To strip or not to strip that is the question

[Loon36cf]

Hey guys and gals just curious what method you typically use.

Remove the female in separate tank and let her spit
Or
Strip the fry in their own tank or what ever you may do?

Curious on what you guys see as the most effective method

[Regalblue]

If I'm going to grow the fry out, then I strip the female.

[Loon36cf]

In a separate tank I'm assuming right? And do you put the female in a separate tank to regain strength? These are things I have read online how long do you wait to strip the female?

[Regalblue]

Yes I'll put the fry in their own tank/container. I put the female right back where I got her from, unless I see a need to do otherwise.
 I'll usually wait 2weeks from the time I notice her holding.

[Loon36cf]

Alright cool that's what I have been doing thanks a lot Blair

[TrailerParkFishTanks]

i do the same thing. wait about 2 weeks, pull her from the tank and strip her, put her directly back in the tank, tumble eggs til i see them swimming from the top to the bottom of tumbler, then i'll let them free swim (in a seperate tank). it doesnt really have to be two weeks, it could be longer or shorter depending on your schedule and how busy you are. you just want her to hold the eggs long enough to make sure their fertilized and if possible you dont want to wait til shes about to spit because she'll be weak at that point.

[Regalblue]

FWIW - one theory of why it's not good to strip the fry is that you want the fry to experience being mouth brood.  This way they have it imprinted upon them.  I've actually heard other hobbyists blame a fish's failure to hold eggs to term on being taken too early themselves. 

[jcunningham0295]

I usually pull the fry from the female around 14 to 18 days and put the fry in a fry saver for a little while.  Then put the female back in the tank, but in a mesh net so I can feed her for about a week before I release her.  By not doing this I have found the males harass the females right away and the females don't have any time to rest.

[African cichlid Keeper]

I usually pull the fry from the female around 14 to 18 days and put the fry in a fry saver for a little while.  Then put the female back in the tank, but in a mesh net so I can feed her for about a week before I release her.  By not doing this I have found the males harass the females right away and the females don't have any time to rest.

^ I agree

[lilscoots]

I move the female when she's noticeably ready to spit into a 10 gallon and let her spit naturally, I then move her to a grow-out tank and let her fatten up in there, then move her back to the main tank.  I raise pretty peaceful haps/peacocks though so reintroducing a female after a week isn't a problem.

[Loon36cf]

I have used both strategies but the fry are not grown out enough to determine if one batch will be more prone to hold easier or not

[RichE]

I just take my clothes off until some one tells me to stop stripping

[Loon36cf]

I just take my clothes off until some one tells me to stop stripping

That time I did throw up in my mouth and everywhere else

[Regalblue]

I just take my clothes off until some one tells me to stop stripping

[Frontboy7]

ROFLMAO!