Can I Put An Adult Preg Sword With My Fry?

[kristins1877]

I have 3 week old swordtail fry in my fry tank and I am not having luck with my breeding trap - mom freaks out, hitting the sides (Seems like the trap is just too small). Can I put the preg mom in with the 3 week old fry? I don't want my fry to get eaten...

On a side note, it seems like my mollies and swords are dropping fry earlier than they should. My molly gave birth on Dec 18th and last night she looked like she was ready to drop again. I figured I'd give her at least another day (only 21 days) and this morning her belly is gone and the males are chasing her like crazy. The sword in the trap right now is at 20 days since her last drop and shes very squared off...

 

[Ludwig Venter]

On average, the "dropoff" period is about 26/7 days at 26/7 deg C...

Yes! she will eat your 3week old fry and NO!!!.... she should not be in a breeding trap.... Sword females are extremely susceptable to stress, which they experience when put into breeding traps.... They will often deliver dead fry and unhatched eggs under those stressful conditions....

Best setup for a sword delivery tank is at least an 18" setup with lots of surface plants Hornwort or equivalent.... (one side darker than the rest)... You will still just retrieve about (max) 70% of the brood.... Make sure the tank is well covered as NOTHING jumps like a swordtail....