Is My Swordtail Pregnant?

[persian2508]

hello guys! i'm new here, so please help me. I bought 3 swordtails yesterday, 2female and a male. i think my swordtail is pregnant, but i dont know when will it give birth. So can u guys help me?

 

[nmonks]

If male and female livebearers are mixed, the females are pregnant 99% of the time. You can't really tell by looking. The "gravid spot" used to tell if wild-type guppies are pregnant isn't always clear on fancy guppies because of their colours, and by the time you're looking at larger species like swordtails, the thickness of the body wall makes it impossible to see the gravid spot reliably at all. Females may swell up a little as the brood comes close to parturition, but this varies. Overfeeding is often a more common reason for swelling in livebearers, as is constipation when people don't give them enough plant food. I've seen people confuse dropsy (oedema) for pregnancy, too.

The length of time from conception to birth varies on a number of factors, especially water temperature. But expect broods to be produced every 4-6 weeks. Stock the tank with floating plants so that the baby fish can hide. Then simply check every morning, and remove fry to another tank where you can rear them safely. Under no circumstances ever put a female swordtail in a breeding trap or breeding net. They are far too large for that and get stressed by it, even to the point of miscarrying. She will probably jump out anyway.

Cheers, Neale

 

[blue acara]

Good post Dr Monks. Post more in all sections of the forum if you have the time.

Dave

 

[nmonks]

Very kind! Thank you. I do indeed try to post here as often as possible, though mostly in the brackish and oddball sections.

Cheers, Neale

Good post Dr Monks. Post more in all sections of the forum if you have the time.

 

[persian2508]

Hi guys! u know what? when i watch my tank today, i saw a little fish, and i found black spot on my swordtail faded and she become slim and i found 9 baby swordtail it is a very happy day for me today, this is the first time i see my baby fish swim after born, so guy, please help give me guide take care my fry i put 5 baby swordtail in breeding net and let the 4 swim free outside the breeding net, and i dont see the male swordtail eat the fry, anyway, my 2 female swordtail still hiding in plants, maybe they want to give birth again

 

[StaniFish]

congratulations on the birth. Put all the fry in the breeding net because the male and females will most likely eat them. You have the same type of swordtail i have and he's very agressive and eats the fry i have. Your swordtail on the picture was pregnant because of the gravid spot. It usually takes abouth a month for the females to have their babies however mine are pregnant again yet have been pregnant nearly over a month. Hope this help