when should i strip my fry

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

so in a few previous threads i was thinking of doing some breeding. as luck may have it my maleri island peacock females are now holding. since i am new to this i was wondering how far i should let the female go before i strip her. i have egg tumblers i got when i bought a tank a while ago so i wanted to put those to use. they dont look too stressed in the tank, thats a plus. is it all just preference? are there any concerns of stripping too early?

[Jaws22]

I would isolate your female if you have another tank. The longer she holds the heathier your fry will be. If not, wait 14 days and use those tumblers.

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

Thanks. I'm setting up the tank today and pulling a sponge filter from the main tank. I can put both females in there right? Its a 15g tank and they'll be less stressed in there away from the rest of the community.

[djlamonica]

I haven't been breeding for very long at all I usually just pull my females when I notice them holding and let them hold for term in a separate tank then place them back into the breeding group.

[Jaws22]

You might want to leave the female in with the fry for about a week. She will be weak and needs to regain her strenth.

[djlamonica]

Well what i actually do is let her hold spit, she spends two days with the fry then she gets moved to a QT tank and then when she looks healthy placed back into the breeding group.  But I have it set up that way not every one can do that.

[Super Turtleman]

Before you remove her you want to make sure those eggs are fertilized. Leave her in with the group a few extra days to make sure the eggs are viable. If you have a tumbler and want to use it, I don't see the need to wait 2 weeks and then tumble. Give her a week in the tank with eggs, then pull her, strip her and tumble the eggs until they are ready. IME, I've never seen anything to indicate that letting her hold will produce more or healthier fry versus tumbling. By tumbling you also let her get back to eating faster. After you strip her you can add her back to the main group or give her a couple days in a tank to regain her strength. Personally, I just put mine back into the main tank. Also, if you remove her from the tank for an extended period, there's a chance that when you put her back in she could have a tougher time due to being the "new fish on the block". Just my two cents. Good luck and congrats!

[lilscoots]

I usually don't bother stripping at all, I wait about 21 days after I see her start holding, remove her to a separate tank, let her spit.  If she looks overly thin, I put her in with previous batches in a grow out tank, let her get some food in her and put her back in the main tank.  If I do strip, I also wait about that long, strip her and put her back in immediately.  I don't have tumblers so I don't have that option, but I suppose if I did, I'd strip her after a week of holding and put her directly back in the tank.

[jcunningham0295]

I usually strip all my females at around 17 days.  Usually leave them in them main tank until then.

[African cichlid Keeper]

I usually strip all my females at around 17 days.  Usually leave them in them main tank until then.

Same here^

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

thanks for everyone's input. its a huge help.