Female Mbuna lost her eggs/fry? Help

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Blown 331

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Feb 24, 2007
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I've got a 125 gallon African ciclid tank. Kind of a mix of everything. I've got a male and a female mbuna. They are red face mac to be more specific. I noticed the male shaking in front of the female a lot then digging a hole next to a rock. This went on for about a week. I figured I really should have at least one more female in there but I was unable to find another female red face mac. Well all of the sudden the male was back to normal and no longer chasing her. The female was not eating. When I'd go to feed them she'd come over and go for the food but then let it bounce off her mouth, she wouldn't open it.
Well I've got a 20 gallon tank sitting on the floor with 11 Neolamprous Leipei (sp) fry, they are about a week old. I bought a tank divider today and was going to divide the tank in half and put my female mbuna on one side. But one problem, she is now eating! She went at least 6 days without eating and now she was going crazy and eating everying, she ate way more than any other fish. What happened? Did she eat the eggs? Or what happens if she releases them too early? Any ideas here?
 
^ I agree.

Sometimes it take a couple times for them to learn what to do with the eggs. If this was her first time holding she might have swallowed the eggs or spit them too early. If she spit them early they were probably eaten almost immediately by the other fish in the tank. Sometimes they'll spit the eggs early or swallow them if they feel threatened by other fish.

We've found our holding females to be fine in a fry tank (with no dividers). None of ours have ever eaten the other fry, even after they spit their own. Depending on the fish, some of ours will eat a little when they're holding. They will grab a piece of algae wafer or pellet and hold it in their mouth, either waiting for the food to dissolve so the fry can eat it or letting them eat pieces of it while she holds it for them.

It's only a matter of time before she gets it right and has successful spawns. Usually once they start spawning they don't stop, as long as their healthy and have good water quality (frequent water changes encourage ours to spawn regularly).
 
Awesome, thanks guys. Yes this is the first time she was holding ever. At least this is just normal. I was kinda worried something was wrong. Still a little dissapointing but no big deal I guess. Hopeully she gets it next time.
 
Also if she picks up the eggs before there fertilized, they will spit them out in about a week, our peacock has done this several times.....:)
 
Weezer said:
Also if she picks up the eggs before there fertilized, they will spit them out in about a week, our peacock has done this several times.....:)
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I was thinking the same thing... I've seen them spit after 6 days several times. I was told it was because the eggs are not fertile and she spits/eats them. When fertile, the eggs give off hormones as they grow inspiring her to hold them longer. (this may be BS idk?, but I'm only passing on what I was told) lol

Also, I've never seen them get it right the first time either.

Good luck!
 
Also if she picks up the eggs before there fertilized, they will spit them out in about a week, our peacock has done this several times..
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My female ice blue zebra has did this the last time. She would not let the male near he, she just laid the eggs then picked them up. Hopefully she gets it right the next time. She's a nice looking female and my male is beautiful.
 
I'm pretty sure they were fertilized because before she started carrying the male was really aggressive towards her. Chasing her around, shaking in front of her etc. After she started carrying he pretty much ignored her. lol. Seems like he thought his job was done. lol. I'm going to call another place in an hour that has a great selection of fish to see if they have a female red face mac. The place we got them from no longer has them. We did find a place with red fac macs but all male. Here is a pic of a male if you don't know what fish I'm talking about. The females look good too, they are a yellowish peach color not super plain like a lot of other females. I've seen them called Red Cheek Macrophthalmus too.
TropheopsRedCheekWFCiaf_Ap18BM.jpg
 
Well the place I got them from no longer has them and doesn't know if they will get more. I would really like another female. I was going to order one on-line but I can't find one anywhere. If anyone knows where I can get one let me know or I guess I'll have the see if the place with the males gets more.
 
Blown 331 said:
Here is a pic of a male if you don't know what fish I'm talking about. The females look good too, they are a yellowish peach color not super plain like a lot of other females. I've seen them called Red Cheek Macrophthalmus too.
TropheopsRedCheekWFCiaf_Ap18BM.jpg
Click to expand...

Hi, Blown 331!
This fish is IMHO Tropheops sp. "mauve", known as Pseudotropheus Tropheops Blue Tanzania; females are as you described them. The male Red Cheek Macrophthalmus is of a similar Tropheops species, darker in color than this one and females are very light yellow. Anyways, both species are beautiful fishes. I wish you very good luck in your breeding efforts. :thm:
 
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