Being rather new to cichlid breeding, I was wondering if someone could detail the technique of stripping female African cichlids.
Many of my fish - ie crimson tides, tangerine zebs, red empress, red butterfly have held mouthfuls - but I felt too inexperienced to strip the females - resulting in very few (if any) fry.
Any help or suggestions offered would be most appreciated.
Thanking you ..........
I used to strip my females but found it easier to place them in a 10L floating frysaver when they're about to spit (usually after 3 weeks from when I first see a mouthfull). I then make sure I pull the mum out not too long after so she doesn't eat the fry, as she herself actually hasn't eaten for 3-4 weeks.
But read up on some real good info here:
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/stripping.php
and....
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/stripping_fry.php
and....
http://www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/malawi_cichlids_breeding.php
cheers.
I use a gravel vacum I take the hose of turn the tube upside with the small hole at the bottom half fill it with water place the female in, place my finger over the small hole and hold it above a net resting on top of the tank, when her mouth goes over the hole i remove my finger from the hole the water then sucks the babies out and into the net. The best part of this method is that the water goes straight back into the tank and the female also goes straight back into the colony and shows no sign of the ussual wierd swimming after milking her.
Catch female. Wet your hand with aquarium water. Hold her with your last 3 fingers, open her mouth with a paper clip and gently squeeze her gills with your first finger and thumb and she'll drop them out. Do every female in the tank every fortnight and you will have all your eggs at simular stages then hatch the eggs in a tumbler.
Works a treat.
Good luck Linda
My sincere thanks to all those who replied to this post.
I like your idea braddo - sounds like something I could do .... handling the fish is a little daunting to me - I am afraid of hurting it ....
I will now - with confidence try to strip my next holding female.
Thanks again everyone !!!!!
i usually put the holding female in a bag floating in main tank then gently squeeze the gills she will just spit them out. 8)
Another way that does't require squeezing is to get a syringe (no needle) and while holding the female in a net over the tank, gently squirt the water out of the syringe into her mouth. the pressure forces the eggs out and into the net. Put the female back and tumble the eggs.
Wilson.
I think the earbud is the easiest.
[quote:9356f3163d="jjfish"]I think the earbud is the easiest.[/quote:9356f3163d]
yeh i use one of those to hold the bottom lip open, hold her upside down with head in water and out they come :wink:
Have to agree,
I used to use the syringe method, but now prefer the cotton tip do it under water in a bucket of tank water, no squeezing needed, but be careful not to over open her mouth.
place her in a big fry cage i use a 5L fry cage and gentaly pick her up and open her mouth with ether your finger or ear bud....and shake the fry out BUT BE CAREFUL.....
[quote:f65010a851]Need help stripping females[/quote:f65010a851]
Mate, its not that hard. Although you gotta put in a bit of effort first, you know, put on some sexy music, whisper a few naughty words in their ear... or if you feed them a few glasses of wine (or ten) it can be a bit easier! :wink:
Then it all comes easy, unbutton the shirt, unzip the pants, but those damn bra's ( :roll: )... they are the hardest bit, just takes a bit of practice (push the hooks back through the loops. Looks easier than it is, but you'll soon get the hang of it, maybe even one handed, now that'll really impress 'em :wink: ).... but you'll soon be stripping those females in no time like a smooth operator!
[quote:f65010a851]but I felt too inexperienced to strip the females [/quote:f65010a851]
Mate, that's probably the main issue why your having trouble, you gotta be confidant! Females can smell fear! Even if you are inexperienced, you CANNOT let them know that, or they will run a mile! Just keep repeating to your self "I'm smooth, she digs me, i can, and will, strip this female... Ohhhh BABY!"
Hope this helps, good luck!
:D
:lol: lol
there has to be one in every crowd :lol:
[quote:877272782f]if you feed them a few glasses of wine (or ten)[/quote:877272782f]
sometime sprits work better :D
anyways good luck Ulysses048
emiee :P
:lol: LOL now that is some pretty funny reading....
Especially when you guys don't realise that Ulysses is a FEMALE herself!! :roll:
Jaynee :lol: ROFL!!
Yep Jaynee - you are correct !!!
Update on this post ...........
My Johanni female had mouthful - waited 10 days - put her in breeding net waiting to work up the courage to strip her - she spat 6 babies after being there for 5 minutes !!!! - thought she looked like she was holding more - next morning - no sign of any babies - could she have eaten them??? - next day she spat 3 more babies - and had started eating - so released her. So now have my first - though only 3 Johanni babies !!!!
So still have not had the opportunity to try my skills at stripping females - but next time ??????????
Thanks again to all those who replied with helpful information - and to those who provided a lit bit of humour. Kind regards
I did because ulysses came to my place and got a male red empress by the way hows he going. :D
try a ziptie it will give less restriction for the eggs. good for small moth fish also.