Sunset Swordtail Birthing Question

[logansmommy41306]

My Sunset gives birth regularly. But everytime she only has 2 or 3 live babies and the rest are born dead. This has happened 4 times now. I watched her give birth the other day and just watched the dead babies (approx 50-60) drop to the bottem of the tank and not get up. After she was done i did a water change so that i sucked up all the dead babies and they didnt stay in there and rot. Has this happened to anyone else? Is there a reason why she does this everytime? What can I do to help her not hae so many dead babies?

Thank You

 

[lilfishie]

do you seperate her? or notice any one chasing etc? sounds like stress is causing her to give birth prematurly or to start aborting the fry

 

[logansmommy41306]

I dont seperate any when hey have babies i just scoop out any live babies i can find. She dont get chased anymore than the other fish. My male guppy seems to chase her more than he chases other fish though.

 

[stiffler69]

You sure they are dead i have had a load of inactive fry been born just lay still at the bottom of the net give them a couple of hours to adapt and they are up and about

 

[logansmommy41306]

Yep I am sure they are dead. They dont even look fully formed, or they are partly decade.

 

[stiffler69]

It could be a defect of inter breeding if the male and females from the same place and tank?

 

[altselgreen]

It could be a defect of inter breeding if the male and females from the same place and tank?

Yeah, thats just what I thought. Is she breeding with males from the same generation?

 

[logansmommy41306]

She breeds with the same male as he's the only one i have. He is a marigold and she is a sunset. I bought hem all the same day, from the same store, but they were in different tanks LOL.

 

[scousemouse76]

She breeds with the same male as he's the only one i have. He is a marigold and she is a sunset. I bought hem all the same day, from the same store, but they were in different tanks LOL.

it's possible they are from the same generation then.If he is chasing her alot, try seperating her from him, or vice versa when you realise she is pregnant again, see if she gives birth to anymore next time.He could be overly stressing her.Another thing is you could try getting another female, he won't chase her as much then as he won't know who to choose from =]