Stripping of cichlids

[Frank]

Hi all,

I would like to get some further information about stripping of cichlids, any good websites, literature or personal experience that in detail with advise how to do it the proper way without harming the fish.

Thanks

Frank

[Mbuna]

this is how i do it... have a shallow dish ready to place the female in. Hold her firmly with the left hand and use either a cotton ear bud or a paperclip (the U bit) and gently lever her mouth open whilst her head is submerged in the water. the fry should swim out. the last few fry are a bit harder to get out. i usually rest her for 15 minutes or so and then try again till they are all out. then place the female in a small tank to recooperate and put the fry in a fry saver.

hope this helps

Harry

[Frank]

Thanks Harry,

Will try in the morning I believe the Elec yellow has been holding for about 2 weeks, has double chin, dark, it looks like something is moving in there.

She is in a 1ft tank on her own, I am just to impatience to wait. Never stripped before hence the question.

Thank you for your advise.

Cheers

Frank

[Mazimbwe]

She is in a 1ft tank on her own, I am just to impatience to wait.

So you will stress, and risk injury to your, fish just because you are in a hurry to see what the babies look like??

C'mon. Did you get the fish to watch the amazing behaviour they exhibit, in the wild and in the aquarium(given half a chance), or not??

The fish you are talking about is as common-as-muck so there is no need to strip because the species is at risk.

You have a tank for her where she can release naturally, an amazing sight(far more amazing than seeing a stressed fish have her mouth forced open), and recover so there is not an issue of space.

Why not just leave her alone in the small tank and enjoy the full benefits of the fish?? Please.

[Lepperfish]

SO true, I was going to ask why would you strip her?

[Frank]

Hi Mazimbwe,

Thanks your message, I actually took offense to your email and was very close to tell you where to go (and it wasn't nice), decided to be nice about it.

As a newbie would like to get the experience of being able to know how to strip a fish without stressing it too much.

Whether the fish is common as muck is not the issue, couldn't care less.

My place is starting to look like a lfs, which I am not happy about, and I want to reduce the amount of tanks I have, presently running 4.

In future would appreciate if I post any items that I don't get your opinion as care factor is ZERO, you got on the wrong side of me.

Appreciate constructive critisism, not negative remarks or comments.

Cheers

Frank

ps: the warning indication just went up, but so what

[Fixem]

Hi Frank

I have done both, stripping and natural.

If you do decide to strip your fish it would be could if you had someone show you how to do it properley rather than try to do it uourself the first time.

If you were closer to my home I would come and assist you.

You have her in a tank on her own which is excellent and there is not that much longer to go, so it would be good if you could leave her to spit naturally. It is great to see the mum and bubs together

On my web page is a pic of a my salousi with her young, perhaps you want to take a look http://members.optusnet.com.au/fixem.

Regards and good luck whatever you decide.

Jeff

[Gav]

Well Frank, I agree 100% with Maz on this. Maz is an extremely experienced fishkeepr that really knows his stuff. somehow I doubt he will be too concerned if you don't want to hear from him in the future, your loss will be far greater than his, as you won't be able to share in the wealth of information he has.

there are many reasons to strip fish, some valid, some not so. lord knows I strip some of my fish for various reasons at times as well. but one fish I am loathe to even try and strip is a yellow. they have a very small mouth and it is VERY easy to injure them, and in my experience it is IMMENSELY difficult to strip a yellow compared with other species of fish. if you REALLY want to learn how to, try on a large zebra or a hap, bigger mouths on them. it is worth being a little patient and prevent potential injury to your female by just letting her spit on her own.

[Nigel]

I dont think it is the advice given thats the problem its how its given. As for if you should take the fry or not i am not in favor of it but i think it should be up to you. I dont think it is helpfull to come down on some one for wanting to learn how. Thats my 2c worth.

[Mazimbwe]

hmmm...alright then.

I am sorry not to have sugar-coated everything so as not to offend anyone. Like always, I have said what I feel is right(or needed) and not bothered with ensuring that the "Tone" of the text was not all sweet and nice.

Frank,

firstly I am sorry that I didn't read your post-count to realise you have been around here since May and have only made 56 posts. I would have thought that was long enough to realise that diplomacy was not a requirement here, let alone one of my specialities, but I was obviously wrong.

I actually took offense to your email and was very close to tell you where to go (and it wasn't nice), decided to be nice about it.

...firstly, I have not emailed you so I am suprised that you took offence to that which was not sent. If you were offended by my post that is something you will have to get over...my post had accurate information that was worth reading. If you wanna be offended that is your issue not mine.

It would seem, from your post, that your decision "...to be nice about it" would include telling me not to ever post in your threads again...not likely to happen coz I will not retain your "Tag" in my head and I will post on any thread on this Forum, that I am a member of, that I think I can help/contribute too.

The common-ness of the fish was not mentioned to get up your nose either...it was mentioned because the species is not at-risk of being lost to the hobby. Therefore there is no need to strip for the Fishes benefit.

As a newbie would like to get the experience of being able to know how to strip a fish without stressing it too much.

As you are a newbie the best bet is too let the fish "Spit" on her own-time in a Floaty(which you can build from the plans in the D.I.Y. Projects section) or in an isolation tank, like what you have done.

In future would appreciate if I post any items that I don't get your opinion as care factor is ZERO, you got on the wrong side of me.

Appreciate constructive critisism, not negative remarks or comments.

Once again that is your issue not mine. I did provide constructive critisism...Non-constructive Critisism would have been;

"Don't do it stupid."

...the fact that I provided instruction and advice would indicate that to me.

Get over it Frank. Don't get upset because you found my post too "blunt"...tell me I'm a rude bugga if ya want...but don't hold grudges over an interpretaion of tone-in-text.

Gav, thanx for the kind words(money is in the mail ).

Mod's, is there anyway that my posts can have an attached warning?? Something like the T.V. programs where they say such-n-such "May contain strong language or violence and may offend some viewers"

[Ant]

does sound a bit harsh, could have worded it a little better but you make a good point.

Anthony

PS: be mindfull of newbies, not saying people dont give good advice they just need to talk at the level of a newbie and cut some more slack. Just my 2 cents

[jebe]

JERY JERY JERY JERY JERY

[Gav]

ok, I reckon this cool emotican needs to be added, found it on perth forums

its :jerry:

[Serial-Cichlid]

Frank

Another way of getting good information about almost anything is to do a search on the forum or various forums. Most have a search facility. I know ACE does (Just look to the left).

You will see similar topics or questions you have, have already come up in the past and with some valuable information provided. There will occasionally be some bad information but it's your job to cull those posts. Gather as much good information as you can and well the only way to TRULY learn is experiment.

Google, the NSWCS or speaking to experienced breeders and getting them to show you are also great sources of information.

Congratulations on the mouthful. I'd personally let her spit naturally. It's a wonderful experience to see it for the first time.

Cheers

Paul

[jebe]

Sorry gav spelling is not my forte

[r.d.m]

heres my 2 bobs worth- id probably not strip for one good reason ,that is if the fry have any yolk sac theyll sink to the bottom and die my zebras(common as muck) hold up to 4 weeks, i would hold of for at least another week ,also you cant give zebras away but most lfs will pay good money for electric yellows

[anchar]

Hi Frank,

Maybe Maz was being...well...frank

merjo

[Ant]

lol @ merj.......thats a behaviour management strategy were are taught at uni....to use humer to diffuse the situation...lol

Anthony

PS: Im over it now