View Full Version : Swordtails
Hey, I think my female has been prego for at least two weeks. She's pretty big. I have her in a baby pen now...
Typically, how long does the gestation period last for those suckers??
Thanks:22:
( want them ALL.... lol)
rich311k
05-22-2009, 01:31 AM
About 30 days, give or take.
Algenco
05-22-2009, 02:52 AM
About 30 days, give or take.
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.][Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
Gayle
05-22-2009, 03:02 AM
Yeppers somewhere around 30 days give or take a few either way.
LOL... I hope she's been prego longer than two weeks... or she's going to get awefully bored in that little cage....
I WANT BABBIES DANGIT! She'll just have to put up with it. Heck, if I can split a single room in an army barracks with my sister when we were little (divided by a cardboard partition).... so can my little fishy!
mith, try some floating plants, live or real. Make sure it kind of bushy, but nice and soft. That it is the key for keeping livebearer babies alive. (found this out the hard way, did a w/c and found 5 different females babies in there. Somewhere around 50 to 60 babies.)
mith, try some floating plants, live or real. Make sure it kind of bushy, but nice and soft. That it is the key for keeping livebearer babies alive. (found this out the hard way, did a w/c and found 5 different females babies in there. Somewhere around 50 to 60 babies.)
Well, as soon as they pop out, I'm going to fill up the 20 gallon and raise them there... I LOVE those fish! After I get enough, I'll just leave them in the tank and let nature take it's course!
slimey
05-22-2009, 10:07 AM
Good luck with the baby swords Mith, i really like the swords to.
My female marigold swordtail took somewhere around 28 days to have her first lot of babies. I had plans of putting her into a breeding net on the day that i noticed one last baby when i went to feed the fish in the morning.
I tried catching it but one of the black skirts ate it before i could bet the little bugger.
She's pregnant again now so i'll catch her a little earlier this time.thumbs2:
Jaster
05-22-2009, 01:24 PM
Being in the breeder box for too long can stress her out though and can stop her from having the fry. I had that issue with my Guppys and Mollys. So far for me some places to hide, lots grass at the bottom of the tank, and some floating fry hideouts had been the best way for me to catch them. Last month I got 21 fry.
You could always seperate the prego females to another tank. Not having the males (or any other hungry fish) around the mollys helped too. I have 4 mollys in a 10 gallon and once all three females show signs I'll put the male back in the main tank until the girls give up the fry.
Being in the breeder box for too long can stress her out though and can stop her from having the fry. I had that issue with my Guppys and Mollys. So far for me some places to hide, lots grass at the bottom of the tank, and some floating fry hideouts had been the best way for me to catch them. Last month I got 21 fry.
You could always seperate the prego females to another tank. Not having the males (or any other hungry fish) around the mollys helped too. I have 4 mollys in a 10 gallon and once all three females show signs I'll put the male back in the main tank until the girls give up the fry.
So put her into the 20 gallon now and let her have the babies in there? Will SHE eat the babies?
rich311k
05-23-2009, 12:12 AM
Add a lotof floating plants, plastic is fine and most will survive. remove her after she has given birth.
Add a lotof floating plants, plastic is fine and most will survive. remove her after she has given birth.
Think this will be enough?
][Only Registered Users Can See Links.] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.)
rich311k
05-23-2009, 02:02 AM
Looks like pretty good cover to me.
Gayle
05-23-2009, 02:05 AM
That will work!
I added a net on top with a stone to keep it at the bottom... so now it's like this below...
][Only Registered Users Can See Links.] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.)
mommy1
05-23-2009, 06:33 AM
HA! i knew you would have another tank soon! good luck with the fry!
HA! i knew you would have another tank soon! good luck with the fry!
well she had better get on with her business because I have 3 cichlids holding....LOL....everyone in this house is gett'n some but me!!!
Two of my bumblebees are holding and one of the blue ones are holding. One of the yellow fish was holding, but doesnt seem to be anymore.
tetra_danio_girl
05-23-2009, 12:12 PM
mith, try some floating plants, live or real. Make sure it kind of bushy, but nice and soft. That it is the key for keeping livebearer babies alive. (found this out the hard way, did a w/c and found 5 different females babies in there. Somewhere around 50 to 60 babies.)
I totally agree. I got some water wisteria for my fry, and they love, love, love it!!
At least the strong ones do. I just float it on the top of their little box. When they get a little bigger/stronger, I'll let them out, but for now, they've got to try to survive inside a small acrylic "barracks" as you called it.
Wow, that throws me back to my time in the Marine Corps.
iZinedane
05-23-2009, 12:16 PM
I totally agree. I got some water wisteria for my fry, and they love, love, love it!!
At least the strong ones do. I just float it on the top of their little box. When they get a little bigger/stronger, I'll let them out, but for now, they've got to try to survive inside a small acrylic "barracks" as you called it.
Wow, that throws me back to my time in the Marine Corps.
you were in the marines?
tetra_danio_girl
05-23-2009, 12:38 PM
you were in the marines?
I was. It's one of those experiences I wouldn't trade for anything in the world, but I'd never do it again. :D
tetra_danio_girl
05-23-2009, 12:41 PM
Think this will be enough?
][Only Registered Users Can See Links.] ([Only Registered Users Can See Links.)
I would go out to LFS and get some soft leafy plants and just let them float. The fry REALLY love the floating plants to hide out in, and often the other fish will leave them alone.
Well, with the exception of my platys which seem to eat anything soft enough. Ravenous little beasts.
me back to my time in the Marine Corps.
Thank you so VERY much for your service!
tetra_danio_girl
05-24-2009, 04:50 AM
Thank you so VERY much for your service!
Oh, it was an honor. Really. I honestly believe everyone ought to spend at least a year or two serving in some capacity - whether it be military, job corps, teaching, volunteering, police, fire, or what have you.
There is nothing like the feeling of knowing you've contributed to the safety, education, and security of the people of this country.
Nothing like it!
Oh, it was an honor. Really. I honestly believe everyone ought to spend at least a year or two serving in some capacity - whether it be military, job corps, teaching, volunteering, police, fire, or what have you.
There is nothing like the feeling of knowing you've contributed to the safety, education, and security of the people of this country.
Nothing like it!
At this point (without making this a political thread, they'll lock it... LOL) the way our countries going... we NEED all the help we can get!)
vBulletin v3.5.4, Copyright ©2000-2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.