Pregnant Marigold Swordtail

[theotheragentm]

Fast breathing? Check to make sure you have enough oxygen in the water. Add a bubbler if you don't have one to agitate the water. Are there any physical signs other than the fishes breathing behavior?

Also, check your water levels to make sure you don't have ammonia, nitrites, or nitrates in the water. If you're not sure, do a water change to be safe, removing chlorine and chloramines and matching the tank water temperature by feel as best as possible.

Fish can get anxious looking during birthing and sometimes retreat away. Step back from the tank and observe and let us know what is going on in the tank.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Ok, there aren't any physical signs as far as I can tell. I know that the Ammonia and Nitriteare both up as I'm cycling the tank. I'll keep watching from a distance.

 

[theotheragentm]

Doing a cycle with life fish is something I prefer not to do. Unfortunately it's too late right now for you. I would water change. Any levels of ammonia and nitrites can be deadly for fish. Fry are especially susceptible to waste in the water. That may be the reason your fish is "freaking out" right now.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Okay, I did a 15% water change yesterday night and everything is fine right now. Thanks for the help.

 

[theotheragentm]

That's good. You may want to keep monitoring your tank and doing water changes as your tank is cycling with live fish in it.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Yeah, I've been moniteing it really well. I have lost two fish though. Both of them were swordtails. I'm not sure why the first died, I took it to my lfs shop and said the water was fine. The second died because it was hit with fin rot. It was making a major recovery but before it healed enough Ick struck the entire tank! Fortunetly my platys have held strong!

I know the fry are on the way as I can see little dots (their eyes obviously) inside the gravid area. I'll try to post a pic soon. You might be able to tell me exactly when the babies will be due.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

She gave birth overnight! don't know exactly how many there were but when I woke up I saw about 7. My platys must have eaten A LOT of them. I put two of the into a net but the rest were eaten or are hiding. When do you think she'll give birth again?

 

[theotheragentm]

If she just gave birth overnight, you may see a few more in the next couple days still. A good way to get the hiding fry netted is to pour water from a cup. The current will lift them up so you can net them. Pregnancy is about four weeks, so you should see more fry in about that time.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Yup. I saw one hiding under my rock formations! Wouldn't the curret from a cup push them farther down? I'm hoping for more fry but I can't fit them all! I'm going to have to get a 10 gallon aquarium soon!

 

[theotheragentm]

It will push them down, but once the water current hits the bottom, it pushes them back up. 10 gallons is where I started. A month later I had a 100-gallon barrel for goldfish in the backyard and a 55-gallon tank in my bedroom. I don't know where I go from here.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

I know. I don't hve anymore room for tanks! Well one died today! It was so sad. Not sure exactly what happened. I think it's tail got stuck in the net and my Platy bit him. They're still trying to get them in the net! I have to shoo them away constantly.

 

[theotheragentm]

I know. I don't hve anymore room for tanks! Well one died today! It was so sad. Not sure exactly what happened. I think it's tail got stuck in the net and my Platy bit him. They're still trying to get them in the net! I have to shoo them away constantly.

Most likely he didn't get stuck, but adult fish will definitely try to nip at the fry and food that falls to the bottom, even through the net. That's why I don't worry about overfeeding. The adults end up sucking the food through the net when it sinks.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Well, after about 10 minutes of playing hide-and-seek we netted the other little fry hiding under one of my rocks. Even though I've only had the other one for 2 days they really have a good size difference!

 

[theotheragentm]

Even within the same batch and same birthing time, you will have a bit of variety in size of your fry.

 

[mnbyiuopre]

Well I went to Petco today and came back with a 10 gallon aquarium kit, a gravel vac, and an algae magnet! I looked for liquifry but they didn't have any. I guess they'll have to stick with flake for a little bit. As soon as the aquarium is set up I'll be happy. I'm using some stuff from my old one to cycle it quickly.