Menu Close

How long does it take a swordtail to give birth?

How long does it take a swordtail to give birth?

28 days
Although the swordtail’s gestation period is 28 days, it may be difficult to determine when she became pregnant. Gestation can vary by a few days if the female is stressed or water conditions aren’t quite right.

How long does fish labor last?

The fish birthing process can take 1 – 24 hours. It sounds like your molly gave birth while you were away, but the rest of her offspring became food for the other fish. It is unlikely that the baby fish will be able to survive around the other fish.

How do I know when my swordtail is about to give birth?

The Eyes of the Fry and Signs of Impending Birth To accommodate the developing eggs, the mother’s body expands, becoming deeper and broader. A few days before delivery, she develops a bulge below the gills, her outline becoming fairly square in this region, while the gravid spot has enlarged its area.

How long does it take for a fish to have all her babies?

As examples, the female swordtail and guppy will both give birth to anywhere from 20 to 100 live young after a gestation period of four to six weeks, and mollies will produce a brood of 20 to 60 live young after a gestation of six to 10 weeks.

When should you separate a pregnant guppy?

After Your Guppy Gives Birth After your female gives birth, separate her from the fry, either through the use of a mesh or another tank. This is necessary as she may eat the fry, seeking the nourishment she needs to recover. Isolate her for one to two days. During this time, feed her well and regularly.

How do I know when my fish is about to give birth?

Look for the gravid spot on the fish’s abdomen near the rear tail. The spot should appear large and dark when her eggs are fertilized. You will know your fish is close to giving birth when the spot becomes nearly black. Some fish may show white spots instead of black.

How many swordtails should be kept together?

Swordtails won’t shoal, but they are social and enjoy being in a group of their own kind. Males usually display aggression towards each other, so in smaller tanks (15 gallons) only keep one male. A bigger tank (30+ gallons) can hold more males – make sure to keep a ratio of one male for every four females.

When does a swordtail fish have its tail?

This is the final stage of swordtails. The fish will have grown fully when six months old. At this stage, they will be 12-14 cm (5 – 5.5 inches) long including their swords. Male have swordtails and develop longer tails and fins than the females.

How long does it take for a swordtail fish to get pregnant?

A swordtail fish will get pregnant immediately the give birth and they use the tendency. You might feel like your swordtail is always pregnant and as a result, you forget how non-pregnant swordtails look like. Each new fry will mature within a short time to contribute to the population of your aquarium too – that will take around three months.

When does a swordtail fry become a juvenile?

If you do a good feeding job and water is clean, in one month, the swordtail fry will become juveniles. As I have stated above, a one-month-old swordtail will be in the juvenile stage. The fish will have a length of 1.5-2 cm (0.6-0.8 inches), the colors will have started showing and the sexes will be identifiable.

How big of an aquarium do you need for a swordtail?

Caring for swordtails is easy, the only thing that you really need to be sure of is the size of the tank. Although several swordtails can live in a 10-gallon aquarium, it would be better if they have a larger space to move about. This fish loves space and will give birth earlier if this requirement is met.