babies

[Ruth]

Hi
I have successfully over the last couple of years bred lots and lots of baby guppies and swordies. My question is though although my guppies thrive, my swordies take months and months to grow and some dont really reach full size like the ones you can buy. Now I suspect the pro breeders 'feed' them up and I woulod imagine they are genetically modified but has anyone got any ideas for me to help my babies grow quicker?
Cheers Ruth

 

[Annastasia]

How many times per day do you feed them, and what?

Breeder's fish aren't really genetically modified...except for getting different color strains, but they are basically the everyday Swordies you get at your fish store.

And what size tank do you raise them in? And what temperature?

 

[Ruth]

How many times per day do you feed them, and what?

Breeder's fish aren't really genetically modified...except for getting different color strains, but they are basically the everyday Swordies you get at your fish store.

And what size tank do you raise them in? And what temperature?

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At the mo the are in a 125ltr tank but in a trap within the tank,I did have both swordies and guppy babies together in one trap although I have seperated them now. Of my latest born I have 20 swordies, 15 guppies and 4 edler livebreeders, all in seperate traps. I feed them once a day although I have recently read I should feed them a few times a day. themp is 27. Now I have had lots of babies before but as I said my swordies dont grow that big.

 

[Annastasia]

Okay, the temperature is good. However, I would take them out of the breeding trap, because they can get stunted early in life if there are too many in one small space. Is there anyway you could set up a small tank, like about 10 gallons or so for them?

And also, try feeding at least 3 times a day. When they are young, they need lots of food, because it goes through them pretty fast. Try feeding high protein foods too, like Baby Brine Shrimp, and other Live, Frozen or Freeze-dried foods.

 

[Ruth]

Okay, the temperature is good. However, I would take them out of the breeding trap, because they can get stunted early in life if there are too many in one small space. Is there anyway you could set up a small tank, like about 10 gallons or so for them?

And also, try feeding at least 3 times a day. When they are young, they need lots of food, because it goes through them pretty fast. Try feeding high protein foods too, like Baby Brine Shrimp, and other Live, Frozen or Freeze-dried foods.

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I did think about taking them out of the trap, I have 2 tanks the 125ltr one and a larger 180ltr tank. In the large one I have 2 adult swordies, a red tail shark and a very very old male guppy. I was thinking of putting them in there cos I havent restocked it as my other fish died off, (nothing wrong just old age) but still worried about them being eaten.In the 125 ltr tank I have a cory, 2 siamese algea eaters, 2 small plecs a fighter and 2 male edlers. The only worry I have in there is the fighter I think but Im loathed to move him as he is very much at home in there.

 

[dennishenz]

Hi, I've got the same problem with my swordie fry.
I've had mine (12 in total) in a ten gal tank at 27 for about 4-5 months and only 1 has grown, the rest are still relatively small, the one that has grown is treble the size of the others and is almost as big as the parents!
Any ideas???

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Swordtails are like mollys and can take up to a year in total to fully mature while guppys are much faster breeders and only take 6months until they are fully grown, you should feed your fry 3-4 times a day and the best fry foods are TetraMinfry and "first bites" by hikari.

 

[Angel Lady]

I got mine to start growing fast by feeding them frozen blood worms. I think they waited on me to bring them to the tank. They loved them. They knew that was a treat for them and a much wanted one to I might add.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Bloodworms are good but just make sure they are chopped up enough as fry can choke on them, i have lost a few fry in the past from them choking on bloodworms that were too big for them to swallow but they do make good fry food none the less .

 

[Polardbear]

After much experimentation with swordtail fry I have found that I get the fastest growth rate by giving them as much space as possible, changing their water frequently ( daily or every other day - 50%) and feeding 3-5 times a day. I start them on live baby brine shrimp (hatched daily) and microworms for the first week or so, and then start adding other high quality foods such as Hikari First Bites and when they are big enough to eat them bloodworms (frozen). The last batch of fry I had, I also divided them up into groups of 6-8 per 10 gallon tank. It was a lot of hard work but the payoff was worth it, by 6-8 weeks of age these guys were 3-4 times the size of any previous batches of fry at the same age. They are also the healthiest batch ever and have started sexing out much younger than previous fry.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Swordies have always been my slowest growers. I have guppies born after my current lone swordy fry that are HUGE compard to the swordy.

But remember, as long as water conditions are optimal and nutrition is ideal, then it doesn't matter how slow they grow.....