Troph's Spawned!!!

Congrats mate. I do not strip my females even when thin I find they will still take flake over the eggs and young.
I know lots of guys strip Tropheus as a matter of routine but I am not one of em.

The pleasure of breeding these guys for me is watching the female look after her own young.
If she looks bullied or getting a hard time with the males or other females in the main tank, then she gets a tank of her own for the duration.
Never lost a female poping her back into the main tank at night after her raising the young for up to 3 weeks.

I let em hold for at least 32 days before even considering stripping for the females and youngs health. (Yep they can hold a very long time but I think both the female and the young (yep while still in the mouth) can feed if given the chance and flake).

Tropheus are also not the easiest cichlid to strip I think, I at least find em very hard when I try it.
Hope you do not mind me posting this.
Pic of one of my my holders still holding after a couple of weeks.



All the best James

Congrats on the spawns Mike and I hope slim lady pulles through.

Thanks Everyone

Just got home from work and found another female holding!!! She's a bit smaller but hopefully she'll hold full term, could very well be her first spawn.

I'll try to get down there with the camera later, got a few things to do right now.

James, I agree with everything you said. They definitely eat while holding and based on how the fry from the first spawns ATTACKED the nls grow the first time I offered it to them I definitely believe they were getting some crumbs while in Mom's mouth. There was no figuring out what the food was, they knew what it was. I'm going to keep a close eye on her and decide based on how she's looking, she already looks like she just held for 4 weeks, I don't want to let her get much thinner. (your always welcome to post your pic's on my threads, I enjoy seeing them and the more info and pic's we can get on the site the better we'll be. My thread is your thread )

Dang, you must be doing something right. They always seem to be in the mood.

Norm, during water changes I add epsom salt, baking soda, and a crumbled up viagra

That's the secret, just don't tell anyone

I've got a straw and I'm coming over.

Norm!

Isn't Viagra a prescription drug?

Congrats on the spawns!

LOL!!! Good one Norm!!!

Got the camera batteries on the charger, will try to get some shots in a bit. Try being the key word...

Rift_Lakes_Rule wrote:I figure I'll give her 2 weeks and possibly strip her.

Mike, I pretend I didn't read this

Listen to James and give the poor girl a tank to relax and bring up her babies. I guaranty you that she will release them there. Then you can fatten her up in peace without putting her through the stress of stripping. Watching her look after the little ones is your reward. Leave her with the fry for about 2 weeks and then put her back to the group. I do this since over 30 years and have never lost a female that way. I put them back during the water change but James way will work too.

No stripping

Here's "Slim"








Here's the other 2 that are currently holding



This is one of the other 2 with no flash

Nice pics! Hope you get loads of fry Mike.