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I am experienced in stripping Tanganyikan cichlids (paracyprichromis, cyprichromis, eretmodus, eg) but I was stumped when I tried to strip my 3" P. saulosi. After fumbling around with no success, I have put her in a Q-tank in hopes that she spits. Thankfully she seems no worse for the wear.
The biggest problem for me seemed to be the mouth size. It's so small on the saulosi compared to my Tangs: how to do get her to open up? With cyps I can just hold them upsidedown under water and apply a bit of pressure to the buccal cavity and she'll pop open like a Pez dispenser. My male gobies have huge mouths and I can pry his bottom lip down and the fry come pouring out.
I tried to gently pry open the P. saulosi's bottom lip, but she was fighting me pretty hard. Her jaw strength was impressive, and I didn't want to hurt her. Any advice? Particularly from those who might know how I should change my technique?
The biggest problem for me seemed to be the mouth size. It's so small on the saulosi compared to my Tangs: how to do get her to open up? With cyps I can just hold them upsidedown under water and apply a bit of pressure to the buccal cavity and she'll pop open like a Pez dispenser. My male gobies have huge mouths and I can pry his bottom lip down and the fry come pouring out.
I tried to gently pry open the P. saulosi's bottom lip, but she was fighting me pretty hard. Her jaw strength was impressive, and I didn't want to hurt her. Any advice? Particularly from those who might know how I should change my technique?