Pregnant Swordtail

[Bexx]

Thanks oldman. I have quite a few plants, should I just leave her free in the tank. Do the fry go to the surface or the bottom? Still no fry, she must be so close. The male swordtail is now pestering her pecking at her back end. She is still quite active though.

Click on the top link for a video, shows a bit of my tank too. Was difficult photoing her.

PS. On the second pic you can also see my pregnany guppy in the background

 

[Bexx]

Still no fry! The male swordtail is really bothering her all the time now, pecking at her back end. Even my male molly and guppy jab her now and again. She is still very active but think this is as she is sick of being bothered (i would be)lol!. So I have ended up putting her back into the trap with the lights out just now, she seems quite calm in there slowly swimming around. Its really hard knowing what to do but she looks calmer now. I wanted her to have her fry in the tank but dont think this will be possible.

I dont want to leave her in there too long, is there anything I can do to speed her along, ie/ the water temp is now 24, would turning it up 1 degree help? Thanks. x

 

[hughessomefish]

Still no fry! The male swordtail is really bothering her all the time now, pecking at her back end. Even my male molly and guppy jab her now and again. She is still very active but think this is as she is sick of being bothered (i would be)lol!. So I have ended up putting her back into the trap with the lights out just now, she seems quite calm in there slowly swimming around. Its really hard knowing what to do but she looks calmer now. I wanted her to have her fry in the tank but dont think this will be possible.

I dont want to leave her in there too long, is there anything I can do to speed her along, ie/ the water temp is now 24, would turning it up 1 degree help? Thanks. x

You don't need to turn the tempature up, but you can Turn it up the degree if you want to, I am sure she is close, You will learn as did I with my first drop that patients is something that you have to learn, Don't worry it will happen, it just takes some time.

 

[Bexx]

Im trying to be patient, spending a lot of time watching her though.lol! Perhaps im trying too hard. I just have a feeling the males in the tank will eat the fry if I dont happen to find her while she is having them. She is in the trap now so I will leave her there for now. She doesnt get stressed when I put her in it as I do as suggested on here, just dunk it in the water and when she goes into it catch her. I havent used a net and wouldnt. I will keep you guys posted. x

 

[OldMan47]

Keep an eye on her to make sure she is alright. I never trap females any more because I am not pleased watching them from the time I trap them until they drop the fry. I am well aware that other people seem to have quite different experiences with their fish so I try really hard not to judge them too harshly. All of us must find our own way to care for livebearer fry.

 

[Bexx]

She didnt have the fry overnight and jumped out of the trap. Yesterday in the morning she was still ok (pregnant). I was out for about 6 hours in the day. I think she has had her fry and they have been eaten. As when I get in, her gravid spot is no longer black and she is a bit slimmer. Oh well. I will get more plants and hopefully have better luck next time. Thanks everyone.

 

[Bexx]

Well I didnt get any swordtail fry but I have guppies The one in the background of the previous pic had her fry last night. I just happened to look in the tank, she was swimming around the plants and resting on the heater. I then noticed what I though was a fry. At first I though it was a swordtail fry that mush have survived, but then when my guppy stayed in the heater I knew she must have dropped the one I saw. So I put her into the trap. Some of the fry that were in the tank I rescued, after a load got eaten. Also initially the mum ate quite a few in the trap. Eventhough I fed her several times. Within 1hour she had all of her fry. I have managed to get about 18-19. Am very happy. Patience definately works!