Holding Tropheus

[DNICE]

She's pretty young, been holding about 5 days....... I don't have much experience w/ breeding. Is it worth trying to strip the eggs?

[AlishanAS]

I am not a Tropheus afficianado but I have have heard that some of the varients leave their young alone(lupota) while other will make meals out of them(moliro).

Perhaps Joe Jaskot or Bill can chime in with their experience.

Which varient are yours? Bembas?

[Afreakin]

Depends. What is in the tank with them? They may eat the first few broods but they will eventually leave them if they are the only group in the tank. If not strip her after 14 - 18 days. Good luck and keep us posted :)

[fischfan13]

I have always left my Tropheus alone. Have enough hiding areas (stacked rocks and even plastic plants) and the fry will be able to survive and grow into the colony.
As Tom said, my Moliro chased the fry all of the time, and never left them alone until the fry became much older and were accepted into the colony. My Lupota let the fry eat along side of them and there is just an occasional nudge back into the rocks.
I would leave her alone.

[DNICE]

I was thinking about leaving her alone. I have stripped peacocks before so I am familiar with the process. There are 3 Syno. multipunctatus in with the Tropheus. They would probably eat the fry, right? I have had them for 3 months, they are only about 2 inches, so I am happy they are spawning already!! Getting a 75g, for them soon, in a 55g right now. 14 0f em'. Doing great so far!!!

[DNICE]

I am not a Tropheus afficianado but I have have heard that some of the varients leave their young alone(lupota) while other will make meals out of them(moliro).

Perhaps Joe Jaskot or Bill can chime in with their experience.

Which varient are yours? Bembas?

They are the Bembas

[fischfan13]

Syno Multis love fry. How is your rockwork?
If it is stacked, packed with tight gaps or small holes as in Holey Rock then you should be fine.
Current Tropheus tank...http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/Fischfan13/100_0088.jpg
The fry and juvies lived in the stacked Pagota Rock...also note the fake plants that all Trophs in the tank graze on all day.

Old Troph tank...
http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y216/Fischfan13/IMG_0756.jpg
The Moliro lived here. The rockwork worked for the fry.

[DNICE]

once i get the 75g and have more width, I am going to put some extra rocks stacked behind the larger rocks. I have about 15 small one hole rocks that are the same as the rocks in the tank (tufa rocks)

[DNICE]

i like the bow-front. I had a 46g, but the 72g looks real nice

[joe_jaskot]

Some tropheus eat their fry and some don't. My orange flame bembaes and red moliros never ate their fry. Red rainbow tropheus always ate their fry. If you provide enough hiding places, they will survive. I use lots of oyster shells for hiding places.

[YoungAquaticPhotos]

Good luck with them Dnice!

[DNICE]

may be a stupid question, but where could i get oyster shells?

[DNICE]

Good luck with them Dnice!

i have high hopes for them......

[joe_jaskot]

may be a stupid question, but where could i get oyster shells?
Most restaurants that have buffets usually have oysters. Just ask them for the shells. If you live by the ocean, you can find them on the beach. Many seafood stores sell oysters.

[fischfan13]

D, something else to consider is buying a few clusters of barnacle clusters.
http://www.theshellman.com/pictures/barnacle1.jpg
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/images/Categoryimages/normal/p-29733-39440-corals.jpg
They cost a few bucks but when placed in clumps they are perfect for fry that are hiding from larger fish.

[AlishanAS]

Maybe we can pick some up at the Plaza diner on the way to Atlantis. :)

[DNICE]

i like the barnacles. what diner do you plan on going to before Atlantis?

[AlishanAS]

Plaza Diner:
http://forums.eastcoastcichlids.org/showthread.php?t=257&page=10

[jennl]

Great news to hear they spawned for you Derek!!

[DNICE]

thanks Jen!!

[Cosm3]

I believe I lose 1-3 fry.. there are always a few survivors though. My Moops quickly learn to ignore them.

[Aqualung]

If you strip them wait till the 20th day.. If not give the fry plenty of places to hide that the adults cant get in to..After 4 or 5 days the adults will ignore the fry..

[DNICE]

i think i am going to let nature take its course. they're young and its the first time any have held, they're only about 2". i'll see what happens.......maybe some will survive!

[DNICE]

**UPDATE

Last night saw one fry be released then go back into its mothers mouth. I could not resist trying to strip her even though I do not have much experience but i did, and there was only 1 fry. mom is small 2", and i don't think she had anything else in her mouth. Fry is small but is in holding.....