Platty And Swordtail.

[andimav]

Hi, I have a platty that i am sure is ready to burst but is only young and has not had any babies before (i think) She came from a friend of mine along with other platty and mollies, She is unfortunatly the only one left

I am very unsure as to how she is infact ready to burst other than the fact that my male swordtail keeps hounding her, is it at all possible that he could be the "fishy father" ?

I have had her in a breeding net for a few days now but have now removed her back in to the tank along with the rest of the fish i have but the swordtale KEEPS hounding her and won't leave her alone. I put her in the net to try and get her to relax and give birth but this obviously hasnt happened as she must have been stressed in the net.

I am woried that she will abort or something if he keeps up with his hounding or even eat the babies..

Please any ideas on what i can do?

Andi

 

[WILDER]

Nets are stressful for pregnant livebearers as they can abort, do you have a partition so you can cut him off from her.

 

[BettaBum873]

Do you have any other female platies or swordtails? The males will generally "annoying" a pregnant female to try and get her to drop the fry early so he can have a nice snack. But if shes the only female then he might be stressing her more then normal without any other females for him to harrass as well.

 

[andimav]

Do you have any other female platies or swordtails? The males will generally "annoying" a pregnant female to try and get her to drop the fry early so he can have a nice snack. But if shes the only female then he might be stressing her more then normal without any other females for him to harrass as well.

Thanx, i dont have any other platie or swordtail as they have gone to fish waters above us. it is just him and her for now as i am reluctant to add any more from my local supplier as the last few must have been diseased and killed a few of my very much loved fish.

All is ok now but dont want to run the risk of more poorly fish. Im not sure how far on she is but she is very big in the belly and has a darker than normal gravid.

Do i just leave them to it?

Nets are stressful for pregnant livebearers as they can abort, do you have a partition so you can cut him off from her.

Hi, i dont have a partition as unable to get a pre-made one for the my tank size and dont want to make one as this will possibly spoile the entire tank.

 

[Nevergone815]

What size is your tank? And what are your stats? Is the female showing any signs of being ready to give birth? Staying on the bottom, hiding, getting aggressive toward other fish, ect? Perhaps if she looks very close u could put the male in your net breeder until she delivers that would take the stress of her, but will more then likely stress him. Also do u have a lot of plants and hiding places in your tank for the fry to hide once they're born??

 

[andimav]

Hi and thanx,
The tank in question is (120cm x 38 x 46h) I have not checked stats in last few days as girlfriend normaly does is, (will get her to check them tonight)

She is not realy shownig to many signs other than staying around the bottom and a big (fake) plant i have near the filter.

I am not sure how far on she is but know she must be close as she is very big in the belly and has a darker than normal gravid. I have alot of hiding places and only (fake) plants in the tank but realy want to keep these babies if at all possible,

I am trying to set a small hex tank up for either the fry or the pregnant fish.

 

[BettaBum873]

What other fish do you have in the tank? Seperating the pregnant female into a small tank may be a good idea as long as there are plants ect. for the babies to hide in.

 

[andimav]

What other fish do you have in the tank? Seperating the pregnant female into a small tank may be a good idea as long as there are plants ect. for the babies to hide in.

I have 6 neon tetra, 2m congo +3f congo, 1 silver shark, 2 red tailed shark, (have not found a new home for him yet and they dont seem to fight), guppies 2m +4f, 6 blue tetra, 1 common plec, endler fry in a net, 1zebra danio, trio pearl danio.

I have a new heater and filter on order which should get here early next week and then can get other small tank set up for her,

If i transfer the water from big tank into small will that be ok?

 

[Nevergone815]

I Don't see why it wouldn't be. Also floating plants are the best types of hiding places for young fry. How many gallons is ur tank?? and how big is the small tank for the momma?

 

[andimav]

The big tank is 47.5 uk gallons and the small tank is only about 5-10 gallons its a 12ich hex tank that i have managed to get from a friend for the fry to go in.

So if i put the water from the main tank into the hex tank and soak the new filter in it for a day and then put the momma in this should be ok?

 

[BettaBum873]

Definatly, shes already accustomed to the water in the tank so by using it you won't stress her as much as you would putting her into new water.Good luck with her and the babies!!