Pregnant Neon Tetra

[emmag21]

gosh she is huge!! Guessing she will pop soon. Lil umpa lumpa !!

Emma
xox

 

[Shea]

thank you for putting the pictures on the site for me Tacklebury.

I have not put peas in for her but I have fed them all on shrimp brine and blood worms (frozen). I will try peas tonight. She is eating well and swimming around as normal.

 

[Tommy Gun]

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but you guys need to start taking a lot of pictures and videos of your pregnant neon tetras and call up some scientists because these fish are not live bearers. In fact, even though the females are typically wider than males and could be carrying eggs, they shouldn't really get huge on a regular basis.

Hi, i also have what i think is a pregnant Tetra, i have a pic, is yours like this?

That fish looks a lot like a guppy to me but if it is a tetra, it isn't a live bearer either.

! Normally they all seemed to be back to normal size after a water change, like most SA fish IMO this triggers egg laying.

Possibly....but it could also be a sign that the water quality is an issue and you need to do more frequent or larger water changes.

 

[Tacklebury]

I don't mean to be rude or anything, but you guys need to start taking a lot of pictures and videos of your pregnant neon tetras and call up some scientists because these fish are not live bearers. In fact, even though the females are typically wider than males and could be carrying eggs, they shouldn't really get huge on a regular basis.

Hi, i also have what i think is a pregnant Tetra, i have a pic, is yours like this?

That fish looks a lot like a guppy to me but if it is a tetra, it isn't a live bearer either.

! Normally they all seemed to be back to normal size after a water change, like most SA fish IMO this triggers egg laying.

Possibly....but it could also be a sign that the water quality is an issue and you need to do more frequent or larger water changes.

What? Come on mate, your picking people up on the stupidest error. Does it really bother you that much that you have to make a issue of it? Yes i understand that there is a major differance between a spawning fish and a pregnant fish, but she knows its gonna lay eggs so get a life and chill out.

There are always people like you on forums that thrive on posting replies and making people look stupid.

 

[Tommy Gun]

but she knows its gonna lay eggs so get a life and chill out.....making people look stupid.

Don't say stupid things then. Open your mind...why assume that the fish is pregnant and not suffering from bloat, dropsy, or constipation? Like I said, these fish don't get that big when they are holding eggs in their body. Do you think you are the only one who has neon tetras?

Hope for the best, but plan for the worst. If you would like though, I can keep helping you look stupid if you want to keep being rude.

 

[Matt_northants]

! Normally they all seemed to be back to normal size after a water change, like most SA fish IMO this triggers egg laying.

Possibly....but it could also be a sign that the water quality is an issue and you need to do more frequent or larger water changes.

Well as my tank has ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, phosphate 0ppm and nitrate 5ppm, there isnt anything wrong with my water quality. Also if it was a water quality issue, this would only cause stress on the fishes immune system, and by improving the water quality it would take sometime for the immune system to fully recover and the infection to subside and not in less than 24hrs. And I think that I can tell the difference from a fish that is spawning and one that isnt by there movements around the plants that act as their spawning sites and being pursued by slimmer ie male fish.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Well as my tank has ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, phosphate 0ppm and nitrate 5ppm, there isnt anything wrong with my water quality.

No, the water is just good in those areas. You think that ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate are the only chemicals found in water?

And I think that I can tell the difference from a fish that is spawning and one that isnt by there movements around the plants that act as their spawning sites and being pursued by slimmer ie male fish.

That is cool to see that. The neons place their eggs on the plants or what? That would be even better to document since they are egg scatterers.

 

[Matt_northants]

Well as my tank has ammonia 0ppm, nitrite 0ppm, phosphate 0ppm and nitrate 5ppm, there isnt anything wrong with my water quality.

No, the water is just good in those areas. You think that ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and phosphate are the only chemicals found in water?

And I think that I can tell the difference from a fish that is spawning and one that isnt by there movements around the plants that act as their spawning sites and being pursued by slimmer ie male fish.

That is cool to see that. The neons place their eggs on the plants or what? That would be even better to document since they are egg scatterers.

