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gm72
05-06-2007, 04:31 PM
I just got back from the LFS. Bought some swordtails, 2 females were pregnant. I want to set up my extra 10 gallon as a fry tank but am not sure how to do this. I have a spare filter and I have attached a large sponge prefilter to it so the fry don't get sucked up into the filter. The sponge prefilter and the filter media are both from established tanks. Gravel yes/no? Temp around 80 degrees I think?

My other fry tank is for fancy guppies, I have both adults and fry in there and they don't seem to bother each other, but this time I want to put the females in the 10, remove them once they give birth, and rear the fry. Hence the questions.

Huge thanks!

Incredulous_Ed
05-08-2007, 07:14 PM
No gravel, It's easier to keep the ground clean without gravel. You should keep the temp the same as itr is in the tank where the livebearers currently live. If you can, turn down the filter to the lowest setting; fry grow alot faster when they don't have to drain their energy swimming away from the current. Good luck and have fun!

Drumachine09
05-08-2007, 07:23 PM
Also put in a big plant like java fern so they can hide in it, also to prevent BTS.

gm72
05-09-2007, 12:58 AM
Well just tonight I have 5 fry and one dead mommy swordtail. I have instructed my wife (I'm away on business) to turn down the filter. Thanks for the help!

Drumachine09
05-09-2007, 01:39 AM
Oh yea, like Ed said, no gravel, as its easier to clean, and you can siphon the waste using a peice of airline tubing.

gm72
05-10-2007, 12:23 AM
Umm, well, new status. I have 7 baby swordtails and zero mommies. THEY JUMPED OUT OF THE FREAKING TANK! There wasn't that much open space for them to make it out of in the first place. Found them dead in back of the tank. Sucks.

Rue
05-10-2007, 12:40 AM
That sucks!

I suppose you'll be able to replace them from the babies if they do well...

gm72
05-10-2007, 01:14 AM
True, but geez. Oh well, its not like it was a rare fish or anything. Does still suck though.

kimmers318
05-10-2007, 01:58 AM
Also put in a big plant like java fern so they can hide in it, also to prevent BTS.

What the heck is BTS? Sorry if that is a stupid Q but it is something I haven't seen before.

Sorry to hear you lost the mommy's, that is pretty unusual for them to become escape artists without something in the tank bothering them!
Good luck with the babies.

gm72
05-10-2007, 09:36 PM
Yeah, nothing else in the tank with them at all. Bizarre.

No idea what BTS is though.