oz_gooner Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 I have about 50 Pseudotropheus saulosi fry approx. 5mm long that are currently in a 1 1/2' tank with their mother. She has been holding them in the main tank and released them as soon as she went into the smaller tank so my question is how long can or should a mother and her fry be kept together before she goes back into the main tank? Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkw Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Hi Rob, I currently breed saulosi too, I usually separate the female from her fry as soon as they're spat. Putting her into her own fry saver and feeding her up a bit before she goes back into the main tank to build her strength up. - Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz_gooner Posted May 10, 2009 Author Share Posted May 10, 2009 Thanks Dan. I was thinking of letting her get her strength back but didn't think of putting her in a fry saver. When she is in the fry saver do you have her in the main tank or with the fry? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dkw Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Hi Rob, I put her in a fry saver in the main tank, Wouldn't put it in the fry tank in case she jumps out and wants a feed. - Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CThompson Posted May 11, 2009 Share Posted May 11, 2009 Females have been designed by evolution to stand up to holding young in their mouth without eating or at best at eating only small amounts for around 20 days or so. What's important to, is the position in the hierarchy the female fits and the time away she spends separated maintaining this position. In the wild this is not a big deal as she can go somewhere else, and in fact has never had to leave what she owns so can't lose her place in her world. In our tanks it is a different matter when she is taken out as you have done. I believe in a captive situation it is more important that she can avoid friction potentially caused by her removal that by any human perceived "weakening" she may undergo by her enforced diet. As the hobbyist, we decide if she holds full term or is stripped, both hold their pros and cons, and it is for you to weigh things up, and though fish seem to hold pretty good memories as to where they "fit" with the rest of the fish, the longer she is out of her world the greater the risk in her reintroduction. Personally I usually strip, but for those that I didn't and they held full term, there was no problem putting her straight back in provided the tank's fish hierarchy is fully established and not in flux. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oz_gooner Posted May 11, 2009 Author Share Posted May 11, 2009 I have dropped her back in the main tank tonight then dropped in a little food as a distraction as she was chased around by the other fish. Now it's time to drop the lights off early to settle the tank down. Just like the kids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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