Michigan Cichlid Association
General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Steve on June 09, 2013, 02:16:08 AM
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I think I may have my very first fish "holding". I just noticed one of my yellow labs has kind of a funny look right now. It's throat is somewhat bulged out a bit and I tried to watch and see but can't get a real good look yet, but it looks like maybe there is something in it's mouth. I've never had a holding fish before so this is new to me...but is this fish holding??
(http://img12.imageshack.us/img12/2740/holdingv.jpg)
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Yes sir.
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Congrats
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Congratulations!
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congrats Steve!
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Awesome this is a first for me ;D 8) 8) So if I want to help her keep the fry so they will survive I have a few questions then-
Should I set up a separete tank to put her in? And if so should I move her into it soon?
How long will she hold till she releases the fry?
Once the fry are released do I leave her with them in the fry tank for a bit or will she eat them if I leave her with them?
Anything else I need to know/should do?
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Wow I just noticed now that a 2nd lab seems to be holding as well if I'm not mistaken. So looks like I have two labs holding at the same time just in the past 24hrs. Let me know what the best way to go about taking care of them would be so I can try to save the fry.
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pic of lab #2
(http://img692.imageshack.us/img692/8343/holding2t.jpg)
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That one may have been holding for a little while. The belly is pretty empty.
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Anybody at all with some help on what to do far as "when" to move them to a different tank? I'm cleaning out a spare 20g right now but can't seem to find online any info about if I should move the holding fish ASAP or wait or? And will I need to cover the intake of the filter with something because I'm guessing the fry once spit are gonna be super tiny? Could really use some guidence from you guys that have done this before since this is my first time with a holding fish.
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I my self would not move the females.Give her 14-20 and catch her and strip the frys.Your 2nd photo looks like she is about due lol.after stripping I put frys in breeders net in same tank.Hope this helps.
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Thanks Stan. I was reading about stripping earlier and if I read correctly if I strip then I would have to tumble the eggs then right? because I don't have anything set up for tumbling them if I had to do that.
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A mason jar and an airstone will work in a warm area.
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That's true, but if frys are nice size you wont need tumbler.whats temp on your tank?
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Varies through the day depending on how long the light is on but stays steady between 77.2 to 78.4
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I would go 3 weeks at that temp.i keep my breeders at 80 and frys infemales mouth grow quicker at that temp IMO
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Took that 20g L tank I had for sale and turned it into a fry tank in preparation for the new babies. gave it a good cleaning, scraped all the blue paint off it and blacked out the back and sides. Keeping it a bare bottom tank for ease of cleaning but I coated the underside of the tank with gray drylok so it looked better and a bit more natural. Just have to pick up a new filter and heater tomorrow and seed the filter then hopefully I'll have some happy & healthy lab fry swimming around in it soon.
(http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/3803/frytank.jpg)
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When you first see the mom holding, you should wait a good week or so to be sure the eggs are fertilized. Then if you want to tumble you can catch her, strip the eggs and tumble them. Or you can catch her and put her in another tank or breeder net until she spits them. Or you can just let nature take it's course.
They will typically hold fry for 18 - 21 days IME. Once she releases the fry you can move her back into the main tank immediately (I do this) or you can keep her separated for a few days to give her time to recuperate and fatten her up a bit. You could keep her for a couple days with the fry but i prefer not to chance it.
As for feeding the fry, crushing/grinding up what you feed the adults into a powder will do them just fine. For fastest growing rate you can feed 3 times daily and do several water changes a week (3 or 4 is great). Keeping the tank temp around 80 degrees and good filtration/aeration should do the trick.
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Excellent info Emil thanks a ton 8) Also I have been trying to watch her this evening a bit just to see if I can see in her mouth and I did catch a glimpse of a little eyeball inside her mouth...that's kind'a freeky ;D lol
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As I am new to the whole fry thing too... here is my experience.
My wife does it all. ;D
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My wife will notice that a fish is holding way before me.
She marks the day and then waits about 2 weeks. If in question as to exact time, she will put the female in a breeder box for a little bit.
Then after the two weeks, she will strip the female. We don't want to worry about an egg tumbler.
The fry stay in the hang on breeder box for a week it two, the kind that cycles tank water through it. Then when they are eating good... into the fry tank they go.
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lots of great info I have fry with sacks on them and new to the breeding thing.. but got a lot of info from this... thanks..