Moving Swordtail Fry to grow out

[paulthegreat]

I just got 60-70 Swordie Fry and have them in a breeding trap in the community tank. How long should I wait before moving them to the grow out tank? I have 20+ fry born 3 Jan in there now and the flying fox is no threat. I thought I should wait a few days in case there are a few who do not make it, as it is easier to find and remove them from the trap if some should die. Tank Details below in signature.

 

[Sorrell]

I move them straight to the growout when they are born. The breeding trap can stunt their growth, so the faster you get them out of there the better

 

[thrdwatchfan]

Hi..I'm new to the Swordtail breeding game...LOL
I had one of my females give birth last night and I was reading some of the postings in here and it says to move the fry into a different tank so they can grow. Not to put them in a breeder's net.. I am going to get a new tank for them but I don't now how big to get it or what? The frys are so cute! and I want as many to live as I can.. So can someone help me? thanks for all the good suggestions that everyone has posted. They helped out alot

 

[Polardbear]

If you can afford it a 20 long is a nice size. They'll have plenty of swimming room to grow into and it won't get as dirty as quickly as a 10 or a 5 gallon.

 

[thrdwatchfan]

Thank you for the advice... When you have a live bearer tank and they start to have babies, do you usually keep the "fry tank" empty til your swords have more babies? So the tank doesn't get out of cycle or anything? Do you know what I am trying to say...LOL

 

[Polardbear]

I usually leave the fry in the fry tank until the next batch comes along (which is usually about 4 weeks later). By 4 weeks they are usually big enough to go back with adults. I have multiple fry and growout tanks though so it's easy for me to shuffle fish around. I try to keep the tanks cycled all the time but if I need to break one down and sterilize it I usually have an extra filter on another tank I can move to the clean tank along with some extra gravel from a cycled tank.

 

[thrdwatchfan]

Thanks again... The frys are so cute I just can't stop watching them...LOL
I am putting them into their own tank so they can grow up without over crowding.
Hopefully I will have saved all 10 They live through the night now they just have to live through the move I'll let you know. You have been very helpful.

 

[paulthegreat]

My fry are doing great in the 54liter(14.25 US gal). I have had to do extra water changes though since they do not get all the food and the tank gets filthy quick. They are now big enough that I think I can cut back on the feedings though, so there should be less of a problem. Now the problem looks like it could be overcrowding before too long. I put in 24+60 to 70 and the first 24 are getting big enough to look more like fish then fry. Both Mommies are a few weeks away from the next round so I hope to be able to get my wife to lift her buying ban before that so I can get a middle grow out tank.

 

[vidiots]

I keep most of my fry in a 10gal tank, which is becomming over crowded and causing me to have to do large water changes frequently. Fortunately some of them are finally getting large enough to give away. I do select my favorites from the fry and put them back into the 55gal tank with the adults as soon as they are large enough to fend for themselves.

 

[paulthegreat]

My 112liter is a bit stressed as it is so I do not want to put any more fish in it, but was thinking of putting one of the bigger fry in to see how it fends for itself.