catch a holding lab

[JONP]

Other than a net in the water is there a better and more efficient way to catch a holding fish without causing so much stress?

I also posted this question in the breeding forum...

thanks,

 

[ikevi]

Do it after the tank has been dark for a few hours.

 

[JONP]

And then do what...just try to net her? I assume the purpose of the dark tank is because she'll sleep and need a moment to wake up and come to her senses?

Is that right?

thank you,

 

[ikevi]

Yep basically it will be very easy to catch her, but you have to be fast, and hope she isn't hiding in the rocks.

(If you try it during the day you can stress them out trying to catch them.)

Just curious any real reason you want to strip them? Because you soon will have more yellow labs than you know what to do with...

 

[JONP]

Yeah, I have a 39 gallon with my last babies, and I want to put them in that tank so i don't lose any to my larger fish. I wasn't planning to strip them I'm just going to put her in baby tank until she releases the fry.

My other babies are albino scofoli and lab mix. Fortunately my LFS will even trade me something for those. Outside of those reasons my wife and I have really had a lot of fun watching the other babies grow.

I always make trades with my LFS and this give some more fish to trade once of decent size.

 

[mike dunagan]

how big are the other babies in the tank? are you putting her in with other fry?

 

[JONP]

Yes, that is what I planned to do unless you all advise otherwise. The other babies were born late December and are still very small.

There are 10 total in the tank, my initial thoughts were that the mother can hide out under the rocks until she releases the fry.

What do you think?

 

[mike dunagan]

I think it could work, if they are not too large, to bug her... or the new fry...

 

[JONP]

ALL DONE, just fed all my fish in the main tank and she stayed under some rocks not eating as usual. I simply lowered my large net and put at the front opening of the rocks and she slowly swam into the net!

She seems a bit nervous in the babies tank but I've turned the lights off and I'll check on her in a bit.

Thanks for the help...

 

[mike dunagan]

gl