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I think i have a male swordtail in my tank that isn't interested in the female swordtails. I gave him every mans fantasy... and he didn't have a crack at either of the females i put him in the breeding trap with. And yes, i am sure he was a bloke. I since swapped him with my other male and within an hour he was harrassing both women and i believe was quite succesful. I put him back with the community now and as i haven't had a go at breeding before i wanted to ask the ollowing questions which may seem dumb...

1. is one night of passion with the two females enough or should i put him back in again.
2. how long before i know they are pregnant
3. how long before they have fry.
4. once they have fry how big are they, could they fall through the perforations on the breeding trap (which is one of those small plastic models with the removeable divider and the false bottom).

Thanks.

I am not sure if u need to put him in again, but i am guessing not, since he will go at them even if they aren't in the cage, you can tell there pregnant when u begin to see a blackish triangle shape by their bellies, the gestation period if coniditons are good should be about 3-4 weeks, sometimes five weeks.

Lucas

1. i would leave the male with the female for at least a few days,
2. the gestastion period is about every 28-32 days. she'll show signs of getting bigger in about two weeks and if she has clear scales, you might be able to see a gravid spot where the fry are held... its the black triangle-thing ku5626 was talking about
3. about 4 weeks.
4. they will be big enough to not fall through the perforations of a hard plastic breeding trap, just don't try to remove it from the water, as it creates the water suction that will for sure suck them into the cracks. if you need to move it i suggest getting a big plastic bowl and go under the breeder and lift, so the water doesnt gush out of the breeder.


once you've got babies you can feed them ground up flake food, or they make specific fry food called first bites. you should take them out of the breeder once the smallest fish is bigger than the biggest fish's mouth.


hope that helps ya!

Chelle

*Chelle*
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I love the fishes cuz they're SOOO delicious...

well it seems my platy must have allready been pregnant as i came home from being away for three days to see there were four fry about 9mm long swiming around in the breeding trap. Ive kicked out the mum, and now there swimming freely in the breeding trap and nibbling on powdered flake.

I can't wait to see what colours they grow into.