removing holding female

[Ifoundnemo]

Hi, I have a rock krib which is holding:D I wondered about moving her into a small tank for a few days to release her babies. I have a ps greshaki which has just released her babies today in the big tank:( I was hoping to save some. I have put a small pile of pebbles in the corner of the tank to see if that will help. I would really love to save these babies as they are georgeous fish. I don't want to stress her in any way and have never moved a holding female before. What do you suggest? She has been holding for about a week now.
Thanks
Julie

[mouse6196]

I remove my females at night with the tank dark and just a room light on. I have found this to work. About 50% of the time, the female spits the young out within 12 hours of being moved but that's OK with me. Just have lots of fry food ready. I also use thick grass (plastic and large pebbles and still get about 30% survival rate.

[SGypsyMermaid]

i usually move them after they have been holding for 2 or 3 weeks. my tanks are cool, so the eggs take longer to develop than they would in a warmer tank. 2 weeks is probably a good general marker for when you should remove holding females. i occasionally get lucky and can catch a holding female, but most times, i have to break down the tank to get them.

[Chewy]

I waited about two weeks from when I though my peacock was holding. Then I waited and actually played net catch with the fish. She spit out all of the fish within a couple of minutes and has been placed back in her tank. No casualties so far.

I also had a labeotropheus holding and was given an idea from an lfs. Use a turkey baster Put the fish in and push water through, she will spit cuz that is what they do. (In my experience this caused way too much stress on the little bugger, the net catch wasn't all that hard (less contact with the fish.)

[Joebo1717]

its best not to net a holding female. If you have a tupperware you could push her into so she can be moved in water that is best for getting her not to spit the babies

[Ifoundnemo]

Thanks everyone. I do have a small tank I could use to raise fry in. I have never moved a holding female before, thats why I'm concerned. I do have a lot of breeding fish, but I haven't dealt with cichlids. They are a really beautiful fish and I'm sure I would have no problem getting rid of the babies. She doesn't have a very big lump in her throat but she is still hiding and not eating.
What would I feed the fry?
Thanks
Julie

[SGypsyMermaid]

crushed flake, baby brine shrimp, decapsulated brine shrimp eggs, etc....small stuff.

[Chewy]

Let me re-phrase. I was actually trying to get her to spit as she was starting to get chased by otto. The sooner she got her strength back the better. The fish were actually very large (she might have been holding longer as I hadn't really paid much attention to when I noticed she was holding. She had a HUUUUUUUUUGE number of fry, and considering her size when I purchased her it had to be her first (or atleast first I noticed. She has since gone back to tormenting Otto and chasing him as much as he chases her. (hopefully they take a break as I have little space for fry right now.) She did not at all seem stressed by going back and forth between nets (really big net really little fish you get the idea. The labeotropheus was really messed up but is okay now (turkey baster is a really bad idea and very ineffective.) All fry were very large at release and are of equal size in tank now

[Ifoundnemo]

Thanks everyone. I have just set up a tank, andI'm waiting for it to get to the proper temp. I have a fluval 2+ which constantly runs in 1 of my tanks incase I need a cycled filter, like now. I'm going to wait for it to get dark, and I will have a go at moving her. I'm really nervous about this, but I want to save these babies. Should I leave her with the babies for a couple of days to recover or will she eat them.
Thanks for the help everyone, I'll let you know how it goes.
Julie

[Matt V]

good luck, juile!

it's something that i used to get nervous about, but now that it happens a couple of times every month, i kinda get annoyed that i have to break down all that cover AGAIN...

:rolleyes:

i'd take her out as soon as she's spit 'em all. i used to have a second small tank that i called "recovery" where i would put them for a couple of weeks so that they would eat - did that after losing a couple females to over agressive males after they spawned too soon and becuase for a while, i was sort of awash in fry.

but now one tank has fry and the other a holding mom, so that arrangement is out for awhile....

[SGypsyMermaid]

i like to leave the new mom in with the fry while she regains her strength. it's fun to watch her interact with the babies. vics tend to hold for 15-21 days. the fry are teensy. i usually tempt the mom with food. when no one is near, she will frequently spit long enough to eat, then pick them up again. just be sure not to leave any uneaten food in the tank.

[Ifoundnemo]

Well, I finally caught her, what a nightmare! I had to strip the tank of everything and eventually she got tired and I caught her. I must say, I didn't like keep chasing her, it did worry me, maybe because it's my first time removing a female. I have put in a couple of plastic plants a barnacle and some little coloured stones, she's hiding under the filter. I have turned the lights out in the tank next to her and in the room, so she only has the dining room light on, and the tv, so she can settle.
i'll let you know how it goes.
Thanks
Julie

[SGypsyMermaid]

good luck, and have fun!:D

[Ifoundnemo]

Thanks. She is looking a little nervous this morning and hasn't released them yet. Hopefully she will soon, I just worry alot about her. I found a calico holding aswell last night and this morning I have found my golden bristlenoses have had more eggs, this is the 3rd time in 3 months, I'll be overrun soon with babies. But I love it:dance:
I will let you all know how it goes. Thanks again,
Julie

[Ifoundnemo]

Hi all, I had a look in the tank this morning and I have seen 3 babies:D they are so sweet. they are a bit bigger than I thought, I was expecting to see diddy ones.
Just thought I'd let you know, and say thanks for your help. When they are settled I will take a pic for you to see:D

Julie

[SGypsyMermaid]

congrats!!:party:

[Ifoundnemo]

I don't know whether or not to put mum back in her original tank:confused: she doesn't look very happy in the small tank, and is hiding a lot. Whats the best thing to do?
Thanks
Julie

[SGypsyMermaid]

it's your choice. she's just hiding because she's in an unfamiliar place and she's got babies to protect. depending on how long she has been out of the main tank, she may be viewed as a newcomer and treated as such. it is best to rearrange the tank decor and introduce her back into the tank just before 'lights out' for the night.

[Ifoundnemo]

Thanks, I have just been moving a few bits around in the tank, so I'll pop her back tonight. I haven't seen her eating, although I put a piece of algae wafer in last night just as I was going to bed and it wasn't there this morning. I have only seen 3 babies although there could be some hiding in the barnacle. I hope so, if not I'm happy I saved 3:)

[SGypsyMermaid]

she may have spit to eat and then picked them up again. the 3 that you see probably don't want to go back in her mouth and won't let her catch them.

[Ifoundnemo]

I have put her back in the main tank. She didn't have a lump in her throat so I'm hoping she had spat them all. I have seen 4 now so there could still be some hiding (hopefully).
thanks
julie