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I am new to the fish thing, but have recently purchased a set of male and female swordtails and guppys. I think the swordtail may be pregnant but I am not sure. She looks thick, kinda big all over, not just in the belly and she is black so I can't tell if she has the black dots on her belly. I bought a breeding net thing just in case but I am not sure how to use it. Do you put the mother in it when she looks like she is about to deliver or do you wait till she has the babies and hopefully fish them out in time? Sorry If this sounds dumb...

IMO net breeders are a pain. You are better off getting a bunch of plants, either plastic or live and planting one section of the tank so dense that the adult fish have a difficult time getting in among the plants.

The fry will hide in the thicket and grow to a size where they won't be eaten. Or you can catch the little buggers and put them in another tank. You would have to take out the plants to catch them all so if you intend to do that go with plastic plants.

If you really want to use the net breeder you can do it either way but in my experience the female will stubbornly refuse to give birth in one or if she does she eats the fry as fast as she pops them out. If you catch the babies and put them in it within a week or so the net will be full of debris and fouled with fish poop and uneaten food. Been there done that and I ain't gonna do it no more.

Have fun, hope you have lots of sword babies. If you plan to raise them get another tank soon becaue the grow fast and 40-70 babies take up alot of room.

Good luck, Mike

Breeding nets are a big pain, but yes, you do put the female in when she looks ready to give birth and remove her straight after that. I suggest instead of plants or a net, use a breeding trap. It floats in the water and the fry get protected from the female eating them. Although this may not be very good advice because I have never bred livebearers, but this is what I have read. Good luck!

I've done the trap thing too. It's very small and stresses the fish. Plus the problem of knowing when exactly to put her in it. You don't want her in it for days but you don't want to sress her once she has started having them.

If you have a 10 gal. that you can set up and fill with plants that works well. You put the female in it when you think she is about ready and take her out once she has dropped the fry.

Good luck, Mike

ps. Welcome to FP

Last edited by Mike R at 05-Oct-2004 22:40