Hap. Ahli ????????

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PetsGoRound

Feeder Fish
MFK Member
Apr 2, 2008
28
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Bowling Green KY
I have a female Ahli's that is holding and seems like for ever. Can they hold them too long and kill the babies or anything? I have bred other cichlids for a long time but I dont think I have had one hold for this long. Her mouth and throat is huge and bulging out. :nilly:

I am planning of striping the babies soon but thought I would ask first.

Thank You for your help
 
i doubt it if shes held before. shes probably been holding her long enough. if i were you id strip her.
 
The females can hold for up to 4weeks. The longer they stay in the mothers mouth the better as they are taking in the necessary bacteria.
Drop some food in to try and entice her to spit. I think we get impatient and want the fry out so we can see them. Leave it up to nature!
:naughty::ROFL::headbang2:nilly:
 
If it's been 3 weeks then she should be ready to spit. Much longer than that and the fry will begin to be deprived of food.
She may not be comfortable enough to spit them out.
I've had females hold longer than necessary because they could not find a suitable place to spit their fry. Once removed and placed into a tank with plenty of small rocks to offer the fry cover they spit.
 
I had my female Zebra Obliquedens hold for almost a month. I was a biscuit away from stripping myself. Then they spit. Fry are about a third of an inch now and one of the fems is holding again. The male is taking his time with the other fem...
 
NEVER STRIP A FISH LIKE THAT. you have no idea how bad that is for the potential fry or how much it stresses out the parent. DO NOT DO IT! let it happen on its own
 
le patron;1811317; said:
NEVER STRIP A FISH LIKE THAT. you have no idea how bad that is for the potential fry or how much it stresses out the parent. DO NOT DO IT! let it happen on its own
Click to expand...


I wouldn't say never. If the mother looks extremely thin then she could actually die by holding too long.

But I would also say, be patient and let nature take its course...
 
le patron;1811317; said:
NEVER STRIP A FISH LIKE THAT. you have no idea how bad that is for the potential fry or how much it stresses out the parent. DO NOT DO IT! let it happen on its own
Click to expand...

Stripping is an option for healthy fish and possibly the better option for females who look like holding even longer may only be detrimental to their health.
Stripping is stressful and improper stripping can severely injure or kill a fish but holding is also stressful. A female often seeks out a place of seclusion where she can brood without putting out so much energy. If a female holds longer than she has to it is obvious stress that is driving her to do so, not finding an adequate place to spit her fry or fear of too many possible predators that may prey on her fry.
 
Thank You for all your help. I did stip the fry and she had about 40. They are all about a week old and doing great!! I have the female in a tank by her self so she can fatten back up.

Thank You again
Jason
 
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