Fish Stripping?? Someone explain

Holly

So I found myself on youtube looking at fish videos, now I know I'm hooked and this will be my money pit for the rest of my life! lol, anyway I came across these videos of people holding the mouths of thier cichlids open to get the fry out. Won't the fry come out when they're ready? I don't know much about mouth broaders but watching these people catch thier fish, in thier hands, from a little tupperware bowl and hold thier mouths open wiht various instruments was horrible. Someone please explain to me why you would do that instead of just leaving them be?

Age of Aquariums

If they don't do that, than the fry might kill the mother.

herefishy

I strip many of my African and South American Cichlids. I do this, especially on the higher dollar fish, to prevent the mother from swallowing them, or prevent the fry from being eaten when they are released. I do not use any instruments other than my hands. Care must be given to make sure no injury is done to the femal, especially her mouth. They fry are then put in a tank specially prepared for them. By doing this, you are also getting rid of the mother's burden of brooding the fry. Many do not eat during this process and come under a great amount of stress. It takes practice though.

Holly

One person was using tweezer type things and someone else has a squeezie water bottle he put in thier mouth..I didn't know anything about it so I guess it's ok. I would just think you would want to let nature take it's course and get the fish you get but I guess if your breeding the fish you want to make sure you get all you can.

herefishy

I do not like to use tweezers or squirt bottles or any other instrument to open the female's mouth for fear of injury. Thoes that do risk injuring the fish permanently.