dlewin

ok first I went to this great store and bought two swordtails male and female. and two platies both female. One of the females was black and completely squared off.. So I put her in one of my plastic live barrier traps in the 30 gallon tank. Well one of the babies got threw one of the slits in the trap. I did a water change on the two gallon about 1/4 of the water was replaced. I had 1 month old feeder guppy fry in there.So I put her in a two gallon with the trap. She had 20 beautiful little fry it was getting late and she still looked like she had some in her. So I left her over night thinking she and the little ones would be safe. The next morning when I woke up the mother and most of the fry were dead in the trap. There were 3 live ones they got out of the trap and were swimming around. And thats not the half of it I had my original female Candy I had in the 30 gallon in a plastic breeder trap. When I saw that the babies can get out of the trap I put her in the 2 gallon with the other new female. In the morning Candy was dead too. So I replaced the filter cartage on in the two gallon thinking it might be that.

Then I had some feeder guppies and another platy that was due to have fry soon. So I put two feeder guppies in one trap and the platy in the other trap. the next day one of the feeder guppies were dead and she had fry 3 lived that got out of the trap. So I put the other fish back into there main tanks.

I took some fish out of my other 10 gallon and replaced 1/4 of the water and a new filter cartage. I put the 3 platy fry and the 3 guppy fry in the ten gallon. The water in the two gallon was very bad I so ha the filter was not working properly. I had solved the problem and if I use it again I will change 10% of the water every day.

So I put the breeder traps in the ten gallon. I washed them out with hot water only from the tap. I did not use soap or nothing and made sure they were clean. I put 3 more feeder guppies in one and the female platy in the other. The next day all three of the feeder guppies were dead and so was the platy. they did not have any fry.

The water in the ten gallon is fine and healthy the 6 fry are doing fine.

I threw out the plastic breeder traps (death traps) out. I am only going to use mesh breeder traps from now on. or could I just let them have them in the main tank but the other fish would eat them.

Has anyone else had this problem or tell me what I did wrong. I am so upset I love my fish and don't want them to die.

eiginh

Your main problem was replacing the filter medias and also washing them with your tap water. That most likely killed the beneficial bacteria living in it if it was cycled properly... Did you put the same tank water from the 30 gallon in the traps before you put the preggo fish in there? Test your water parameters in your smaller traps...

Akari_32

i've never used a trap before, but i would say that the lack of water circulation is what was killing them, along with poop, ect building up in it and more fish being "added" (the moms having their fry). i would use a breeders net or just let the fry fend for them selves in the main tank, and put in lots plants and hiding places and feed the adults a little exrta to keep their tummies full so they dont eat all the babies >.<

dlewin

the water was cycled I washed the traps with water not the filter. the filter itself was not cleaned but the carbon was replaced. And yes when I changed 1/4 the water I put the water from 30 in the 2 gallon. I asked for help not a lecturer I have researched on water changes and the fish I have. you never wash the filter just replace the carbon. 1 and a half gallons were the oringal water in the 2 gallon. I replaced half a gallon with the 30 gallon water.

eiginh

Sorry I didn't mean to come at you that way. I was confused after reading your whole passage.

dlewin

I agree it was lack of water flow I could put a air stone in the tank. But wouldn't that blow the fry around. The filter has a sock around it so the fry don't get sucked up.

dlewin

thats ok when I wrote that I was freaking out after all I did lose allot of fish that I loved.

eiginh

I forgot mention sorry for your loss...

Have you tried using a breeder net instead of a trap? I'm assumiming the traps do not have tiny holes for the water to pass through it...

redlessi

Sorry about your fish. I have a livebearer tank and I never use a breeders box or trap. I have lots of plants both fake and real and I have a bijillion fry. They hide in the plants and after a while I think the adult fish just get used to them.

dlewin

thats what i think was wrong lack of air flow. I can make a net out of plastic canvas. its just plastic mesh sown together with yarn. I will use white yarn so no die gets out. Or I can just buy the breeder net they are bigger to and allow for more room.

eiginh

You maybe able to use chop sticks for frames or metal dry cleaners hangar but not too sure if the metal may contaminate the water.

Akari_32

it may just be safer to buy a breeders net, but if u do do a DIY, make sure its all fish safe stuff

dlewin

ok I did something with the two gallon. I put a air stone in it and also one side is covered in plants for the fry to hide. Theres no fish in it I have to let it cycle but what do you guys think. the mother can be in the open area and the babies can hide from mom in the plants. I threw out the plastic breeder traps and I am getting some net traps on Monday. Or I could just use this system and put a small air filter in it. oh and I will buy a small heater for the tank.

The front of the tank


The little forest


The air thing and a sunken pirate ship for mom to hide in

redlessi

That looks great, if you can get a floating plant, they really love those to hide in.

Akari_32

that looks great! much better than the last one >.<

btw~ what are the dimentions of that tank? i have the same one but with a pink top! i used to have some hermit crabs in it lol

Bribaby

If you are planning on a "fry fend for themselves" my only suggestion would be to add more plants. Like stated earlier by someone, all my fry as well love floating plants and that way can swim all around the tank and still be in hiding. And than obviously when you see the fry if possible take the mommy out. Oh one more note.. what I have observed with my fry, they love the air stone, it acts as a current in the river and I think they grow faster because they adapt to have to swim into the current and grow stronger to do so. I use them and the wall bubble curtain. A tube that sticks to you tank wall at the bottom of it and bubbles go through it and up the whole wall of the tank.

dlewin

I can take a large plastic plant and just set it on top of the water. i will take the female out as soon as she is done. I don't want to lose any more fry. Thanks for all the advice any more advice I would love. I know I will lose a few that are not quick enough to get away from mom. But I think I will save more this way. I can also put some more small plants in but I don't want it to seem like mom has no room to move. I think I might do half in thick plants that way the mom can move.

Bribaby

great thinking keep posted on any updates about the fishies

dlewin

well I dont have any pregnant females left. how do you tell if a sword tail is pregnant. With the platys and the guppies you can see a gravid spot. But I dont see one on this female I have but she is a big girl here is a picture of her. she is in with the platys because her mate died. I know they might breed together but I don't mind. as I can use the fry as feeders. and most swords are cross breeds anyway. there is a few pictures as its hard to get a picture of a fish.