Nope but if I had an accumilation of these then other chemicals would also be accumilated as I dont have these then its a good chance that the other chemicals will not have accumilated. Also the carbon in the filter which is regularly replaced would reduce the other chemicals.
Tetras scatter their eggs in dense planting, which is why when people breed them they use spawning mops.

 

[Matt_northants]

Quote from http/www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm#bred

Breeding
Neon tetras can begin breeding by about nine months of age. Neons will breed in tanks with other fish but due to the likelihood that the eggs will be eaten, they are most often breed in a small tank with a pair or small group of neons. A few breeders suggest adding 2 teaspoons of salt per 2-5 gallons in the breeding tank (each source I have has a different recommended amount from 1 teaspoon per gallon up to one per 10 gallons). A pH between 5 and 6 as well as very soft water are often necessary for successful breeding. A good breeding temperature is 75 degrees F.

Neons often spawn in the morning. While spawning, neons will chase each other through any plants. While all the neons may spawn in one day, the actual act is done between a pair. The male and female intertwine, and the female may become vertical. Each female produces 60 to 130 eggs all over the plants and ground. The eggs are not sticky. The parents should be removed so they do not eat the eggs. The eggs are light sensitive so keep the developing eggs out of direct light. Eggs are prone to fungus especially in light (for more information on egg fungus, check out my fish health page. The eggs hatch in about a day. After the fry are free-swimming in about four to five days, they can be fed strained egg yolk, infusuria, other microscopic live foods, or Liquifry (which is mostly yolk). Provide subtle lighting over the tank once the fry are swimming so they can see their food. Often, some fry will not survive.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Nope but if I had an accumilation of these then other chemicals would also be accumilated as I dont have these then its a good chance that the other chemicals will not have accumilated.

How can you be so sure? If your tank is not accumulating nitrates, then it is not cycled. Chemicals can be introduced into the water in various methods, including through the air.

Quote from <a href="http/www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm#bred" target="_blank">http/www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm#bred</a>

You should read the entire source before quoting from it:

"In sexually mature fish, the females are larger, rounder, and fatter. From above, the female appears wider. There is a rule that some people believe is true and other aquarists say no way it is true." - from the same blurb

Show me a resource that says a neon tetra female will become that much bigger than a male when holding eggs - this robin's page resource is the first I have ever heard of someone saying that the fish was like a whale. You don't agree that the huge belly could be a sign of a different issue? I have kept dozens of neon tetras in my life so far and never saw one get as fat as the one in some of the pictures in this thread. You are trying to argue about something you have no idea about since it isn't even your fish in question here, right?

 

[Matt_northants]

Nope but if I had an accumilation of these then other chemicals would also be accumilated as I dont have these then its a good chance that the other chemicals will not have accumilated.

How can you be so sure? If your tank is not accumulating nitrates, then it is not cycled. Chemicals can be introduced into the water in various methods, including through the air.

Quote from <a href="http/www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm#bred" target="_blank">http/www.fishpondinfo.com/neon.htm#bred</a>

You should read the entire source before quoting from it:

"In sexually mature fish, the females are larger, rounder, and fatter. From above, the female appears wider. There is a rule that some people believe is true and other aquarists say no way it is true." - from the same blurb

Show me a resource that says a neon tetra female will become that much bigger than a male when holding eggs - this robin's page resource is the first I have ever heard of someone saying that the fish was like a whale. You don't agree that the huge belly could be a sign of a different issue? I have kept dozens of neon tetras in my life so far and never saw one get as fat as the one in some of the pictures in this thread. You are trying to argue about something you have no idea about since it isn't even your fish in question here, right?

Nitrate accumilation is kept down by frequent partial water changes, so do you see my point that by having low nitrate in the water, due to the water changes, then the accumilation of other chemicals is also unlikely.
And the quote is to back up my experience of tetra breeding behaviour NOT the size of the fish, which is what you quoted.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Nitrate accumilation is kept down by frequent partial water changes, so do you see my point that by having low nitrate in the water, due to the water changes, then the accumilation of other chemicals is also unlikely.

You are completely missing my point here....you are not testing for everything that could be a problem and in many cases, water changes can replace toxic chemicals (e.g. chlorine). I am also not saying that I know what your problem is, or if there even is a problem. In fact, all I am saying is....

