Skyline

Hey, im pretty new at this whole breeding thing, I have a pregnant swordtail and I bought a new breeding net for her...

Im not sure if she likes it in their and I think it could stress her out to the point that she could abort her pregnancy?

Could this happen or am I too paranoid?

Should I leave the female in the main tank and wait for the babies to be born and put them in the breeder net, or just leave her in their?

Have you guys had success with breeder nets?

Please, any help would be appreciated.

Oh and I posted a Picture of my pregnant swordtail, you can't really see the little eyes but she is pregnant...

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Dino

I don't care for them.

I have always had better luck with keeping the tank heavily planted.

Skyline

Have you ever used the breeder nets though?

I feel that maybe I should just leave the mom in the main tank and let nature take its course...but I also want more free fish sooo...?!?!?

swords3711

ya it is easy for small fish like guppies
its difficult for swords though. My female aborted almost half her fry because of the breeder net

COBettaCouple

I don't like breeding nets really and just give the fry lots of hiding spots with floating plants, flat glass marbles substrate and a bunch of caves & plants. Then I can 'rescue' them to their own tank.

Gozer_1

Yup, hiding spots and a grow out tank. I've birthed a few batches of guppies in a net but there were always quite a few more babies when mom was free swimming. Ground level hiding spots is very important when they are born as babies kind of settle on the bottom before they really start swimming around. They'll be safer if they can settle into unaccessable crevices and in amongst plant leaves. Could buy you a little extra time to get them into their temp home.

Dino

Yes, I have used them.
Back before I knew any better.

Skyline

Alright thank you guys for all your information, I will leave her in the main tank and then when the babies are born "rescue" them and put them in the breeding net so the bigger fish don't have 'em for snacks.

Oh and btw...i see a lot of little eyes in my swordtail's stomach but she has yet to deliver...how much time would be left...?

Dino

If you can see eyes, it should be very soon, a week at longest.

COBettaCouple

yea, watch for her trying to isolate herself and for her back end to sort of get square-ish looking. I love when you can see them looking out at you.

Skyline

Haha I do too and thanks for the help..

Would my swordtail ever have babies in the night or when the light is off?

MagpieTear

I use one as a growout chamber for my Java Fern plantlets. They're too small to not get knocked around by the current in the tank and get sucked up the intake.

Skyline

Oh and one more thing, my male keeps chasing my female...i think she might be getting stressed as she is always running away...?

What should i do?

Chief_waterchanger

That is normal. Our male guppies chase the female guppies when they are close to delivering fry. I would make sure to inspect the female for any visible injuries/wounds, but they should be fine.

COBettaCouple

Excellent idea.. I think I'll do that with some baby Java Fern and Watersprite.

MagpieTear

The only issue I have found with this is the current tangles the roots all together. I have a small Java fern ball in there right now. Hoping this will become a non-issue in three weeks when I take the HOB out of the tank and go to strictly the cannister.

COBettaCouple

I'll try putting the net on a tank corner with the least flow and maybe it'll help. At least the little baby plants won't keep getting sucked into the intake.

Skyline

HEY GUYZ GUESS WHAT?

My fish were just born today, i was in school so I couldn't catch any of the action but I came home and managed to snag at least 4 in the breeder net. I saw one get eaten and then two are hiding in breeder grass. Sorry i can't get any pictures because my camera ran out of batteries...maybe ill snap some pix for later.

Anyway I was wondering...will my baby fry in the breeding grass survive for long?

Will they get eaten?

Do they have a chance?

And how will I feed them I have those Hikari bites but they take sooo long to get to the bottom and they reallly dirty up my tank. Please I need your opinions, thank you all for your great advice btw.

I hope they make it.