Yellow Labs

[Sailfin]

Do pairs generally hang out together?   I have 3 Labs in one tank, none seemed to have paired up.  I didn't know she was holding until someone buying fish at my place spotted it.   I moved her to a different tank because she wasn't releasing any.....and now I have fry swimming.   How soon can I take the adult away from the fry?   Once they they start breeding, how often can I expect trouble?

[repeej]

Leave her in with the fry until she regains her strength.  

What do you mean by trouble?

[Sailfin]

Leave her in with the fry until she regains her strength.  

What do you mean by trouble?

How often can I expect her to breed?

[repeej]

Once every 5-6 weeks if you're lucky.

[darkdep]

Lab's don't "pair off" per se; most Mbuna don't.

[Sailfin]

Lab's don't "pair off" per se; most Mbuna don't.

So, once she gets back to her old self.......it's okay to put her back with the other 2?      It was really unexpected.  I thought that I had all males.    My Lab is about 2.5 - 3".......I don't want to disturb the rocks in the tank......so, I've only seen about 5 fry swimming around.  I may see more if I move the rocks and clay pots around.   On average, how many do they have?   I was quite surprised with the size of the fry, that she was holding these in her mouth!

[repeej]

My first batch of Saulosi gave me 25 fry.

[darkdep]

How many they have depends on the age of the fish, and the breed.  

For example, I have a Cobalt Blue female that gave 14 fry her first batch, and her latest is probably around 20.  I have Lithobates females (which are a lot smaller, btw) who routinely have 40+ per batch.

The fry will be hiding, especially in a rocky tank where you didn't expect them.  I only have a single clay pot in my fry tanks so I can count them

And yes, the amount of space in their mouths is quite amazing !