Swordtail...fry Starting To Drop!

[rossyt99]

Hello, I posted a few weeks ago with Pics of my Pregnant LyreTail Swordtail> Well, this morning I spotted a single wee fry at surface of water (It's been over four weeks in waiting!)

I was pondering whether to try and catch the little one and any further fry and put them in the floating trap to make sure they get fed/don't get eaten....or should I hope they survive in a 130l planted tank with only the mother and one other F.Adult Swordtail?? (There is a divider between the two adults, and I can remove them to another tank, once the fry are all dropped)

Are the Adults very likely to eat the fry, as the one has lasted roaming freely since 8 a.m (it's now 3.30p.m)

+ Liquifry has been added> Typically, how long should this be fed; before giving crushed flake/brineshrimp??


Lights are still off, awaiting more to appear....

Thanks for any answers, in advance.

 

[5teady_2012]

If you can manage to catch the fry, then put them in the trap, feeding them crushed flake, liquifry, and any other small type of foods is fine...

Liquifry usually is used for the first week, but i usually feed them crushed flake and crushed high protien food after 3 days of using liquifry no3 (powder).

Adults will eat the fry if they are hungry yes, usually its younger adults that do this, more mature ones tend to leave them.

 

[Madam Macaw]

If you want to make sure it doesn't get eaten, definitely put it into a trap and feed it from there. Once it gets big enough, add it back to the tank.

 

[rossyt99]

Thanks for replies> I haven't caught the little blighter yet, and my big net is not practical (tangling threat)...have tried a spoon, but don't want it spilling out onto floor/bench...

Just checked with a torch, whilst adding some Liquifry and still only the one! > he/she's survived for 12 hrs now and has been to both sides of the divider.

I'm Hoping to see more tomorrow and will try to get a small Sieve to make it easier to catch the buggers..>then into trap until bigger... usually a few weeks.? or not.

 

[OldMan47]

A few weeks should be enough for them to get big enough to survive in the tank with their parents. If that is all that is in there, you should be good by 4 or 5 weeks. By then a newborn sword will have gone from about 1/4 inch to maybe 3/4 inch under ideal conditions.

 

[nudzy]

When I found fry in the tank, I caught them with a shot glass. Just put it near them and if the water didnt draw them in, they just swam in.

Not long received some shrimp, put them in a hatchery overnight and transfered them with the shot glass in the morning to the fry tank.

 

[rossyt99]

When I found fry in the tank, I caught them with a shot glass. Just put it near them and if the water didnt draw them in, they just swam in.

Not long received some shrimp, put them in a hatchery overnight and transfered them with the shot glass in the morning to the fry tank.

Good tip,

I got a small Sieve today > ready to catch and place them in trap before they are eaten! There are quite a few plants floating also, so I hope some will survive anyway.

 

[rossyt99]

Woke up yesterday and found about 15 baby Swordtails! > adding Liquifry/ crushed flakes at regular intervals.

You can see the wee ones at one day old if you want; http/uk.youtube.com/watch?v=IuHECP0Dz8U


Have removed the Mother, so they have a 30" tank to grow in. Hope they grow before next batch drop