To Strip or not to strip?

[cichlidwoman]

I have a lombardi female thats been holding eggs for about two days, just wanted to know if I was going to strip her how long should I let her hold them for? Or should I move her on her own to a little 20L holding tank untill she spits?

Alana

[nemo1981]

from my experience lately, i would say strip and tumble if you can.
i have 5 hongi females who have held for easy 5 weeks :roll: and it has taken it's toll on them, i stripped them last night, still some more to be stripped, a bit of a pain.
i stripped an electric blue female who's eggs had just started to develop into fish, put those eggs in a strainer above an air stone, and now they're free swimming, the female is none the worse for wear too :D .

but that being said, it all depends on if you have the stuff to do it, otherwise just move them to a seperate tank to spit.
all fish are different.
i used to have some peacocks and the female spat them out when they were free swimming, and it didn't take much out of her.

my electric blue females held for about 3 weeks, and they were easy enough to get the fry out of, but the hongi...... :evil:  man these girls are good mums i'll give them that, they just don't want to let them go.

anyway, after my long ramble, i would say, if you have a strainer, and a spare airstone, and a bit of styro to float the strainer, strip the eggs out into that and put the stone underneath to tumble them.

heaps less wear on the females, and the eggs hatch fine.

i'm sure the professionals can be of a bit more detail and help. :wink:

[Dyce]

leave her for atleast another week before stripping though.

[cichlidwoman]

thanks Steve, off to coles to get a strainer  :)

[cichlidwoman]

shall do - can't hurt to let them develop a bit more.

Also does anyone have any fool proof fantastic tips for catching females with mouth fulls, that they've honed over their fishkeeping time? I have a 6ft and is an absolute mission...

thanks in advance

[nemo1981]

pull out any ornaments that you possibly can take out.
use 2 nets.
try to corner her in one end and use both nets to catch her (ie. have one positioned in a corner, and the other to herd her towards it).

hope that helps ya :wink: