My new Callochromis

[amiidae]

Hey guys,

I just realized my female Callochromis Pleurospilus is holding fries in her mouth. As she is in a comm tank, so what should I do ?

1) Should I move her out ?
2) Keep her in the same tank but isolate her in a floating box ?
3) Just leave her there ?

Is there a need for me to remove the fries ?

[foreverfrontosa]

Originally Posted by amiidae

Hey guys,

I just realized my female Callochromis Pleurospilus is holding fries in her mouth. As she is in a comm tank, so what should I do ?

1) Should I move her out ?
2) Keep her in the same tank but isolate her in a floating box ?
3) Just leave her there ?

Is there a need for me to remove the fries ?

My opinion is to strip her. By using a toothpick will aid your stripping her in a safer way without hurting her mouth that is. Putting her in a floating box will only stress her out and might end up her eating the fries.

[tridentdiscus]

Ben,
Congrats! For me, I would let her hold for about a week than strip her of the eggs. Than let them hatch in a tumbler.
But let see what the expert say.

[Tonytlk]

Hi Ben,

Congrat on the spawn.

I second to Elvin's opinion, stripping her will help release the mum's stress (the fries safety) and she can recover earlier. And the fries can be taken care of separately, safely in a nursery tank

[amiidae]

ok, thanks for all the inputs. will try to do so.

Problem is, I don't know how many days has she been holding the fries/eggs ? so far, I can see some black round looking stuff inside her mouth.

[amiidae]

ok, the female released 8 fries (all average abt 10mm TL) in total after I net and put her into a tub. Was partly surprised that 8 came out fm a tiny looking mouth but was a little disappointed as I didn't managed to do that toothpick thingy.

All the fries are now in a floating box back in the main tank. so what to do next ? will they be ok ?

[Tonytlk]

That's great!! I would try not to use toothpick, may cause injury to the female mouth accidentally..

I would move them to a spare tank or nursery tank if possible.

The fries are free swimming already?

[amiidae]

yup, pretty jumpy as well but would rest on the tank floor most of the time.

[foreverfrontosa]

Originally Posted by amiidae

ok, the female released 8 fries (all average abt 10mm TL) in total after I net and put her into a tub. Was partly surprised that 8 came out fm a tiny looking mouth but was a little disappointed as I didn't managed to do that toothpick thingy.

All the fries are now in a floating box back in the main tank. so what to do next ? will they be ok ?

It is best to put them in a nursery tank with fine sand like Grade 0 coral or river or playsand. That way it will ensure the chance of lowest casualty rate.

This is what I do to all my fries and compared to floating box or tank without sand, the method I've mentioned just now is the best. After trying out so many methods.

[foreverfrontosa]

Originally Posted by Tonytlk

That's great!! I would try not to use toothpick, may cause injury to the female mouth accidentally..

I would move them to a spare tank or nursery tank if possible.

The fries are free swimming already?

I've got stubby fingers, so using toothpick for me would be a better choice for my situation but provided using it with the correct and meticulous method.