Yellow Lab Carrying?

[drdud]

Came home from work and caught my yellow labs "dancing" (yesterday). This morning, she is not eating and her mouth seems to be slightly open. I was making plans to move all occupants of the 29 gal to my 55, but I am weeks away. Does she need to be isolated? Is this all my imagination? Is there something special (small food or something) to feed her? She looks like she wants to eat. Is the first several times usually unsuccessful while she figures it out? Anyone know of a good article I should read?

I was thinking that I needed to speed up the move for everyone but her and move everyone but her to the 55 gal. I could leave her alone. Opinions?

[Weezer]

It's possible she is holding,{has eggs in her mouth} you have about 3 weeks or so before she will release them, it would be less stress full if in a week or so to move her to her own tank if possible, for now see if she eats, if not, shes holding, be aware that some times when they have there first batch, they usually eat them, you could leave her in the big tank but she may hold them to a point where it becomes unhealthy for her..We have an EY due any day in the fry tank...:)

[drdud]

She will not eat. Approaches food like she wants it, but does not eat. This is pretty cool. Before this happened, I planned to prep my 55 to move them all. I think I will stick with that plan and move all but her.

Anyone know of a good article that I should read? I read in another post something about "stripping". Sounds kind of violent to me.

[mee-mee]

Yes, I would put all the other cichlids in the 55 and keep her in the 29, and if you do strip her of the eggs, you will have to take care of the eggs yourself by using an egg tumbler...here is a link to egg tumblers (that is if you do want fry and plan on keeping them...

http://www.malawicichlidhomepage.com/aquainfo/egg_tumbler.html

As for stripping her, here is a link for the techniques for stripping, and it really isn't stressful for her, but if ya have the time and patience for the eggs,

http://www.aquariumlife.net/articles/fish-breeding/79.asp

When our female lab had her second batch of babies, we left her in the 80 gallon and it was very stressful for her because the other cichlids would chase her around and only 2 survived...and now she is on her 3rd batch and we have her in the fry tank, and she is doing quite well...it is all up to you on how you want to handle the eggs....let nature takes it's coarse or raise the eggs yourself...hope the links help....she will start to have a turkey neck and look like a chipmunk...IMO, I think they look cute with the bulgy cheeks and neck...but good luck and keep us posted...

[mee-mee]

The only thing that might scare you alittle is she will start to look alittle anorexic..but she will bounce back after she spits the babies out...and it is really neat to watch...you can actually see little eyeballs in her mouth...kind of creepy though...but really cool, like how does she keep all those eggs in her little mouth...and you can see them move around in her mouth also...but still really cool to look at, we have a magnifying glass next to our 20 to keep an eye on her and the babies in her mouth and see how they are developing...

[Wippit Guud]

My employer has a large ciclid tank. One of their Labs was carrying and they didn't want to lose the fry, so I took her home and kep her alone in a 10 gallon. Gave birth to 15, I kept 3 as payment for "babysitting". Once they were large enough to go in the bigger tank, off they went.

And I never appreciated how long it took for Labs to grow, mine are still small, and they're about 3 years old now.

[drdud]

Thank you for the website!!! (Aquariumlife.net) What a site!!! Also, thank you all for the support. Seems like the more I intervene, the more potential problems and mistakes I can make. I think I will stick to Plan A and move everyone else. This is so neat. I never expected this.

[Rbishop]

If you have a choice, move the other fish.