Pregnant Marigold Swordtail

[mnbyiuopre]

I have a pregnant marigold swordtail. At first i denied it but then a big gravid spot appeared! Unfortunatly she chose the wrong time to mate as my 20g tank is cycling. I have decided to leave everything be in the tank and let nature take its course. There aren't lots of plants but are some hiding spots under large rocks. I just fed some frozen brine shrimp to make the fry healthier whn born. ANy more advice for me?

 

[theotheragentm]

Some of them will be eaten if birthed in the same tank, but with hiding places, a few are bound to survive. Fry are not terrible on the waste side, but they are sensitive to waste. I would do more frequent water changes in the mean time. Clean, stable water is what the fish are looking for, and giving them room and places to hide is great too. Good luck.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Thanks. I think I have just about everything I need. The gravid spot seems to disappear slightly and reappear sometimes, is this normal? (It never goes so light that you cant see it.) I'll try to get a pic of the fish and tank.

 

[theotheragentm]

Completely normal to see the gravid spot at certain angles and certain lighting and not see it at others.

 

[kribensis12]

The gravid spot is the babies eyes shinning in the light so not alot of light= not as dark.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

I just looked at her today and she looks like she's about to burst! I can now see little black dots inside her gravid area. Ae those the baby fishies? My female platies also are looking fatter! I think fry are going to overtake the tank soon!

 

[kribensis12]

If you have to, put her in a breeding trap or another tank.

 

[theotheragentm]

I just looked at her today and she looks like she's about to burst! I can now see little black dots inside her gravid area. Ae those the baby fishies? My female platies also are looking fatter! I think fry are going to overtake the tank soon!

Yes, those are the fry. They will be along shortly. I prefer to never use breeding traps or nets for birthing fry. I use breeding nets to separate out the fry after they are born sometimes, but if you have hiding places in the main tank, I would just let them birth in the tank, and some of them are bound to survive.

 

[kribensis12]

Even though it causes the fish unnessicaraly( spelled wrong) stress , but I use them because my tanks are not planted and I want to save the babies from the other 2 females and 2 males and the angelfish and the borelli's apistogramma.

 

[theotheragentm]

Marbles are a good decoration that are sometimes used to provide hiding places for fry, because they don't sit flush together.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Well, I'm going to let her birth in the tank and transfer a couple fry into a breeding net if neccesary. When you say marbles do you mean like the regular marbles that you can play with? How big will the fry be when born? Will I have to strain to see them or what?

Also, I noticed that the number of dots I see goes up and down during the day, that's ok right?

 

[theotheragentm]

Yes, marbles like what you play the game with. Basically when you lay them together, they give spaces for fry to hide. The other thing that works well is placing something that floats so the fry can hide in it. If it floats, there is no reason string wouldn't work if it's bunched up like a bunch of intertwined twigs or something.

Fry will be small, ranging in size, but I would say about the size of the tip of a ball point pen.

The number of dots I assume is the gravid spot you're refering to here. Depending on the lighting and how they move around, the gravid spot will look different. It's normal.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Yeah, the dots are inside the gravid area I mentioned before I guess I can call them fry even though they're not born yet. I have many marbles I can put in my tank. I'll try tying some string around my fingers then putting it in the water. Hopefully it won't harm the fish? Will regular sewing string work ok?

 

[theotheragentm]

Sewing thread might be too fine and not provide enough cover. Yarn is the right thickness, but that would be too messy I think if it breaks apart. String works best. Bear in mind that this is all temporary until you net the fry out. I wouldn't keep string in for an extended period of time as you don't know how it's going to decompose, but a couple weeks isn't going ot matter. If you want to be careful, rinse it off first with really hot water.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

I put in the marbles and decided to skip string. I am really worried now. She seems to be...not labored breathing...but breathing very fast. She also seems to be coming up for air a lot!!!!!!! Is it possible she's going into labor? Or can shebe sick?! I really hope not. The only meds I have are Maracyn, Quick Cure, and Stress Coat. If she's sick I could try to run out to the lfs tommorow afternoon.