my swords are very large and everyone here thinks there pregnant. so how do i tell when there about to give birth so i can remove them?
How to tell when a swordtail is about to give birth
- Thread starter magafish18
- Start date
Why are you going to remove the moms? If anything just remove the babies once you find them and put them in a breeder box. Usually you can not tell when a fish is about to labor (at least the livebarers).
move the fish to the breeder now get one that the fry drop tot he bottom then just remove the mother
You won't want to keep the mother in a breeder too long. There isn't enough room for a swordtail to live in it for an extended period.
Magafish the info of livebearers giving birth at dawn is wrong. I keep guppies and swordtails and many times i have watched them give birth during the day, usually the afternoon. It is very difficult to tell when individual females are going to birth unless you know their birthing history as some will be fatter than others at birth. Also females that are storing alot of unfertilised eggs can be fat but not be about to drop. My advice is to watch the gravid spot. Livebearers give birth every 28 days approx and when they are about to drop look at their anal passage where the poo/fry come out. When they are about to give birth it becomes more angular/squared to the body instead of rounded. For future reference when she does have her babies record the date and you will be better prepared if necessary the next time she births.
If your tank is densely planted then some of the fry should survive it really depends upon the other fish and how voracious they are.
If your tank is densely planted then some of the fry should survive it really depends upon the other fish and how voracious they are.
In the tank where i have my angel i have never had a fry survive to catch despite it being heavily planted they are voracious and can smell a female birthing. . :mad2: