?????

Anthony

PS: Pics of my lombardoi colony post has been shifted off the page at the moment so heres the link: http://ace.ipbhost.com/index.php?showtopic=738 . Just incase people cant be bothered looking at the second page and miss it.

Edited June 2, 2005 by AdelaideAnt

[BaZ 0]

I let all my females spit, and while I've never watched one for any length of time to test the theory, I'm pretty sure they don't eat any of the fry.

After a female has been holding for a couple of weeks, I move her into a fry saver in the same tank. She stays there until she spits, and I make sure I check her daily (but not hourly or anything super-obsessive) for any sign of fry.

Normally a female will spit all her fry in a matter of hours, so I normally find that one night there is no fry, and the next night there will be 30-60 depending on the female.

I've witnessed the spit a few times, and it is a fascinating thing to watch. Often a female will realise it is time, she'll let a few go to start with and keep an eye out for trouble. If she senses it is not safe, she will sometimes bring the fry back into her mouth again for a while.

There is every possibility that a few fry go missing before I get to them, but I also believe in nature's way being the best way. If a mother was to eat some of her fry, you could be pretty sure they were the ones which were not quite up to scratch, reducing your need to cull later.

If any of you guys are ever wondering how to get your wife/girlfriend interested in fish, arrange for her to witness this birthing process. It sure helped my wife to see my fish in a different light

[Ant 0]

Thanks baz man, you just changed my oppinion on stripping fish, great answer :D

Anthony

[fiona 0]

My females are safe with their fry for several days.

[BaZ 0]

No worries ant man :lol:

Let's not forget though, that this is just one way to do it. There are heaps out there who strip their fish at either egg or fry stage, and they all do this because it's the method which works best for them.

I just prefer this way myself.

[BLACKBAR 0]

i dont trust my females with fry i once had a fuellborni in same tank as her fry just her an fry came home in the afternoon and all fry were gone dont trust any fish that hasnt eaten for two weeks with small fry

[Mudrat 0]

I do pretty much the same as Baz does, and I leave the female in there for a few days after spitting with no problems.