Hi

Just wondered how "normal" it is to have a "holding" mbuna actually eating, or perhaps storing the food in her mouth for the fry?

I noticed her looking like she was holding a few days before i moved all the fish out to move my tank and i noticed she was still holding when she went back into the new set-up, which was 22 Feb, so she has been holding for atleast 21 days, she is quite skinny now.

I can see the eyes of the fry in her mouth, i first noticed this a few days ago, and it was on this day in noticed her putting bits of food into her mouth at feeding time. She has been doing the same tonight.

Do you think she's eating ir or using it for the fry, or both?

PS - i have watched her closely, once the food goes in her mouth, it doesnt come out again.

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Hello Lex,sorry I di not notice this till now,I have had Mbuna that would eat while holding i dont know if it is for the fry or not,but I think it is for the parent.

Hello Ray

I forgot about this thread, yeh since i posted it, i learnt its pretty normal, this Red Zebra in particular is quite young and was holding for 6-weeks plus, so i imagine she "got it wrong" and the fry died in her mouth i guess?

She got real skinny but is eating now, it's not my practice to catch and "strip" holding Mbuna, i dont have the time or energy to disrupt my set-up to catch one fish just because they are holding, i'll let nature take its course.

Got lots of breeding and fry in there anyway.

I did worry about her for a bit, but she's eating as normal and has put weight back on

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Yes, I have found it to be fairly normal. Often I've taken out a female to strip and found food with the babies. I suppose its understandable when she hasn't eaten in two weeks.

i have had the same happen when i kept malawis, the female seems to juggle the food in her mouth and not swallow the fry - although i suspect a few fry go down the wrong way.