Are my Female Swordtails having babies??

[loafybones]

I have 2 male and 2 female green Swordtails in my son's little 60l tank. I noticed a few weeks ago that the females were REALLY fat. I've been keeping an eye on them and they seem to still be fat and have a dark shadow at the back of their tummies. I'm not sure if they could be having babies but I don't know how long they would be pregnant for or what the best plan of action would be. Would my other fish eat the fry? I've got a Red Tailed Black Shark in there and 2 Flying Foxes and come to think of it the Rams can be a bit nippy. I don't know anything about breeding fish!!!

 

[iobre8ks]

It sounds to me that they are pregnant if you want many babies to survive you need to put them in a breeding net but some will live if you leave them in the community tank.

 

[ferrikins]

to be honest unless you have a spear cycled 5g, there nothing you can do, just let the babys be born and let them suvive as nature lets them.

I acherly more suprised your flying fox's and shark get on, when I had mine they hated each other.

 

[loafybones]

The shark and the flying foxes don't really get on that well but they don't fight or anything. The shark likes chasing the bigger Flying fox and it's really fun to watch!

Thanks for the advice, I think I might just let them be born in the tank and see how it goes.

 

[yvez9]

you have a list of fish that would most likely eat pretty much all the fry in there, though if you have dense plants like java moss some fry will hide in there and survive

 

[loafybones]

how about if I put the females in one of those little tanks that float on the top? I could maybe get a little hex or something for a grow out tank. If I did that how often would I need to change the water? Also, would I need to plant it and put gravel in?

 

[bigfish]

Please don't put a swordtail in a plastic breeder box....... i did this and she got really stressed and was dead the following morning!!!! i now let them give birth in the normal tank and then scoop up the littles ones and put them in a breeder net...

 

[paulthegreat]

I have had my Swords give birth to three batches of fry in a little plastic breeder box and the only problem I have had is that if you put them in too soon they jump out of the trap. If you get the timing right it is no big deal IMO. Also the Foxes should not be a problem I have one in my fry tank and he does not bother the little ones at all. I am however going to build a breeder net since the trap is only about one liter and I want the Mommies to be more comfortable.

 

[loafybones]

but how do you get the timing right? The woman at my lfs said that when the gravid spot goes really dark to put her in the breeding tank. I'vedone that and still nothing. I'm getting impatient now! I thought she would have given birth by now, the other female has already and I think her fry all got eaten

 

[paulthegreat]

The coloring is a bit dependant on how easy the spot is to see. When they are about to go the gravid spot will start to look more squarish then triangular. You may also be able to see the frys eyes through the Mommies belly as well. The birthing can take several hours, in my experience. I have even heard that it can happen over a couple of days, but have not seen it personally.

 

[ferrikins]

every fish I have birthed in a trap has died, all the one's that have'nt been in the trap, have life for at least 4 months after.

I have a breeding tank now, devided into 3 sections, I had a guppy birth in there just over a week ago, lost no fry at all.

I think if you want the babys to life, and you have somewhere for them to go, then a seperate tank is a must, if not just let nature take it's corse.

 

[loafybones]

Well I bought a little tank yesterday but it needs to cycle. I've put the new filter in my established tank and smoe gravel from the old one in the new one. Problem is, I'm not sure haow long to do that for because I've never cycled without fish before. Should I put my danios in there for a bit to cycle it? Oooh I'm all panicky, now I know how you men feel when us women are expecting!!!