Help, female blue ahli spit babies too early.

[Blown 331]

I've got a 125 gal african cichlid tank with one male and 2 female blue ahlis. We've had the male for quite awhile and decided to get him 2 females about 6 months ago. Around March we noticed one of the females not eating so about 2 weeks later we put her in her own tank then about 2 weeks after that we had 9 swimming fry! Seemed like a low number but anyway they all made it execpt one who got passed a tank divider and killed by my baby (6 month old) Neolamp leiepi (sp?) :( Other than that they are all still doing great.
I hadn't been paying real close attention to the each individual fish then yesterday my girlfreind noticed that same ahli not eating. And wow was her chin buldging out, way more than last time even before she released them. So I figure I missed her holding all this time and she's about ready to release again. So I transfer back to the small tank. I was able to catch her pretty quickly and didn't think I stressed her out too bad but I guess I was wrong. :( After about 10 mintues in the small tank she started spitting them. First just 5 then more and more and more. They were not nearly ready and I guess she probably just started holding them. The reason her chin was so buldged out is because there are 32 of them, last time there were 9. Right now they are just fish heads and tails breaking out of eggs. It looks like maybe one is not fertilized so just say 31. They are moving and I can already tell they are closer to breaking free of the egg then they were an hour ago. I feel really bad because I know this is my doing but is there anything I need to do here? Help.

[excuzzzeme]

As long as they are able to move on their own they will be OK. Make sure you remove the female from the tank. Once they have consumed the yolk you will need to feed them at that time. I use Hikari "First Bites" as it is fine enough for them.

[Blown 331]

Awesome, that's what I was hoping. I'm pretty sure they are all moving. And I think the one I thought was not fertilized is actually breaking through now so there might be 32 after all. I'm really surprised there are so many.

[Pittbull]

On another note make sure you keep on water changes to aid in growth..

[efors]

Good luck with them! I think everything is going to be OK .
To avoid something like this in the future, remember to check daily your females and when removing a holding female, do it around day #15 to #20 of that holding period. This way, if she spits the fry on the removal action, they are going to be more mature; so bigger and possibly ready to feed by themselves.

[cris gaston]

Hi. As long as they have distinctive heads and wiggling tails they should be ok. If you have a hatching jar, it would be best. You can also put the wigglers with a mild stream of air in a jar submerged at the bottom of the tank. The fry will swim out on their own when ready. Good luck.

[Pittbull]

Egg tumbler would be a good piece of equipment for this situation..

[Blown 331]

Thanks for everyones help. I think I lost one. I have like 29 that are swimming and doing great. But now that same female is holding again! Her first batch from spring is getting pretty big and some are turning slightly blue.

[Schneider]

Awesome, that's what I was hoping. I'm pretty sure they are all moving. And I think the one I thought was not fertilized is actually breaking through now so there might be 32 after all. I'm really surprised there are so many.

Don't be surprised. Some people have had these fish spit 60 fry or more. Did you know that the fish sold in pet stores as ahlis are actually Scianochromis Fryeri? True Ahlis are a dull silver fish.

[Blown 331]

Don't be surprised. Some people have had these fish spit 60 fry or more. Did you know that the fish sold in pet stores as ahlis are actually Scianochromis Fryeri? True Ahlis are a dull silver fish.

The male is big and really bright blue. The 2 females are much smaller and are dull silver.
Her first time was 9 fish, then 30 and I think she's getting ready to let them go again so we'll see how many this time. As soon as the first batch turns color I'll probably sell some.

[Blown 331]

Well I just moved her over with the 29 she just let got. Pretty much as soon as I moved her she spit them again. I guess she doesnt like the small thank. At least this time they were about 3 weeks along so they are swimming. I'm not sure how many there are, I'd say over 15 for sure. Kinda hard to count with the other 29 in there, though they are smaller so I can tell them apart. They get along fine, not a huge size difference. I'd say there are over 50 fry in there, crazy. Then I have the ones from her first batch, they are about inch or more long, some have a slight blue tint developing.

[Coler]

Great advice guys - good luck with the fry Blown - pics pls :)

[efors]

It's great to know about your success with the fry; congratulations!