Swordtails babies

I've got some swordtail babies that are about 20 days old now.
To stop them being eaten they're in the breeding trap but I'm
wondering whether I can let them out yet.They're big enough not
to fit in the mother's mouth but I've also got some bigger
Mollies and I'm sure they could eat the fry if they wanted to...

Would the fry be able to keep out the way of the Mollies? They
seem to be fairly wary (in that they swim away when I open the
lid).... Or would it be safer to keep them in the breeding trap
for a little while longer?

I've read about keeping the adults well fed to help stop them
eating the fry, but it seems to me that the Mollies are *always*
hungry!

There's a few plants in the aquarium but I haven't got any Java
Moss or that kind of thing.

Another point - at what age will the males start to grow their
sword? I've heard the presence of another male can delay the
development and help the males grow larger (apparently they
stop growing once the sword starts developing...). The only
other male is a Molly, will this have any affect?

Thanks in advance
--
Ed

On 1 Apr 2004 12:29:11 GMT, Ed wrote:

I've got some swordtail babies that are about 20 days old now.
To stop them being eaten they're in the breeding trap but I'm
wondering whether I can let them out yet.They're big enough not
to fit in the mother's mouth but I've also got some bigger
Mollies and I'm sure they could eat the fry if they wanted to...

Would the fry be able to keep out the way of the Mollies? They
seem to be fairly wary (in that they swim away when I open the
lid).... Or would it be safer to keep them in the breeding trap
for a little while longer?

I've read about keeping the adults well fed to help stop them
eating the fry, but it seems to me that the Mollies are *always*
hungry!

There's a few plants in the aquarium but I haven't got any Java
Moss or that kind of thing.

Another point - at what age will the males start to grow their
sword? I've heard the presence of another male can delay the
development and help the males grow larger (apparently they
stop growing once the sword starts developing...). The only
other male is a Molly, will this have any affect?

Thanks in advance


Ed,

This really hits on the spot.. I have pregnant tuxedo, who has looked
ready to pop for about 2 weeks now.

I've never acutally had preg. Swords before, but my wife has her 10
gallon with mollies and albino corys. After the last pregnancy, I
moved the mom back to the tank (have a 5 gallon fry tank), and over
night she dropped five more fry. That was three weeks ago. All five
of those fry are doing good, the Corys seem to have left them alone.

Something I read said that the most common reasons for the fry being
eaten were hunger, overcrowding, and polution. That's not to say that
depending on the fish type, small live bait isn't tempting... that
instinct is how we catch fish....

I guess in refernce to the Mollies, it will really depend on the size
difference.

How long are the swordtail females pregnant? My lady has been
getting bigger by the day for about three weeks now.... I've been
watching closely, knowing that with guppies, you can see them "square
off" a little just before it is time. Any ideas??


--Tony

"Ed" wrote in message
. uk...
I've got some swordtail babies that are about 20 days old now.
To stop them being eaten they're in the breeding trap but I'm
wondering whether I can let them out yet.They're big enough not
to fit in the mother's mouth but I've also got some bigger
Mollies and I'm sure they could eat the fry if they wanted to...

Would the fry be able to keep out the way of the Mollies? They
seem to be fairly wary (in that they swim away when I open the
lid).... Or would it be safer to keep them in the breeding trap
for a little while longer?

When you release them, there is usually a sudden frantic interest, so
even if they are too big to eat, they can be damaged. When you do let
them out, do it after feeding everyone and under cover of darkness.
Having lots of shelter helps, even caves, if there isn't enough plants.

NetMax

snip
--
Ed

"Ed" wrote in message
. uk...
I've got some swordtail babies that are about 20 days old now.
To stop them being eaten they're in the breeding trap but I'm
wondering whether I can let them out yet.They're big enough not
to fit in the mother's mouth but I've also got some bigger
Mollies and I'm sure they could eat the fry if they wanted to...

Would the fry be able to keep out the way of the Mollies? They
seem to be fairly wary (in that they swim away when I open the
lid).... Or would it be safer to keep them in the breeding trap
for a little while longer?

With my guppies i have the found the fry with the most "smarts" survive.
They keep their distance from the big guys and find good hiding places.
Plenty of plants for hiding helps too.

lonerider

In article , NetMax wrote:

"Ed" wrote in message
. uk...
I've got some swordtail babies that are about 20 days old now.
To stop them being eaten they're in the breeding trap but I'm
wondering whether I can let them out yet.They're big enough not
to fit in the mother's mouth but I've also got some bigger
Mollies and I'm sure they could eat the fry if they wanted to...

When you release them, there is usually a sudden frantic interest, so
even if they are too big to eat, they can be damaged. When you do let
them out, do it after feeding everyone and under cover of darkness.
Having lots of shelter helps, even caves, if there isn't enough plants.


Thanks for your help everyone - the fry seem to be doing fine

Ed

NetMax