Pregnant Swordtail?

Question

I have 1 female and 4 male swordtails in cold water with my goldfish and i think she may be pregnant. Do they birth live young or eggs? do i need to get a breeding tank for her? How do I know for sure and when do i separate her from the rest?

Answer 1

Sword tails birth live babies. I have 2 females and 2 males. Research says to have more females than males because the males wear out the females. You can tell if she is pregnant by loooking at her tummy. It will have a black spot right behind her fin. They also eat their fry so you will need to get a breeding tank or a breeding net. I have found many web sites about them. I love my swordtails and I can't wait until my female has her fry. Good luck and I will post some links for you.

Answer 2

This is just wrong on so many levels. Swordtails are not cold water fish. The sex ratio should be just the opposite,(3 or 4 females to one male. In a cold water environment it's just a matter of time until the Swordtails get ich. If the female is really large already then it's too late to move her to a breeding tank. You separate female livebearers at least two weeks before they birth,and you know when that is by paying attention to the fishes gravid spot. If you try to wait until later the move will stress the female and she will die,or at best loose her fry. You should know all this before you buy the fish. To do otherwise is cruel.

Answer 3

I think they birth eggs. It would be a good idea to get a breeding tank for her. I would seperate her as soon as possible. Its best to take her out now than risk her or her eggs to be harmed.

Answer 4

No, they gravitate upward. grant some brush on the floor of the water for the youngsters to cover in. no longer an authority on swordtails, even nevertheless I even have had them. yet assuming they're like guppies, the mummy could attempt to consume them. fairly decorative plastic fern, or something else with dense foliage, could do the trick. to no longer subject with regard to the undergravel clear out.