Cichlid with eggs?

myuzicman

I have a cichlid that I noticed today won't open her mouth and won't eat. Is this a definate sign of having eggs in her mouth. What should I do? Should I put her in a separate tank? How long does it take for the eggs to hatch?

Daz

I stand corrected. What origin are these Cics?

SinisterKisses

Mouthbrooders carry eggs right from spawning time, picking them up as they go, and hold them for about 2-3 weeks, maybe a bit longer, until the fry are completely developed. If she's holding, you should see her mouth bulge, so she looks kind of like she has a chin. Not eating is a good sign if its a healthy fish, but it could be other factors as well.

myuzicman

It's a Lake Malawi Pseudotropheus flavus

SinisterKisses

Is that her? If it is, she certainly doesn't look like she's holding. She doesn't have a "bulge" at all. When did you notice that she stopped eating?

myuzicman

No, this isn't her. It's the same species though.

SinisterKisses

Lol well yes, I know what a flavus is...very pretty species ;) Is that one of your flavus in the picture at least? Can you get a pic of your actual fish?

Donut

If she's stopped eating she's probably a few days into having the eggs in her mouth already. It usually takes about 2 weeks for the fry to hatch.

It all depends on what you want to do with them. If you'd really like to keep them and continue breeding, I would wait a few days and transfer her to a quarantine tank. If you're not interested in keeping the fry, you can just keep her in the tank. Once the fry hatch the parents will likely guard a hiding place for them to sit in. Most will probably die and/or be a treat for your other fish, but 1 or 2 may live.

How large is your tank? I had a pair that killed 2 other fish because they were so protective.

Good Luck to ya. I love Malawi's.

myuzicman

Here's a video I took 2 days ago of her

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PVktR64mIQ

SinisterKisses

Lol is there even a fish in there? Its way too dark, you can barely even make out something moving around, let alone if its a holding female or not ;)