Mercy Stripping

I have one small yellow lab that is holding her second clutch of fry. But, she didn't really seem to recover well from the first brood although she must have recovered well enough to drop eggs again. Thing is, she looks just horrible. Her little belly is sunken and she looks completely emaciated. I am not going to keep the fry and am going to let her spit in the tank anyway but I was wondering if it is advisable to strip her early so she starts to eat again?

I am sure that I am over-reacting but she looks so pathetic and all she seems to be doing is pacing up and down the corner of the tank (out of character) so I am worried she'll starve herself to death. Does this happen or am I worrying for nothing? It will probably be next to impossible to catch her anyway with all the rock in the tank.
Let me know what you think I should do.
Graham

Very tough question. If it looks like she is in very poor condition I would not strip her. The stress from that might be enough to kill her. I would probebly move her from the main tank so she would have a safe enviroment. Because the rest of your cichlids will start to herass her if she is in a bad state.

I agree with Håkan. I have stripped for the reasons you mentioned, but if I had had an extra tank, I would probably have separated her to avoid having to strip.

If you are able to separate her, you could try offering a tiny bit of her regular food. I've had females that will eat a little while they are holding.

Have you stripped before?

Aura wrote:
Have you stripped before?

Yes, in University under the name "Kid Crisco" but that was a long time ago...

Ironically, the problem seems to be solved. When I went to feed them today she was out and voracious. She either spit them in the big tank today or swallowed them which I doubt. Either way she isn't holding any longer. She really did look starved though.

Thanks for the advice. I think I should get an extra 5 gal tank to have on hand for emergencies.

cancichfan wrote:
Yes, in University under the name "Kid Crisco" but that was a long time ago...

I just knew you would reply with an answer like that, but I left the question any way!

I'm glad it worked out for the skinny little holder. Now she can gain some weight back and be more prepared for the next time.

Hmm...I guess I'll have to learn to be less predictable.

Glad to hear she's OK.

You may still want to put her in a separate tank until she fattens up. I'd hate to see her holding again before she's fully recovered.

Having an extra tank is always a good idea when dealing with Mbuna. Whether it be for administering meds, allowing time to recover from a thrashing or just giving a holding female a break. You can run a small filter on your main tank to have ready for filtration if you need to set up the 5 or 10 gallon hospital/rest tank.

Thanks.
This has got me thinking about inventing the Mbuna diet. You hold a dozen marbles in your mouth for three weeks. If you can eat without swallowing the marbles, fine but you can't take them out and you can't swallow them.
I think it could catch on.

You can always try to sell that idé to the Tv shopping network .

The Mbuna diet.

Now you too can look like Twiggy. Our special marbles are specifically designed and certified to keep your mouth shut. No more eating. No more scrubbing of dishes. Your wife will pay attention to you again and best of all you don't have to answer her.
Buy our Mbuna Marbles today for the new low introductory price of $7.98 each.
(Circle mating not included.)

Wasn't there a philosopher that taught himself to speak properly by filling his mouth with pebbles?

iceblue wrote:The Mbuna diet.

Now you too can look like Twiggy. Our special marbles are specifically designed and certified to keep your mouth shut. No more eating. No more scrubbing of dishes. Your wife will pay attention to you again and best of all you don't have to answer her.
Buy our Mbuna Marbles today for the new low introductory price of $7.98 each.
(Circle mating not included.)

Seems I've found my Marketing manager...

Funny stuff right there!!!

I do not strip..

I had a lab hold for 31 deays..

cichlidman wrote:I do not strip..

I had a lab hold for 31 deays..

Curious, how big was the lab? This one would have to be stretched to be 2 inches long. Precocious little scamp.
I would think that a bigger fish would take longer to get emaciated.

Has anyone ever had a fish hold so long that it expired or is this just not likely?

Never had the mom die, but I have lost fry when a little demasoni held over time. I was so worried about her that I stripped her and two of the fry died almost immediately. I can't say for sure they died of starvation, but this is what one of the survivors looked like. Very gaunt.



I don't make a habit of stripping and prefer to let them spit when they are ready, but once in a while I feel like I have good reason to do it.

She was about 3".

I would strip before I would let her die.

WOW.. Betty her babies came out just fine. Nothing like this.
Bless it's little heart.

Aura wrote:Never had the mom die, but I have lost fry when a little demasoni held over time. I was so worried about her that I stripped her and two of the fry died almost immediately. I can't say for sure they died of starvation, but this is what one of the survivors looked like. Very gaunt.



I don't make a habit of stripping and prefer to let them spit when they are ready, but once in a while I feel like I have good reason to do it.

Wow , that´s weird looking demasoni. I guess there are pros and cons with both methods. With stripping, the females don´t lose there place in the tank hierarki as they often do if one moves them to another tank. On the other hand femals might lose the ability to do it the natural way generations down the line. This has happened in Norway where hugh numbers of salmon have escaped from fish farmers. They follow the wild salmon up the rivers and bully them when they try to breed.

I have had older moms hold on to the fry for days overtime, and when I finally caught and stripped them, the fry were huge! If I put her alone in a tank, she was more likely to spit there, maybe needed to feel they were safe.

i think its obvious they go through less stress if you strip them for you can cut the carryin time stress and possibility of this kind of losin the fish period,very touchy topic but,like we always say theres more than one way to skin a cat(strip a fish),,,lol,i honestly have a female fryeri when carryin shes almost 4 to5 years old that when ready hangs at the front of the tank and spits them within seconds of capture and honestly is eating flake food in her normal envirement within minutes, no more gettin picked on or worries again just mt expeiences