electric yellows

[Nick Burrows]

Hey i have a female that i think is holding eggs. She has been doin this for about 20 days i have now isolated her. when do u think the babies will emerge. At this stage should i be able to see any eggs or babies.

Cheers Nick

[Jammos]

you can't see them much as she won't be eating(or only a little). you won;t know if they are ready til they let them out(very protective).

If she still hasn't let them out in a month then the male hasn't done his job right. so it up to you wjat you want to do.

[herefishiefishie]

I like to strip the females at 14 days, that way the young are free swimming & easier to care for.

Frenchy

[Nick Burrows]

how do u do that, i definetly no theres babies as i saw an eye in he mouth

[herefishiefishie]

I use a tupperware bowl, never used for anything else.

Fill bowl with fish tank water.

Catch female, quickly & quietly. Place her in the bowl.

With your less dexterous hand, gently but firmly grasp the fish about the body. Your thumb should be resting across the fish's forehead, and your index finger behind the operculum. Hold the fish head down in water

Get a toothpic or something similar. Pen cap...

Push down gently on her bottm lip, to open her mouth. Never use the tip of tooth pick. use it length ways.

Gently rock the female back & forth, the babies should flow out of her mouth.

Place babies into a breeder net, I use home made floating fry raiser made with an ice cream container. or if you have the room, raise them in their own tank. Make sure water is the same from the main tank.

This is easy to do, daunting this first time. I took my first every mouthbrooder(electric blue) to a lfs to get them to show me. When you see it done its easy. Be better if you can get someone to your place to do it for you.

Hope this helps, sorry for length on reply, I havent been on the computer.

Frenchy

[Nick Burrows]

Cheers, well without my assistance she let the babies out of her mouth, 20 in total.

Now whats the best way to feed them, is brine shrimp the best option.

[malawi_man]

i just feed mine crushed flake from teh start

[Alan]

They have actually been feeding in their mother's mouth for close on 20 days now, so they could fend for themselves.

Of course if you want to improve their growth rate, go for the BBS.

Any other food given to the mum, you will see her pick it up, munch it, then spit it over the babies to eat.

Interesting behaviour.

Alan 104

[Nick Burrows]

cheers ill keep what ive been doin then.

[herefishiefishie]

As Alan said baby Brine Shrimp. Help them grow better, the cleaner the water the quicker they will grow too.

frenchy