Ola - swordtail babies

Hi Guys and Gals, Im new to this site and only started fish keeping about 4 months. I took over a friends tank and made it my own.

Last night we had our second batch of Swordtail fry!!!! :smile1: "The Bitch"...as the mommy is called, popped out 70+ babies and 90% seems to be happy and swimming in thein plastic breeding tank. ("Moses" is the soul survivor of her first batch...which we missed) :blink1:

I have babies!!!! yhey!!! :bigsmile:
(sorry the excitement)

My question: how long can I keep them in the plasic breeder?
I heard there might be some O2 deficiencies.
(yes, I have a few big monsters in the main tank)

Secondly, what is the best food to feed this little buggers with???
I crushed some flakes this morning...

Any tips or advice would be great!!! Thanks!!
S

 

Hi Swordi, welcome and congrads, for the babies the best would be a grow out tank (prompting MTS), crushed flakes should be good or licqui fry (pls excuse spelling)

 

Hi Donny, Awesome thanx - ill check out that liquifry!!

 

with 70+ babies i would suggest a seperate tank, cause of all the waste or get the breeder nets that hang on the side of your tank would get atleast 3 with that many babies , problem is the nets don't look all that nice.

 

Jhep i think so as well - I already had a minor overpopulation problem...but now its gonna be serious!! I also dont like those nets, but hey, what can you do.
Dankie!

 

Yes I would also recommend a separate tank.

I started with a 90cm tank now I have 4 running tanks

 

Swordi what size tank have you got running and whats all in it.

 

Welcome to TASA. I must agree with all the previous comments made before, a separate tank is the way to go especially with that many babies.

 

welcome

 

Welkommen

i also turned my small guppy tank into a tank for fry, cause the fry resulting in my main tank, i only catch the ones who survived hungry mouths, a small tank just for them is easier to maintain them till they grow out and then you can move them to your main tank again

 

I have to agree you should get another tank to keep your fry in...... and so starts MTS.....
O yes Welcome to the forum

 

Hi and welcome. Congrats for the fry. I agree with all the above advice. More swiming space equils faster growing fish and better quality fish. Also do more regular water changes for the fry.

 

congrats with the fry

 

Hi, thanks all... I moved them to a netted breeding tank and counted a whopping 91 little fry. Only 5 dead. (and a few eaten obviously) But this weekend will be operation Tank2.

my tank is a 110 / 60 / 90 cm
Home for: 2xswordtail (breeding pair) 2x tigerbarb 2x black widow 1 x Silver dollar 10 x neon\pristella 1x platy 1x upside downer. oh and the 91 swordtail babes.

Can anyone comment on using egg yolk as food, especially for the little ones?

Thanks all!
s

 

you have to boil the egg first then feed them the paste ,,, thats what i have read but have never used it......

 

Cool thanks Don - that makes sense.

Anyone else tried yolk before? :idea:

 

Works well but can be rather messy. You have to form a paste with the yolk by mashing it finely - some people sieve it through an old stocking but that is not necessary for livebearers.

 

Great Thanks Veegal - I`ll have to try that.

Another Question: How about brine shrimp...I see a lot of international sites recommend that for fry?

 

Beware of egg yolk - it is a GREAT fry food - but any that gets left behind can foul your tank in hours.......

 

Thanks Zafgak - I tried a few drops of yolk last night & must say the fry (especially moses, the month old uncle) luuuved it!! But it did leave my tank a bit smelly this morning...and if you can smell it must be affecting my water quality.
Amonia levels & nitrate seems fine, but I will do a minor water change tonight and clean their breeding net of any left overs...
thanx for the warning - will use yolk sparingly!