Day 1-3: Egg Stage
Female picks up 20-60 eggs after fertilization. Holds them in buccal cavity, gently rotating. Does not eat.
Male is dismissed or avoided. Female hides in rockwork, breathes in slow controlled pattern.
Day 4-10: Yolk Sac
Eggs hatch into wrigglers with yolk sacs. Female continues holding. Belly appears less distended as volume decreases.
Any stress can cause female to swallow the brood. Keep tank calm, avoid water changes.
Day 11-18: Fry Development
Yolk sacs absorb. Fry develop swim bladder and can be released briefly to feed. Female gathers them back at night.
Stripping window (removing fry from female) for maximum survival: around day 18. Reduces holding stress.
Day 19-28: Free Swimming
Fry swim freely but still retreat to mother's mouth when threatened. Female resumes eating gently at day 21-25.
Full release around day 28. Female regains condition. Move fry to grow-out tank if survival is priority.