random06

I have a male and female pineapple swordtails in the tank with other tetras. I recently notice the female's stomach is getting bigger and bigger. But the gravid spot is not black, but red-orange color. I see a few black spots in that area inside her belly. I also noticed that the male and female stay together more and zoom up and down the sidewall together a lot. Also, the male is becoming aggressive to the tetras, which never happened before. is she pregnant?

Chief_waterchanger

In some of the lighter strains of livebearers the gravid spot can be red/orange/pink or other variations of nearly those colors.

Livebearers are almost always pregnant once they are sexually mature and with male(s). What is your ratio of male to female? Most livebearers will eat their fry if you don't catch them early on. The tetras will also eat fry. Heavy dense planting (such as guppy grass) is a nice way to allow the fry to hide. Our tanks are breeding tanks and not show tanks, so our heavy baby producing tanks are packed thick with guppy grass.

Good luck with the babies.

random06

I got only one male and one female swordtail. How do I know when she will pop? I don't want to isolate her for too long, I heard that was not good for her either?

goggles

the above reply is correct. i breed pineapple swordtails all the time. don't worry there gravid spot is red/orange or pink ,this is because they are a rather transparent fish. you will find that they will be breed all the time so be prepared for alot of fry. if you need any advice on this just ask.

random06

Thank all of you for replying. But I found out she gave birth last night before I could do anything. And I couldn't find any more fries. I guess they all had a big feast. How big is a fry anyway?

goggles

when thay are first born they are about 1mm in size. they will grow fast given the right food.