2 gallon tank

[magafish18]

hi. i just got a new 2 gallon eclipse tank with slient fliter and a heater. after a week i put 2 swordtail in it one male pinneaple and one female orange swordtail and there breeding! what do i do with all the fry! please i need help.

[Ms.Bubbles]

Hi. Congratulations on your new fish friends :) Unfortunately, the fish you've chosen are not suited to such a small tank, and this may affect the health and happiness of your fish. And since they are breeding, you are in serious danger of overcrowding! You need to get a bigger tank I'm afraid.

Also, I do hope you "cycled" your tank before adding your fish-- otherwise you may have some sick fish (and baby fry) on your hands in a short time, due to fish waste accumulating and becoming toxic in your tank.

So along with a bigger tank, I would recommend getting a water testing kit for ammonia and nitrite. Check every day for ammonia and nitrite and do frequent water changes to get that stuff down to zero. Hopefully your fish will survive.

[magafish18]

i have everything u said. and i did have the tank run for a week before any fish went in. whould a top fin 29 gallon tank be good? :huh:

[icecubez189]

your tank is way overstocked. i would suggest you go pick up a 10 gallon tank at any LFS (only $10 an up) and move your fish there, except the fry.

also, running your tank for a week isn't cycling. to start the actual cycle itself, you must present a source of ammonia for bacteria to feast on and multiply and establish itself in the tank. to track the progress of a cycle, you'll need a freshwater master test kit such as one from API that shows you levels of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph.

[Rowangel]

i have everything u said. and i did have the tank run for a week before any fish went in. whould a top fin 29 gallon tank be good? :huh:
Ya, 29g that should be fine for 4 swords and then some. You could keep the fry in the 2g for awhile and just move the adults. Then move the fry once they are a bit bigger and not in danger of being eaten.
Just running the tank for a week doesn't cycle it. You need ammonia to start the cycle which means you either do a fishless cycle and add the ammonia yourself, or you do a fish-cycle and do lots of water changes to keep the harmful wastes reasonable. Sounds like your doing a fishy cycle so you'll need a test kit to know where you are in the cycle and when to do water changes.
Wow, how did you get 4 swordtail to even fit into a 2g? I have a 2.5g and I have no idea how I'd get 4 swords in it without them jumping out!

[Rowangel]

also, running your tank for a week isn't cycling. to start the actual cycle itself, you must present a source of ammonia for bacteria to feast on and multiply and establish itself in the tank. to track the progress of a cycle, you'll need a freshwater master test kit such as one from API that shows you levels of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, ph.
ooh, your fast! :p:

[magafish18]

theres only two in there.

[magafish18]

"Wow, how did you get 4 swordtail to even fit into a 2g? I have a 2.5g and I have no idea how I'd get 4 swords in it without them jumping out!"

theres only two where did you get four?

[Rowangel]

ooh, I mis-read that first post to be 2 swordtail PLUS one male pinneaple and one female orange swordtail. Sorry about that! Still, 2g for 2 swordtails is over stocked.

What are your water parameters now? Do you have a testing kit?

[magafish18]

yes the ph is 7.2 the no2 o no3 20.


http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i17/magafish18/100_5204.jpg

[Wishful]

Your other problem is that you need to come up with a plan for more unwanted fry. Your fish aren't going to quit breeding just because you don't have room for more. My personal suggestion would be to get a larger tank (20-30 gallons is a nice little tank) and introduce at least one fish that will eat the fry--turning them from a liability into a plus: fish food!

[magafish18]

well im setting up the 30 gallon for them.