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Post by jonv on Oct 17, 2008 22:23:03 GMT -5
Mouthbrooders do not eat at all during the entire incubation period, which is one reason why mouthbrooding is very dynamic and extraordinary. It also goes very much to support the concept in how fish do not utilize food in the same manners that humans and other mammals do also. Food is not used for caloric heating of the body hence why fish are cold blooded. I'm not exactly sure what the role of food is to a fish, but it's clearly not the same factor that it is with us.
I've seen it posted before, very rarely does a fish ever die off from starvation also, and seeing how dynamic mouthbrooding is, I think that only goes to support that point. My concern here is the non presence of free swimming fry at this length of time, which I've never had any female of any species go this long without seeing fry out and swimming around.
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Post by brenda on Oct 17, 2008 23:17:40 GMT -5
Just because I haven't seen them doesn't mean she hasn't let them out at all. In fact tonight after I turned the light off she was swimming all over the place. I think she may have let them out for a while. If I even walk up to the tank though she darts to the other end with her face in a corner. I also don't know if this is her first time as she is actually pretty decent sized. My little Rubescen female was way smaller then this female is...I would guess she has held before. I bought these guys together and she is at least 3" with good body and the male is over 4". I still hope she spits them soon. As you said Jon she can't hold them forever. I had read with peacocks 28 days is pretty normal...When should I REALLY worry and can anything be done?
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Post by brenda on Oct 18, 2008 19:28:01 GMT -5
Well, she spit them...I have found 4 not sure if that is it . We'll see how many make it.
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Post by bikeguy33 on Oct 18, 2008 20:33:43 GMT -5
i bet there are more.....watch her long enough without any sudden movements. she is used to seeing you and will probably forget you are even there.
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Post by 8 in the Corner on Oct 18, 2008 22:01:08 GMT -5
Well, she spit them...I have found 4 not sure if that is it . We'll see how many make it. What do you feed your fry? I give mine Hikari First Bites for egglayers, three times a day for the first 2 weeks and then gradually larger flake food and baby brine shrimp until they can eat regular flakes with the other fish.
Good, high protein food and frequent (every 3 days) partial (30%) water changes are the best thing for the fry now. That will give you the highest % of survivors.
Most likely there are more, either still in her mouth or hiding out in the birthing tank. Four is a very small number for them, even at a first spawn.
John
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Post by brenda on Oct 19, 2008 9:23:21 GMT -5
I have been feeding my one little guy mostly HBH super soft krill pellets just because they crumble nicely and they sink slow for him to get it. I used to crush up flake food but found these pellets work better.
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Post by brenda on Oct 20, 2008 8:34:49 GMT -5
Well, I have counted 7 now...We'll see if the number keeps going up. Is it possible she still has some in her mouth? She is still not really eating. The first day I noticed a couple she grab a couple bites of food but now is back to not eating. She looks really good that is why I wonder could she have more in her mouth.
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Post by 8 in the Corner on Oct 20, 2008 12:40:51 GMT -5
It is very possible that she still is carrying a few with her. For a few days after the first spit, they will allow the fry to re-enter if there is something threatening in the area. A large scary shape outside the tank would be enough for that to happen.
I have an O.B. peacock female holding right now that has spit and recollected a few times. I am giving her enough time to get them all out for good before I put her back into the main tank. She is small (3") so I don't expect too many fry from her. Maybe 8-10.
John
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Post by Carl on Oct 20, 2008 17:07:23 GMT -5
Congrats Brenda that she finally has released at least some of her brood.
Is she eating yet, which can also be an indicator of whether she has released therm all or not.
I like your wording and points Jon V and thought I would add to this that one major difference between us warm blooded humans and cold blooded fish and that is that fish provide their energy primarily via fats while humans need much more carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are mostly useless to fish which is why so many fish foods that are high in cereals vs. fats are very poor quality fish foods, especially for fry and "weak" female mouth brooding cichlids before and after spawning.
Carl
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Post by brenda on Oct 22, 2008 21:40:12 GMT -5
Ok, I am up to 8...we'll see if that is it or not.
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Post by eve on Oct 31, 2008 21:16:24 GMT -5
congrats any updates or maybe pics/??
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