Swordtail Breeding Thread

So... about a month and half ago I got 2 swordtails(male and female), and had fry about three weeks ago. Well I have more fry on the way, so every morning for the past week I have been waking up at six in the morning trying to video tape her giving birth, but she is not doing anything. I am new to swordtails and breeding so after a couple times I should get the hang of it.
here are the Mr. and Mrs. lol
sorry about the bad pics.. they are kind of camera shy.

 

UPDATE:
Here are the fry from my previous batch...
They are three weeks old...

 

Okay so tomorrow will be day 28 of Mrs. Orange being pregnant... Hopefully I can tape it tomorrow(well that is if she gives birth)

 

Good luck getting that on cam! My swords have had about seven broods in four months and I've never seen it happen. It's just suddenly, there's babies swimming around. Usually notice them at the morning feeding time.
I use the "survival of the fittest" method of crowd control and it hasn't gotten out of hand .....YET.
Looking forward to seeing that video, Apple.

 

Thanks... I put mine in a breeder tank, and sell them to my LFS, who will trade me for filter media, fish, etc.

 

So today(obviously didn't go well, still nothing...Hmmm... maybe tomorrow?!?!?!?

 

Sorry I haven't posted in a while... anyways she gave birth on friday, here are the fry, there are at least 20!

 

Awwwww! Great pictures, thank you for posting them! After the last picture of Mrs. Orange, the very next picture was of a fry in the same orientation in the picture frame. I thought at first it was her again! LOL.

Please keep us posted on the fry. Way cool!

 

lol... thanks... I wanted to get it on video, but she gave birth earlier than 6:00
well, I guess there is always another time!!

 

lol... thanks... I wanted to get it on video, but she gave birth earlier than 6:00
well, I guess there is always another time!!

True dat with livebearers!!

 

lol... I will admit I was I little depressed when I came in, turned on the lights and saw fry... I was really hoping to get it on video... lol

 

yeah, that was probably disappointing. You should have another opportunity soon!

BTW, what's your method for breeding them? Do you let the pair stay in the main tank and then try to net the fry? Or isolate the mother when she's about due? I guess you're watching the calendar pretty closely.

I'm asking because I'm thinking about getting either platies or swordtails very soon, and I'd like to know the best/easiest way to preserve the fry that will come. I'm leaning toward platies only because they're smaller...what do you think?

Lots of questions, I know LOL. Hope you don't mind!

 

I watch the calendar, and my fish... than put her in and wait for her to "POP" lol... hope that works out for you... let me know how it goes!!! And yes they stay in the main tank

Let me know if you have any questions!!! PM if you want to... I am on and off fishlore daily!

 

Thanks!!!

 

It is amazing how fast these guys grow!!! lol I have 7 that are pushing 1" already, and they're only one month old!

 

One inch fry? With or without the sword LOL. PICTURES please!

Question: What color variety are the parents? They don't look like red velvets to me. They seem to have a bit of white, which seems like the newer Koi variety but can't tell. Because when I look at the fry I don't see solid coloring.

Also, in your experience, which do you prefer breeding: swordtails or platies? Just curious!

 

Also, in your experience, which do you prefer breeding: swordtails or platies? Just curious!

Haven't had platies, but I LOVE swordtails! their just cool to watch!


The parents are orange (the first four pictures). I'm not sure about specifics...

they might be koi variety, but I doubt it, judging by there pigment.

 

OK, sounds good. I'm trying to decide between platies and swordtails. The issue is space...obviously swords take up more room. But they ARE so cool to watch.

Just came back from two petstores. One of them had a variety called a Solar Flare Twinbar Swordtail. It was a beautiful honey-orange-pink color with two thin dark bars on its tail. But they only had one female. The employee told me that they will get a new shipment in next Tuesday. Hmmm.... I wonder where I will be next Tuesday afternoon?

 

Honestly, idk about anything for the 5g, I would say a betta as your centerpeice, and cories as background/foreground movement would look

 

Great ideas! I pm'd you so I wouldn't hijack your swordtail thread.

 

Thread Moved to the new blog! I will post some new pics today!