holding female, new tank.... now what?

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Misskiwi67

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Dec 19, 2002
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Hello,

My mom is getting a new cichlid tank for christmas, and we'll be setting it up for her on Saturday while she's at a meeting with my dad, so it will be a surprise. The problem is, she happily informed me that her lab is holding again. She's excited about it, but what do we do? Will the fish make the move ok, or should we leave her in the old tank until she has her babies?
 
I'm guessing when you say "holding" you are talking about a mouth brooder? I've successfully moved female African Cichlids while they were holding, but it is risky.

Is the new tank the same size as the old one, and if so, are you moving all of the water with it? Otherwise, you need to cycle the new tank before putting the fish in anyway, so you shouldn't move the fish right away. Or you can get some Bio-Spira to cycle the new tank which allows you to move the new fish in immdediately.

If the new tank is going where the old one was then you have to face the issue with moving the mouth brooder. How far along are the fry? I always took the fry from the female's mouth once their egg sacks were gone. This lets the female start eating again to gain back her strength.
 
The new tank is brand new, and about 50% larger. We'll be moving just enough water for the fish to acclimate easily, and the old filter will be used in conjuction with the new canister filter, so I'm not worried about new tank syndrome. I've set up many a new tank before, just never in this situation.

The eggs were probably laid on wednesday or thursday, so they'll be a little over a week old when we move the fish?? My mom didn't see the first batch laid, so she doesn't know how long it took them to develop last time. I believe the mother is a yellow lab, if that helps.

Move her, and hope for the best, or leave her in the old tank until its time to strip the fry?
 
So it sounds like the new tank will not be going where the old tank is? If that is the case then I would leave her in the old tank until you take the fry.
 
OH, sorry. No, the new tank will not be in the same place. Its going in the living room, as our very first show tank. All the rest of the tanks are in the spare bedroom. We'll leave her where she's at. Thanks for your help and quick replies!!
 
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