Basic Questions re: Africans

[Lively]

So, back in May hubby bought some Africans - had a few losses due to filter issues and this is the following stock list:

4 Yellow Tail Acei
2 Labs
4 Cherry Red Zebra (from may auction)

They mainly graze on the algae I provide for them from a different tank supplimented by flake and the occasional sprinkling of micro crabs and have grown quickly!

I've been watching them carefully to make sure everyone is eating - thought I saw some fry making dancing going on. One of the Acei (smaller and a bit less blue) didn't eat this morning. It looked like she was trying, but she wouldn't open her mouth completely - probable holding? I also noted that the genitals are much more obvious.

So, I'm a complete novice on mouthbrooders. About 48 hour gestation? Then what? lol Will the fry be safe in the tank with the other fish? Should I pull them?

 

[DiscusnAfricans]

The female should have an enlarged throat as if she were holding her breath. She will also make a gurgling motion, this is to move the eggs around to keep them aerated. They usually won't eat, but young moms sometimes will. From what I've read, eggs take about a week to hatch, and the mother will hold for at least another week, up to 3 additional weeks depending on her level of care. If you try to remove her too quickly, she may eat or spit the eggs prematurely. She will hold much longer in a community tank to protect the fry and allow them to grow bigger before releasing. Some will probably be eaten, but some will usually survive. If the other fish are well fed, they are less likely to eat they fry, but sometimes they are opportunistic feeders. Your mbuna are not predators, but they are greedy when it comes to food. I always remove a holding female after 2-3 weeks of holding and put her in a 10 gallon tank to release. All of my females release within an hour or two of being placed in an empty tank. I've had near 100% survivability of the fry when the mom is placed in a separate tank, probably 10% survival when released in a community tank.