Pregnant Swordtail!

[Newby Tropical Enthusiast]

Hi Guys - I have a rather heavily pregnant swordtail, she has a large black spot ( Sorry I do not know the correct terminology ) How do I know when do put her in to her breeder net?

 

[khoifish89]

when she is very "squared." but if i were you i were you i would put her in right now.

 

[Aqualady40]

Do you hav a pic of this black spot?

 

[Hobgob]

Actually breeder nets can sometimes cause more trouble then good! It is sometimes best just to let her drop the fry in your tank. When putting her in the breeder net this can stress her out and cause her to abort he pregnancy. It's up to you though. If you want to leave her in the tank just have lots of plants like java moss and the babies should be fine.

 

[Newby Tropical Enthusiast]

Theres a photo - she is so hard to photo!

 

[KBCoggin]

Well Planted

Your tank appears to be planted rather well, I would just let her drop the fry in the tank. The fry will hide in the plants and should be fine.

 

[Newby Tropical Enthusiast]

Even with the severums in there?

 

[KBCoggin]

I have a 50g with 15 cardinals, 6 assorted platties, 6 assorted Swords, and a SAE and I have 3 fry in my tank. Unfortunately I had a leak and had to drain the tank and move the fish, which is how I discovered the fry even existed. Moral of the story; they hide really well! I suspect they will do fine, but dont get to attached to the fry just in case

 

[Newby Tropical Enthusiast]

Ok thanks so a breeding net is a bad idea then... what about a small tank?

 

[KBCoggin]

When I was breeding Angels I moved the matted pair into a 20g bare bottom tank. They would lay the eggs and once they began to wiggle I removed the parents back into my main tank. However platties are live bearers, and the parents will, sometimes, eat the fry. So where ever you put them make sure there are LOTS of plants for the fry to hide in.

 

[Newby Tropical Enthusiast]

From my picture how long away from having them do you think she is? I have a 20litre tank just need to get a filter amd cycle it in my main aquarium so i will be too slow for this baatch of fry but i have another pregnant swordtail too i think i have java moss in my tank so i will put some of that in the small tank

 

[KBCoggin]

From my picture how long away from having them do you think she is?

Hard to say. Gestation period is 28-30 days, how long ago did you notice her start to swell? I would GUESS within the next week you will have fry

 

[Newby Tropical Enthusiast]

Well i only got her a week or so ago...

 

[joemamauggly]

I never buy my livebearers pregnant cuz you'll never know when they'll pop

 

[Newby Tropical Enthusiast]

How do you know if their pregnant or not?

 

[KBCoggin]

I never buy my livebearers pregnant cuz you'll never know when they'll pop

You never buy free fish?! Whoa, thats a mistake!

 

[joemamauggly]

You can easily see wich ones are pregnant and you'll always lose the fry cuz they give birth without you knowing I prefer to breed myself

 

[KBCoggin]

You can easily see wich ones are pregnant and you'll always lose the fry cuz they give birth without you knowing I prefer to breed myself

I respectfully disagree with this. As long as you have adequate hiding places most of the fry will survive.

 

[joemamauggly]

That's just my opinion whatever works for you I guess is cool

 

[Hobgob]

You can easily see wich ones are pregnant and you'll always lose the fry cuz they give birth without you knowing I prefer to breed myself

Unfortunately some live bearers can hold sperm inside of them and not show signs of pregnancy until they see fit.