Fry And Pregnant Swordtail

[arielsworld17974]

Can I put my pregnant female in with about 3 week old swordtail fry? She's about a week and half away from being 4 weeks pregnant. And I want to get her in about a week before she's about to drop. Another question I have is will the 3 week old fry eat the new born fry??

 

[RRaquariums]

How big are the 3 week old fry?

 

[Akasha72]

I doubt very much that the 3 week old fry would be able to eat new born fry - their mouths shouldn't be any where near big enough.
 
The pregnant female on the other hand may well see the 3 week old fry as a tasty snack if she's hungry enough. If it were me I'd move the fry into a breeder net while the female is in the tank to keep them safe. That's my opinion anyway... see what the others think

 

[arielsworld17974]

Well they're about 2 weeks now and they're just shy of an inch probably. So 3 weeks they'll probably be about an inch if not more.
I really want some red swordtail too I really want some from this batch!
I will look into a breeder net. I also have a breeder box now but I want to try and avoid it. I don't like stressing my fish out.

 

[RRaquariums]

Well once my fry got about an inch the parents wouldn't try to eat them them so I'd imagine they would be ok but Akasha72 had a good idea with putting them in a breeder net just to be safe.

 

[arielsworld17974]

Ok then! I'm still going to look into a breeder net. Or maybe a tank divider? Do you think that would work?

 

[Akasha72]

an inch already! Wow, they're growing fast
 
I'd still be inclined to keep them safely away from the pregnant female just in case

 

[arielsworld17974]

They are! I was surprised at how fast they grew and are growing!
Did my first vacuum today for their tank. It really needed it. Was so scared but everyone made it and no one got a crazy ride. They seem to be way happier too. And they have come out more now with a super clean tank.