Pregnant Swordtail

Riso-chan

The Blue Girl
Jan 17, 2005
322
0
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Florida, USA
One of my females is pregnant, but she doesn't seem to be extremely swollen, though her belly is more extended than the other females. I can see a darkening gravid spot and also little eye spots. I need to know what behavioral signs I need to watch for before isolating her. Please respond quickly, because I don't know how soon it will be. Thanx.
 
I wouldn't isolate her - it's very stressful for the fish to be moved just before giving birth, and she could give birth prematurely, losing all the fry. If you've got hornwort in the tank, the fry should be able to hide from the other fish (from your signature, it seems like you've got a pretty gentle crew in the tank, I wouldn't worry too much). If you've got more than one sword that's pregnant, I'm willing to bet even without isolating them you'll soon be overrun with babies. I kept an angel with my livebearers for population control, and when I lost him a while back, the number of platys in the tank began to grow. I bought a new angel today out of necessity; without a predator, my tank would be absolutely packed within a few months!
 
yeah, if u got a power filter, try to find a sponge cover for it so the babies dont get sucked up. but if it is that couple's first brood, let her drop them, and let them grow on their own in the tank. that way, when ur second brood is conceived, the male will take care of them. and if u do let them run wild on their own, u need to drop enough food so the babies can eat.
 
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