Breeding Swordtails

ronanmurphy98

Hi, I have a tropical aquarium with a silver molly, 4 zebra danios, 2 golden widow tetra and 3 swordtails. 2 of the swordtails are female and the other one is male. The swordtails have been in the tank for about 13 months now and I really want them to breed. I set up a fry trap (using a bottle and some bait) and a nursery I bought. Now the females both had gravid spots for quite a while now and no babies, but I really want some new swordtails. Is there a way of knowing if the swordtails are pregnant and how long they are to go until birth?
Thanks, Ronan:)

fungun

do you have a reasonably dense planted area? If your water quality is good and the fish are healthy its likely that they are spawning and having babies but the babies are being eaten. I personally prefer dense plants to traps

ronanmurphy98

Yes, my pH is 7.2 and ammonia is zero so I suppose the water is fine. My aquarium is also medium planted, all artificial though. Could an ornament be used as a place for hiding, I also have alot of those!

antocann

are you positive you have a male and female swordtail?

mine where in the tank a few weeks and they bred

ronanmurphy98

Definitely, the males have a sword on the back, while the females don't, so I have one male and two females.:D

antocann

ronanmurphy98 wrote: »

Definitely, the males have a sword on the back, while the females don't, so I have one male and two females.:D

they are liver bearers , maybe another fish it eating the babies?