Pregnant Swordtail?

[pafckenny]

Hi All,

I was given a few sword tail fish over the weekend and i think they are all pregnant, i have a photo of one of them.

How will i know when she is ready to drop if she is pregnant. A colleague i work with suggested getting a hatchery? This is all new to me and a bit of an alarm went off when he suggested they might be pregnant.

Regards

Kenny

 

[Gytas]

i can't see the images...

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum pafckenny.

I would place a drop from your female about 3 weeks away if she is carrying at all. Have a look at this thread, it is designed to make you expert in judging the shape of a female before she drops fry.

Care for fry in a tank full of other fish would either mean a breeding trap to contain the fry and protect them or heavy cover for the fry to hide in. A good cover plant that is very easy to care for is java moss as shown in one of my guppy tanks. Some of the fry will find refuge in the java moss and survive.

Another option that I follow when I want maximum numbers of fry is a separate tank where the female can drop her fry. You simply remove the female when she is done.