Swordtail Fry, light cycle important?

[james]

I have 5 swordtail fry that are about a week old, living in their own
separate tank until they are ready to go into the community.

They eat a lot of powdered food, and they're growing quickly.

So, I've had the light on pretty much their whole life. Tonight
I decided to start giving them a night cycle. I couldn't find
any reference to this, other than a suggestion to leave the light on
when they are first born in order to encourage them to eat. Well,
they have no problem with that. So how much light should they get?
It seemed to freak them out a bit when I first turned off the light.

Thanks


James

[^*^ Vosklady ^*^]

"james" > wrote in message
news:G9pkb.52814$La.30479@fed1read02...
> I have 5 swordtail fry that are about a week old, living in their own
> separate tank until they are ready to go into the community.
>
> They eat a lot of powdered food, and they're growing quickly.
>
> So, I've had the light on pretty much their whole life. Tonight
> I decided to start giving them a night cycle. I couldn't find
> any reference to this, other than a suggestion to leave the light on
> when they are first born in order to encourage them to eat. Well,
> they have no problem with that. So how much light should they get?
> It seemed to freak them out a bit when I first turned off the light.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> James

I've raised many molly fry and I assume it's basically the same with all
livebearers. In terms of lighting, I just do the same as I do for the
adults, I leave the lights on 12 hours a day (mostly for the live plants). I
just turn on the lights when I get up in the morning and turn them off 12
hours later. This way, the fry grow accustomed to the light cycle. =)

^*^ V ^*^

[^*^ Vosklady ^*^]

"james" > wrote in message
news:G9pkb.52814$La.30479@fed1read02...
> I have 5 swordtail fry that are about a week old, living in their own
> separate tank until they are ready to go into the community.
>
> They eat a lot of powdered food, and they're growing quickly.
>
> So, I've had the light on pretty much their whole life. Tonight
> I decided to start giving them a night cycle. I couldn't find
> any reference to this, other than a suggestion to leave the light on
> when they are first born in order to encourage them to eat. Well,
> they have no problem with that. So how much light should they get?
> It seemed to freak them out a bit when I first turned off the light.
>
> Thanks
>
>
> James

(( Repeat post, since I originally posted a few days ago and it never
showed))

Livebearer females can store sperm for quite some time (up to six months the
last I heard). One successful mating can produce several batches of fry.
This is to assure the survival of the species. I've also heard that if there
are only females around for long periods of time, one or more of the females
will develop into males to assure the species continues . . . I forget
offhand where I read this, but was rather surprised when I did.

^*^ Vosklady ^*^

[james]

In article >,

>Livebearer females can store sperm for quite some time (up to six months the
>last I heard). One successful mating can produce several batches of fry.
>This is to assure the survival of the species. I've also heard that if there
>are only females around for long periods of time, one or more of the females
>will develop into males to assure the species continues.

The word is, this is a myth, and they do not change gender, but that some
males take a long time to develop. They haven't been known to give birth
and then "change" gender.

[Erik Soballe]

\
>
> >Livebearer females can store sperm for quite some time (up to six months
the
> >last I heard). One successful mating can produce several batches of fry.
> >This is to assure the survival of the species. I've also heard that if
there
> >are only females around for long periods of time, one or more of the
females
> >will develop into males to assure the species continues.
>
> The word is, this is a myth, and they do not change gender, but that some
> males take a long time to develop. They haven't been known to give birth
> and then "change" gender.
>

I bought a male and female platy.. shortly thereafter one developed very
male genitalia.. But I believe it was just a juvenile.. Well, I was looking
forward to some platy fry, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen
anytime soon.

-Erik

[Rich]

I have platies and mollies in the same tank breeding constantly. Sorry -
but the tank is well planted and I subscribe to the concept of the smart and
strong service the rest are snacks.
I keep all the lights on their regular schedule and have rasied several to
adulthood. With the plants they get lots of food in the way of small algae
and new plant growth. I know the survivors are hardy, strong and will make
for stronger hardier offspring.
Now..when there are too many females, some will take on male
characteristics. This reduces the chance of it breeding considerably until
the community is back in balance. Remeber though that there is always an
abundance of females and far fewer males. (I guess they ar not as socially
advanced as people- or maybe they are advanced??).
The main thing is to have fun, enjoy the hobby.

"Erik Soballe" > wrote in message
...
> \
> >
> > >Livebearer females can store sperm for quite some time (up to six
months
> the
> > >last I heard). One successful mating can produce several batches of
fry.
> > >This is to assure the survival of the species. I've also heard that if
> there
> > >are only females around for long periods of time, one or more of the
> females
> > >will develop into males to assure the species continues.
> >
> > The word is, this is a myth, and they do not change gender, but that
some
> > males take a long time to develop. They haven't been known to give
birth
> > and then "change" gender.
> >
>
> I bought a male and female platy.. shortly thereafter one developed very
> male genitalia.. But I believe it was just a juvenile.. Well, I was
looking
> forward to some platy fry, but that doesn't look like it's going to happen
> anytime soon.
>
> -Erik
>
>
>
>

[^*^ Vosklady ^*^]

Interesting Thread . . . http://badmanstropicalfish.com/mb/mb177.html

:)