RE: pseudocrenilabrus

["rick gomes" <r_gomes@classic.msn.com>]

I have kept mouthbrooding dwarfs yet but I have recently had the opportunity 
to watch my Assatatilapia Caliptera carry her first brood to free swimming 
size...but not before I ran out of patience and stripped her.
She carried the eggs/fry for about a week and a half before I decided to do 
anything with her.  Her chin began to get very dark as the fry developed on 
the inside.  Being impatient as I am, I decided to try rearing the fry myself 
to I could start her on another batch.  I stripped the fry and put them in a 
floating separation chamber.  
While the fry were seperated I took the opportunity to feed the mother.  After 
she fed there was a lone fry that had made it out and I watched her pick it 
up.  She the when up to the rest of the fry and tried to pick them up through 
the plastic.  Since she had fed and seemed interested in gettnig her babies 
back, and since I felt a little guilty, I put the fry back into the tank and 
she immediately started to gather them up once again.  Two days later she 
started to let them out on her own.  The dozen or so fry are taking powdered 
flake food and doing quite well.
Next time I think I'll just wait and not traumatize my poor fish.
Good Luck!
Rick
r_gomes@msn.com
- -----Original Message-----
From:	owner-apisto@listbox.com  On Behalf Of J.P.Haffegee -Julian Haffegee
Sent:	Friday, November 21, 1997 8:53 AM
To:	'apisto@majordomo.pobox.com'
Subject:	pseudocrenilabrus

Hello,
     My female pseudocrenilabrus nicholsi has a lump under her chin and has 
stopped eating(I think)- I'm assuming she has a mouth full of eggs. Should 
she be eating or not. And at what point will she spit out her fry?I've never 
seen a mouthbrooder mouthbrooding before so I don't know what to expect.
          Thanks for your help people
               

                    Jules
          


          Milton Keynes- its great