Unexpected Breeding

[kimaro21]

Hi, I am new to the hobby and my tank has been up and running for around 2 months now. I was doing my daily check of my fish yesterday when I spotted a fry swimming in and out of the plants in my tank. I was not intending to breed any fish at this point, but now I've seen it I would like it to have the best chance of survival. It is about 8mm long, and i was wondering if I should just leave it in the main tank to its own devices, or get a breeding trap and try to transfer it to there? Any advise would be helpful.

I was also wondering if anyone has suggestions as to which fish has spawned, the fry is black with a pinky-gold head.
My tank has;
4 pearl danios (atleast 2 are females),
2 coral platty (sex unknown),
3 dwarf catfish (sex unkonwn),
1 black female sword tail,
and 6 male guppies.

I have been reading up on breeding behavour, and I have to seen the danios usual breeding characteristics, however I havnt been watching my tank 24/7. My swordtail is quite plump, but I have been upable to tell if she has a dark triangle on her belly as she is already black. I understand that without a picture it is hard to tall which species the fry belongs to, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[scoliofish]

it could have been the swordtails or platies or both together,breeding zebra danios is possible and likely but 8mm sounds to big for a 2week old
welcome to the forum
scolio

 

[betta fish]

I'd bet it was the swordtail that gave birth to this fry she was probably already pregnant when you bought her and this fry has probably been around your tank for a few weeks now, at 8mm it should be safe from predation by the other fish as they are quite small as adults, though not too sure what dwarf catfish are like? so you may not need to seperate it just make sure there is plenty of plant cover at the bottom and top of the tank, as it has survived up until now! though I do find the older they get the more likely they are to be a target as they let their guard down more but providing it looks to big to fit in the other fishes mouth you should be ok!

 

[kimaro21]

Thank you, I did think it was the sword tail but wasnt sure. It does seem big enough not to fit in the mouth of any of my other fish, so will just keep an eye on it. It seems to be more than able to keep hidden. I have read that if it was the sword tail that spawned, that it could keep spawning for quite afew more months yet. Has anyone got and pointers on how to detect weather she is about to spawn again?

 

[betta fish]

She will be very big and round in the belly region compared to normal and just before she drops it will have a squared off appearence