Preparing for my FIRST batch of Fry!

[Insomniac]

Hey everyone,

I have a Red Neon Hi-fin Sword female that is gpoing to have babies soon. You can see the black patch on her belly and can make out a few shapes in there. I've been watching her very carefully as I want to move her before she has them, so my eel won't eat them. I've set up a five gallon tank with aeration, a bare bottom, and a few plastic plants. I don't have a filter in that tank, I plan to clean it with a syphon and turkey baster till they're older. I used water from the established tank, and since there's no filter in the small tank, I took some "Biomax" from the filter of the established tank and put it over the bubble bar in the small tank in an attempt to introduce a bunch of beneficial bacteria.

Since I've never had fry of any sort, I've been really paranoid about her having babies before I can move her. How long will she show signs of being ready to have them, before actually having them? Will I have some warning, atleast? How many fry are usually seen from swords? She bred with another Red Neon Hi-fin...will I get any of this type in the "litter"?

Thanks for your help!

 

[Polardbear]

First of all, get at least a sponge filter in there. If you can't buy one, look in the DIY section's pinned topics for how to make one.

Your swordie girl may not be real happy in a 5 gallon tank. Mine would all go bonkers in that small of a tank. I'm serious, I have females that can't handle being in a 10 gallon, they go absolutely hysterical. From some recent experimentation I've concluded that they freak out because of the shallowness of the tank (12 inches). I can put them in a 20 high and they are calm as can be but in a 10 gallon or a 20 long they are completely panicked.

My girls have fry every 4-6 weeks. It's difficult to predict if she will give you any warning she's about to drop, especially since it's her first time. If they don't think everything is perfect they can hold on to the fry for several extra weeks. Some signs you can watch for are hiding away from the other fish, less appetite, and becoming very quiet. Although my pineapple lyretail who gave birth last night was being quit sociable, eating like a pig and swimming loops in the bubble stream at 9:00 PM last night. I have another girl who just slips off into the bushes with no warning and drops them and another one who drapes herself in a plant for 2 weeks looking depressed before having them. One trait all of my girls share is that they absolutely will not have any fry if I'm at home watching. Sorry that's not much help.

I've had drops ranging from 9 to 60. Paulthegreat's girl Doris used to have over 100 at a time. I'd say on average though I usually get 20 - 30.

If she was bred by a hi fin male you should get some hi fin fry as well as regular finned fry and depending on parents background possibly some lyretail fry.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I agree with polardbear, its best to leave her in the present tank as being in an unfiltered 5gallon will be too stressful for her and if she gets to stressed she could abort the fry altogether or get birthing complications and even die during giving birth- just add some extra dense planting to the tank for her to hide in when she gives birth and it will be alot easier for her, the fry will also instinctively hide in the plants too.
The chances are that there will always be some fry survivers if you have suficient hiding places for them and you get to them within 24hrs of them been born, swordtails as before mentioned can produce huge numbers of fry and these can take a year to mature so if you want to seriously breed your swordtails i'd advice you get a 10gallon fry tank and cycle it as it will pay off for sure in the long term and at least be big enough to raise 6fry to half grown size .