Swordtail

[mhancock]

My female swordtail is looking very bloated and lethargic, and I believe I can see the little white tube. Have had her in the nursery tank for a bit, but no babies...... Could she be pregnant and struggling to give birth (if she is then it's the first time), or is it more likely to be something else?

Thanks,



Mark

 

[Gilli]

This is typical behaviour when they are about to give birth. The little white tube you can see is her vent through which she will give birth this becomes more prominent when they are ready to drop. you will probably notice that she has taken on a more squarish shape which is another sign shes ready.They like to give birth in bushy plants and can delay birth until they find a place like that where they feel secure, so that may be your problem if she doesnt think there is enough cover for the fry.

 

[mhancock]

Thanks Gilli, that would explain why she didn't do anything in the nursery tank (one of those floating plastic ones with a slotted bottom for fry to fall through). Hopefully if she does give birth directly into the tank then some of them will survive.

Do swordtails guard the babies like kribs to or do they leave the fry to get on with it and "hope for the best", or even eat the fry themselves?

 

[Gilli]

Swordtails will give birth and then just let the fry get on with it - they dont look after them, and they will eat them also im afraid!

 

[mhancock]

Swordtails will give birth and then just let the fry get on with it - they dont look after them, and they will eat them also im afraid!

If she looks thinner in the morning and I cannot see any fry then I'll know what's happened then!

 

[Nastihabits]

How Did it go? read the whole post now im curious lol

 

[craftyfishlady]

Interested as well in this thread as I have a pair of swordtails in our large tank

Kirsty
---XXX---

 

[FishBlast]

As long as I have a hoplo in my tank, I always get the fry. Lol. That gentle giant sure knows how to make grass nests for them and hide them under him if they don't go up.

Although the male swordtail is some hunter, he finds the baby swordies pretty fast, especially if they leave the plant nests.