All Fry Are Stillborn :(

[Kerri Gronow]

So the swordtail had her last batch of fry on 21st may and every fry successfully survived apart from the odd couple which were eaten in the trap by the mother

anyway she was hiding in the plants and looking strange so i put her in the trap ready for the next batch ... theres angelfish in the tank lol ... anyway i checked on her and she was giving birth but they were coming out white, curled up and dead every single one was born dead and the birth has been goin on for two days and shes still at it!!

does anyone know what can cause the babies to be stillborn??! thanks in advance!!

 

[StandbySetting]

Stress, moving her probably wasn't the best move, I'd leave her be personally, then transfer the fry to the net.

 

[fluttermoth]

Stress, moving her probably wasn't the best move, I'd leave her be personally, then transfer the fry to the net.

+1

It's very, very common for livebearers to miscarry or abort their brood due to the stress fo being in a trap.

Filling your tank with a tangle of fine-leved plants, or moving the mother to a proper breeding tank (the cheap 10 gallon ones are great for that) is the kindest thing to do if you want to raise fry.

 

[Kerri Gronow]

awww ok .... well i know that mollies give birth roughly every month is swordtails the same or generally just longer

thanks for the replies

i think ill get more plants next time lol although she was fine last time she had them in the trap lol

 

[lilfishie]

i have a 3 gal tank i use for my sword when she is birthing, she usually carries them for 6 weeks

 

[helterskelter]

Sadily again you trapped her too soon,