Fish Giving Birth - Please Help

[Iainang]

Hi there,

Ok, i have the following fish in my tank

3 Neons
4 Glowlight Tetras
2 Platys (although one died last night)
1 Molly
1 Rosy Tetra
2 SWORDTAILS (both female - I THINK)

So, i was changing half the water as i do weekly (this was 2 months ago) when i spotted 2 tiny little orange baby fish, they were hiding under the stones, coming out from time to time, they are now both alot bigger and out swimming around with the other fish.

Last night i was changing the water and another 4 little baby fish were seen, they are alot smaller than the original 2 babies, so this is a 2nd birth.

All babies are orange and look the same shape as the adult swordtails.

I am a bit confused as i thought both my swordtails were female, so how can this be happening.

Could it be the Platy giving birth?

Was just looking for any advice?

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Livebearers. They can breed many times from one mating.

So, even if you only have females, if they ever met a male, they can continue to drop fry for some time.

 

[Iainang]

Livebearers. They can breed many times from one mating.

So, even if you only have females, if they ever met a male, they can continue to drop fry for some time.

Thanks for the reply, I have had my 2 female swordtails for about 4-5 months, the platys for about 5/6 months.

Not sure the sex of both playts though.

You think it could be the Platys?

Although the 2 bigger babies are the exact shape and colour of my swordtails??

Confused

 

[fluffycabbage]

When you say theyre the same shape, do you mean they have swordtails? Orange fry from your tank would suggest platys, but livebearers can and do crossbreed. Can you get a pic?
Do you know why the platy died?

this is how to sex a platy (scroll down to bottom) http/northeastaquatics.co.uk/Database/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=5&products_id=63

 

[Iainang]

When you say theyre the same shape, do you mean they have swordtails? Orange fry from your tank would suggest platys, but livebearers can and do crossbreed. Can you get a pic?
Do you know why the platy died?

Neither of my 2 swordtails have the "sword" as they are both female, the 2 baby fish are just like mini versions of the 2 adult swordtails, thats what was confusing me.

So could it be the Molly or a platy has crossbred with the swordtails? (although i noticed no visible change to ANY fish in the tank, just seen the fry)

I have a couple of pics on my phone, will try to upload them tonight when home from work.

I dont know what happened to the platy, he was feeding fine, and swimming about on sunday night, and was dead when i got up yesterday morning.

 

[fluffycabbage]

When you say theyre the same shape, do you mean they have swordtails? Orange fry from your tank would suggest platys, but livebearers can and do crossbreed. Can you get a pic?
Do you know why the platy died?

Neither of my 2 swordtails have the "sword" as they are both female, the 2 baby fish are just like mini versions of the 2 adult swordtails, thats what was confusing me.

So could it be the Molly or a platy has crossbred with the swordtails? (although i noticed no visible change to ANY fish in the tank, just seen the fry)

I have a couple of pics on my phone, will try to upload them tonight when home from work.

I dont know what happened to the platy, he was feeding fine, and swimming about on sunday night, and was dead when i got up yesterday morning.

Yeah could be a molly cross, they are very similar. You'll see as they get older! Have you tested your water?

 

[Iainang]

When you say theyre the same shape, do you mean they have swordtails? Orange fry from your tank would suggest platys, but livebearers can and do crossbreed. Can you get a pic?
Do you know why the platy died?

Neither of my 2 swordtails have the "sword" as they are both female, the 2 baby fish are just like mini versions of the 2 adult swordtails, thats what was confusing me.

So could it be the Molly or a platy has crossbred with the swordtails? (although i noticed no visible change to ANY fish in the tank, just seen the fry)

I have a couple of pics on my phone, will try to upload them tonight when home from work.

I dont know what happened to the platy, he was feeding fine, and swimming about on sunday night, and was dead when i got up yesterday morning.

Yeah could be a molly cross, they are very similar. You'll see as they get older! Have you tested your water?

Time will tell.

I have not tested the water, not had any casualties since march until yesterday, i guess the fish just became ill.

I do my weekly water changes and look after my fish very well.

 

[fishnovice]

When you say theyre the same shape, do you mean they have swordtails? Orange fry from your tank would suggest platys, but livebearers can and do crossbreed. Can you get a pic?
Do you know why the platy died?

Neither of my 2 swordtails have the "sword" as they are both female, the 2 baby fish are just like mini versions of the 2 adult swordtails, thats what was confusing me.

So could it be the Molly or a platy has crossbred with the swordtails? (although i noticed no visible change to ANY fish in the tank, just seen the fry)

I have a couple of pics on my phone, will try to upload them tonight when home from work.

I dont know what happened to the platy, he was feeding fine, and swimming about on sunday night, and was dead when i got up yesterday morning.

Yeah could be a molly cross, they are very similar. You'll see as they get older! Have you tested your water?

Time will tell.

I have not tested the water, not had any casualties since march until yesterday, i guess the fish just became ill.

I do my weekly water changes and look after my fish very well.

If you had a male platy he's probably the father. Swordtails and platy are very closely related and cross breed easily. In fact some colour variations are hybrids. Platy and swords don't cross breed with mollies as far as I know. They may be similar in size and appearance but mollies are actually closely related to guppies though they rarely if ever produce viable molly-guppy hybrid offspring.

 

[fish481]

the platy is not the father they are Swordtail fry lol

 

[Iainang]

the platy is not the father they are Swordtail fry lol

How can they be though? If they are both female.

I looked at the platy last night, and going by the link someone put up, the remaining platy is female, so maybe the platy that died was male and that will be the end of the fry?

 

[fish481]

Most of shop bought livebearers/ are cultivated meaning the swordtails and Platy’s have already been cross with each other. females only need to mate once with a male and she can have many broods of fry. The chances are females were already pregnant when you bought them.

 

[Iainang]

Most of shop bought livebearers/ are cultivated meaning the swordtails and Platy’s have already been cross with each other. females only need to mate once with a male and she can have many broods of fry. The chances are females were already pregnant when you bought them.

Even if i bought them 5 or 6 months ago??

Like i said, there was no signs at all that any fish were carrying fry, all remained exactly as they have been.