And the quote is to back up my experience of tetra breeding behaviour NOT the size of the fish, which is what you quoted.

...that I don't really care about your tetra breeding experiences, the fact that a fish is as fat as the one in the top picture of post #11 doesn't mean it is pregnant and I don't think it is always safe to assume that this fish may not be suffering from some other condition. Contrary to the popular saying, assumptions like this aren't going to make an a__ out of anyone but the person making them, not me.

 

[Matt_northants]

Nitrate accumilation is kept down by frequent partial water changes, so do you see my point that by having low nitrate in the water, due to the water changes, then the accumilation of other chemicals is also unlikely.

You are completely missing my point here....you are not testing for everything that could be a problem and in many cases, water changes can replace toxic chemicals (e.g. chlorine). I am also not saying that I know what your problem is, or if there even is a problem. In fact, all I am saying is....

And the quote is to back up my experience of tetra breeding behaviour NOT the size of the fish, which is what you quoted.

...that I don't really care about your tetra breeding experiences, the fact that a fish is as fat as the one in the top picture of post #11 doesn't mean it is pregnant and I don't think it is always safe to assume that this fish may not be suffering from some other condition. Contrary to the popular saying, assumptions like this aren't going to make an a__ out of anyone but the person making them, not me.

How are water changes with RO going to put chlorine into the tank?
If you dont care about my breeding experiences why did YOU bring it up?

 

[Tommy Gun]

How are water changes with RO going to put chlorine into the tank?

Sorry to confuse you....I didn't realize that you weren't aware of the fact that the little "e.g." in the quotes, directly before the word "chlorine" means for example. I didn't say that was the only thing to worry about and if I did, that little "e.g." would have been an "i.e.".

But way to throw that RO water in there quick! I love how you didn't feel that little nugget of information was important to this conversation...or are you now just getting desperate to prove me wrong or whatever? Let me help you do that again....

If you are using RO water, then perhaps your fish could be sick not because of what is in the water, but what isn't in the water.
(just for fun, I have hidden my prediction as to what you are going to say in reply to this comment of mine somewhere on this forum and in a manner which is time-stamped so you can see that I didn't change it after your reply - like a real magician, hey!?!?!?)

If you don't care about my breeding experiences why did YOU bring it up?

Hmmmmmm, did you start this thread? Are you Shea? If so, you might need to take a nap or something because you are replying to your own questions and statements.

If you would so kindly click HERE and tell me if those are your fish in the pictures, or someone else's? If they are, why would Tacklebury have to post them for you when have already demonstrated that you can do it yourself?

Of course you are not Shae, and those probably aren't your fish....so be very clear, YOU are the one who brought up your tetra breeding efforts, not me. My first post was directed toward the person who started this thread and I was only using your comments (in quotes) so I could add to them, or to make a transition between my thoughts and disagree with them.

I also haven't noticed where you say you are a successful breeder or anything and judging by some of the things you have said, I am inclined to believe that, if anything, this is all happening to you unintentionally.

Tell me this though - and this is a serious question - if I have a bunch of neon tetras and I have never once found any of them to look as large as the one in the top photo of post #11, does this mean that they have never been 'pregnant' or that I do not have a female in the bunch? Or is the production of eggs and subsequent swelling only going to occur under specific conditions (e.g....I mean, for example, the right pH, hardness, time of day, etc...)? In other words, will a female neon tetra never produce a single egg if the pH is 8.0 and is very hard water?

 

[Matt_northants]

If you had read my other posts on this forum, you would notice that whilst I advocate the use of RO, I also strongly advice against using it "straight" but to remineralise it.
My deperation to prove you wrong? This is from the man in one post says that doing water changes is good to improve water quality, post 18, then later that doing so is bad, post 27. Which is it?
As for their spawning in my tanks, you brought it up again in post 22. The only reason I brought it up as that was the original question for this post, and as this is the NEW TO THE HOBBY forum where people come for HELP, I thought I would answer the mans question.
Actually I am not sure why I am bothering arqueing with you as you repeatedly change your arquements when disproved.