MissMTS

Yay!!!

I have my yellow lab babies! I decided to strip the mom (I know this is controversial) because she was getting so emmaciated and and was really not doing well (since the moms can't eat for the 30 days that they hold the young). All the little babies are grey and not colored up yet, but they are so cute! These are the first fry I have had besides livebearers who bread whether you like it or not, lol. Hopefully I can do a good job raising these guys.

By the way, I don't suggest trying to strip a female unless you are shown how by someone who is experienced. You could end up really injuring your fish.

Lucy

Congrats on your babies! What no pics?

MissMTS

Thanks Lucy They are to tiny for me to get pics of yet. I will get pics up as soon as I can. I am trying to get them to eat. I am going to get some baby brine shrimp. Hopefully they will like that. I counted this morning and there are 11 babies total. Yipee!

Martinismommy

Congratulations! Can you explain what "Stripping" is?

MissMTS

Thanks!

Stripping is something that can be done to mouthbrooding cichlids. When the mothers are holding the fry in their mouths they cannot eat. After almost a month of not eating they sometimes get pretty emaciated and sickly. Stripping involves making the female spit her fry out a few days early. The way that I was taught to do it is pretty harmless. You net the mommy and hold her upsidedown with the net still wrapped around her so she doesn't slip. I used my finger to open her bottom lip and she spit all of her fry out into the breeder net. The process takes no longer than a minute. She is so much happier now, and she ate this morning.

Martinismommy

Wow......How weird! Kind of like inducing a birth.....Hummmmmm Glad Mom and babies are fine....

MissMTS

Yeah thats what it reminds me of too. I am glad they are okay too. I was really nervous to do it.

Allie

You can strip them at 21 days. We always strip our moms. It's easier to keep track of how old each batch of fish is.
14...she must be still small is she? Our had have 24 fry to 63(in our blue haps and acei)
Congrats...I love yellow lab fry.

MissMTS

Thanks! She is still really small. Only a little over two inches. The male is 4 inches, lol. One of the main reasons that I wanted to strip her is I was afraid she would spit the babies when I wasn't home that that they would get eaten. Now they are safe in their little breeder net

Allie

The young ones do tend to eat their babies the first few times. He is robbing the cradle lol.

FishFolk

Congrats MOM!

Angela_96

Congrats! I have had to get in the pattern of stripping my females, they are bad about swallowing, and eatting their fry.

I am sure you will have more fry in the next batch, my larger female lab had around 30+ in her last batch.

MissMTS

Thanks

I am glad to hear that I am not the only one who does it I have heard that some people think it is bad, but IMO it seems better for the mom and the babies as long as you make sure you do it properly. 30+ Fry I don't think my little mommy could fit that many in her mouth. The poor thing was bursting! Before I made her spit, I looked in her mouth and I could see the head of on of the little babies!

Angela_96

I was in shock when I stripped her, I kept saying well, this must be it, then I saw more. I did it in a way where she got to rest for a little after spitting some. then I put her in a holding container, fed her good and let her get accustomed to her tank again.
The kenyis last batch, well I expected it from her, she is large compared to my other cichlids.

I think it does make it better for the mother, after not eating good for a month, they look so pitiful.

COBettaCouple

Congrats and hope to see pics of the cute little ones soon.