How Is This Possible?

[waggie]

Hi
I have a female swordtail that I rescued as a newborn fry after her mother died giving birth. She has grown up in a tank with guppy fry and has been with them since being a few hours old. There are no other swordtails or platties in this tank and never has been. She is now about 4 months old and has just GIVEN BIRTH to around 40 tiny fry. I noticed her earlier today looking very bloated and just floating on the bottom of the tank, behind a plastic plant. For a second it did cross my mind that she might be gravid, but I dismissed that as she has never been with a male that could have mated with her, so I thought she had bloat and was very constipated. I removed her from the tank and put her in my 10 gallon QT tank and added some epsom salt. I went to check on her an hour later and nearly fell over when I saw lots of tiny fry swimming about. I have been sat watching her give birth for the last 4 hours and I still don't think she is done!!

So as the title, how is this possible???

 

[helterskelter]

Very strange if she has never been with a male!

They will cross with platies as well as swords. How ever they will not cross with guppies or mollies. however she must of breed with something!
u sure wheir no other males?

 

[Gill]

agree Very Strange,
What are the fish in the tank she was in.

 

[dgerow3]

agree Very Strange,
What are the fish in the tank she was in.

OOOO a mystery i love mysteries... we will have to just wait till they get bigger see what they turn out to be, keep us posted this should be good

 

[waggie]

Please believe me when I say she has never been near any male platties or swordtails. When she was born she actually belonged to a friend who had gone away and me and my wife were looking after her house. As I said we had gone round and noticed the dead mother and rescued the baby and put her into a breeder with some guppy fry that were already in there. Our friend when she returned bought a seperate tank for the fry and put them in there. She has remained with the guppies ever since. A few weeks ago we bought the tank and it's contents of our friend and have not added anything to it as yet. The friend has since given us all her tanks and there are no other platties or swordtails in the tanks, and she has confirmed that she bought the females already gravid and has never had any male platties or swordtails and I don't own any either. I have done lots of googling and I have read that it is possible for some livebearers to retain sperm from their mother, so have summised that this must be what has happened.

Any thoughts?

 

[helterskelter]

I have done lots of googling and I have read that it is possible for some livebearers to retain sperm from their mother, so have summised that this must be what has happened.

Any thoughts?

Sperm cant be passed from the mother to the fry. I've never heard of this.
What I think you mat be getting confused over is the fact the females can store sperm fro several months.

Sorry but to get pregnant she must mature which takes around 3-4 months in swords.
And must of mated with something.

Can you get a photo of the fish please?

 

[Truck]

I have done lots of googling and I have read that it is possible for some livebearers to retain sperm from their mother, so have summised that this must be what has happened.

Any thoughts?

Sperm cant be passed from the mother to the fry. I've never heard of this.
What I think you mat be getting confused over is the fact the females can store sperm fro several months.

Sorry but to get pregnant she must mature which takes around 3-4 months in swords.
And must of mated with something.

Can you get a photo of the fish please?

there is strong scientific evidence to suggest that the mother can actually pass sperm.

 

[helterskelter]

Sorry i never seen this or read it.
Been breeding livebearers all my life. i usualy put new born fry in rearing tanks away from adult fish.
Over 20 years of doing this i have never seen this, in any of the common or rare species i have kepet.

Can you show me any scientific papers on this topic?

 

[waggie]

Sorry i never seen this or read it.
Been breeding livebearers all my life. i usualy put new born fry in rearing tanks away from adult fish.
Over 20 years of doing this i have never seen this, in any of the common or rare species i have kepet.

Can you show me any scientific papers on this topic?

I dont know Helter, as I don't have the experience you have. I just read whilst googling swordtail fry and came across an article that said livebearers could pass sperm to their daughters. I can't even remember which site it was on. Therefore as I am 101% sure she has never come into contact with any male platty or swordtail, all I can say is, either she has bred with a guppy, retained sperm from her mother or it's a miracle, and I should name her Mary and all her sons J esus!!!!

Anyways I have got a pic of the mother and a very poor one of the fry as it is very difficult to get a decent close up with the crappy camera I have.