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Hello again,<br>I have a male swordtail in my 25gal, he has fathered two sets of babies.<br>Just after my seccond lot of babies, My male jumped straight back to business, and started trying to mate with her again. He chased her for 24 hours non-stop nipping at her fins. I put some medicine in the tank but she died the next morning.<br>A few days later (Christmas Eve) I got another Female. This time he tried to mate her while she was still floating in the bag. She was a lot smaller then his last victim, so hes chased her untill today when she must have died of stress.<br>I found her under a piece of driftwood beinmg eaten by my red clawed crab.<br>I tried to fish her out but the crab ran off with her and now I can't find it.<br>I've heared that you should have 2 females in the tank to 1 male- is this true? I might try it because I'm sure we could get many babies still.<br>I have 1 baby from the first litter and loads from the next one. Theyre about a month old and the big one is two months- He ate a whole bloodworm yesterday! (well I think hes a he lol)<br>So any ssuggestions?

br0ke_1T,

Yes, it is a good idea to have at least 2 females to one male, or a larger group of swords all together. I had the same situation (albeit with platies, their cousins) where one male chased one female way too often. I put him temporarily in a net breeder for a few days and that seemed to have him cool off little. Once the fry of the females (I could save 9) were old enough to be released into the main tank the issues went away. In between I had to euthanize the 2 females as they developed dropsy. But the old male couldn’t focus on one particular female anymore and also was busy chasing younger males away. The group is now at least 15 fish strong, with the old man being the boss and the others ranging from 2 weeks to young adults.

Ingo

Last edited by LITTLE_FISH at 28-Dec-2005 07:22

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

I found the body, The crab ate its intestines and left everything else, My swordtail is now trying to mate with my pregnant female guppy. Not viciously like with the swordtail though.
I think I might have to remove him, but I will try two females.
On an unrelate topic, when are swordtails ready to be released into the tank? I have 1 thats 2 months old and loads that are 1 month old

Don't worry about the Sword mating with the Guppy, that is not going to work .

About when to release: Rule of thumb is "When the fry doesn't fit in the biggest mouth in the tank anymore".

If the Sword is the biggest fish then I would say when they are about 3/4 of an inch should be safe.

Ingo

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Proud Member of the New Jersey Aquatic Gardeners Club

In The tank I have 3 peppered corys(who keep sucking on the net) one dwarf honey gourami (who keeps nipping at the net) 2 guppys 1 swordtail 3 Amano shrimps, 3 polka dot loaches 2 neons ( I think the rest died, havnt found their bodies all since I got the Crab)
1 Red Clawed Crab, 3 bettas (dont worry) and 3 upside down catfish (that I never see ever) 5 x-ray tetras and 2 common plecos.

Depending on your tanksize, tankmates, your experience and how well-planted your tank is you can determain how your ratio should work.


I used to have a 2:1 Ratio in my 10 gal tank with my trio of plattys. Usually if you have some simular looking fish in there and they are juvinile you do fine.

If you do a 1:1 Ratio, the male will almost always kill the female when trying to mate with her. The only exception I have seen is simular tank mates, and if you have at least a 20 gal with a lot of hiding places.

If you have a 10 gal, its best to do a 2F:1M trio, assuming your guppies would be your only tankmates. ^_^


Hope Ive been helpful!

Inky

when introducing my swordtail fry, i usually wait until they are about two months old, good healthy fry will grow faster with more feedings, and also, will be able to swim ALOT faster. Just keep alot of plants handy, and they should be fine.


also on your corydoras, you should upgrade to six or so, being as they are schooling fish and do better in groups.

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

Get more plants/hiding places , and 2-3 females.