One of the most popular tropical water aquarium species is the swordtail fish. This is because they are simple to maintain and care for. In addition, they are so enticing that they can quickly reproduce and coexist with other tropical freshwater fish. So, what happens if the swordtails give birth?
In the wild, swordtail fish can produce hundreds of progeny. This is because swordtails mate swiftly and give birth to hundreds of fry at once following the gestation period.
What happens when the swordtails birth is a vague question. There are various possibilities. Swordtails fish sometimes die after giving birth. At other times, the parents do not offer their Fry special attention and instead try to devour them. Another possibility is that the tiny swordtail fry can fall prey to other fish in the tank.
If you are a serious breeder, then it is best to take care of the pregnant swordtail fry to ensure the safety of both mother and the offspring.
In this article, we’ll learn how swordtail fish reproduce, how they give birth, and what happens after the swordtails give birth to the babies. Along with that, we will also discuss how to take care of pregnant swordtails and the Fry. So, keep on reading!
What Type Of Fish Are Swordtails?
Swordtail fish are livebearers who give birth to hundreds of young at a time after being fertilized by males. The mother will guard her eggs until they hatch, usually within 48 hours of fertilization, and gestation varies depending on water temperature: roughly 28 days at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. She then releases 50-150 young fry into the water, leaving them to their own devices.
It would help if you did not leave a female in the tank after she gives birth because she will consume her young, a potential food source. The new Fry must then live and graze on microscopic zooplankton until they can learn to consume more essential things like a crushed flake or brine shrimp.
The Swordtail Fish’s Reproduction Process
Swordtail fish are popular not only because they are easy to care for but also because they are easy to breed. However, while swordtails are simple to produce and may be done at home, irresponsible breeding can be a problem. This is due to an overpopulation of swordtail fish.
Like most fish, swordtails reproduce through sexual reproduction. Nonetheless, because they are livebearers, their reproduction process is slightly different.
A swordtail fish is ovoviviparous, which means it does not spawn or deposit eggs like most fish. Instead, Fry (baby swordtails) hatch while still inside their mother, giving them more advanced features than fish that hatch through eggs.
How Does A Swordtail Give Birth?
Simply put, swordtail fish become pregnant following the mating process. However, both male and female swordtail fish find the mating process to be inconvenient.
The male pursues and harasses the female during mating, who hides amid the aquarium’s plants and items. The male places his gonopodium near the female’s anal fin, releasing his sperm when she allows him to approach or is preoccupied. This action is quick and does not require any manual intervention. As a result, if you do not pay close attention, you may miss it.
What Happens When The Swordtails Give Birth?
If you are looking for specific characteristics that a pregnant swordtail fish portrays when she is about to give birth, here are some top mentions:
Confined To A Single Place
Pregnant swordtail fish close to labor will start becoming inactive and sit at a single place; behind the hiding spots or in one corner of the tank.
Stress And Aggression
Pregnancy and labor can be a stressful time for your swordtail fish. So, you might find her stressed out, moving frantically in one place. Moreover, the male swordtail in the tank can harass your pregnant female, leading to aggressive behavior in the female swordtail.
Vigorous Eating
Pregnant swordtail fish have hundreds of babies inside of them. This makes her tired and stressed too quickly. They also get hungry quickly and have to feed for themselves and the babies. So, you may find swordtail fish-eating vigorously when pregnant.
Shaking And Shuddering
When swordtail fish are giving birth, their labor is characterized by constant shaking of the lower part of the body to drop their Fry.
What Happens After Swordtails Give Birth?
There can be multiple scenarios after your pregnant swordtail fish gives birth. So, what happens after your swordtail is done birthing the young ones? Let’s find out!
Swarm Of Fry
As mentioned above, swordtail fish are livebearers and give 100-150 fry at a single birthing. So, as soon as swordtails give birth, your tank will fill up with tiny free-swimming Fry.
Some Swordtails Die After Giving Birth
Swordtail fish do not usually die after giving birth, and it is an unusual occurrence.
Female swordtail fish can die after giving birth to their young for various causes, including problems during labor, multiple pregnancies, harassment by males and other females in the breeding box, low water conditions, or disease.
Parents Or Other Fish May Eat The Fry
Swordtails are generally calm and get along with the majority of other fish. However, they have poor eating habits and begin nibbling on anything that will fit into their mouth. Swordtail fry are teeny-tiny and fit into the mouths of their parents like a jigsaw. They don’t have maternal instincts. Thus it doesn’t matter if the food is from their children.
Likewise, other fish in the tank also see the tiny Fry as fish food and go after them to eat them.
Repeated Pregnancy
Swordtail fish can reproduce multiple times, but they may become ill if they do it too frequently. We can remove the female from the males for two months before she breeds again if you want them to produce pups in the future.
Swordtails may grow exhausted and ill from repeated pregnancies. This is because she is pregnant and spends a lot of time in the water. Unfortunately, it also puts the female under a lot of stress, which can lead to death.
Alive Fry
The newborns rely on their yolk sacs for nutrition during the first four weeks of their lives. They start eating free-floating food particles in the water column after this stage.
A newborn swordtail fish will eat any additional eggs or fry it comes across during its first week of life. Filial cannibalism is a behavior seen in many different fish species. They will, however, begin to show less interest in eating their siblings at the age of two weeks.
These are some of the possibilities after swordtail fish gives birth to the Fry.
How to Care for a Pregnant Swordtail?
A swordtail’s gestation span is approximately 28 days. For your female, those 28 days are the most delicate and stressful. During this period, it’s essential to look after your feminine. You can take the following steps to care for your pregnant swordtail fish:
A pregnant woman needs a healthy diet to keep herself and her unborn children alive. So give your fish a balanced diet that includes a variety of proteins and fiber.
Similarly, it will be much more convenient to provide your fish with a separate breeding tank. However, if you intend to breed your fish in the same tank, ensure your swordtail has adequate room.
Appropriate water parameters are the most crucial element to consider when caring for your pregnant swordtail. A small change in water parameters can cause your pregnant swordtail to become stressed.
How to Take Care of Swordtail Fry?
Swordtails primarily consume their young. As a result, you must be cautious about saving the Fry when your female swordtail gives birth. Here are several things you can do to help the swordtail babies:
Move your swordtail to the main tank as soon as she finishes laying eggs in a separate breeding tank. Because labor fatigue might make a woman hungry, she is more inclined to feed her offspring. That is why, after she has given birth, you should move her to a different tank.
Moreover, if you’re breeding your fish in a group tank, make sure there are plenty of hiding places. Your fish fry is so tiny that it might easily be mistaken for food. As a result, hiding places can aid in the protection of your Fry.
For optimal development and growth, your swordtail fry will require a supplement. When they’re out in the wild, swordtails are omnivores. Therefore, you must provide them with a well-balanced meal that includes the essential elements, such as protein and fiber.
Breeding In Swordtail Fish
Swordtail fish can reproduce in a community tank with other species. However, the best technique is to have one male swordtail for every three females, as they will not spawn if there are numerous males present (they’re territorial). For livebearers, a ratio of one male to every three females is a good rule of thumb.
Females are often much more significant than males, and when they are ready to reproduce, they will be carrying hundreds of eggs at once (which can take up to about 40 days). So, as soon as you notice this, remove her from the tank as quickly as possible because she’ll be vulnerable to the male swordtail’s advances at this time.
When a female releases pheromones in her urine stream, other females respond by producing more of these substances (this is why multiple fish breed). When the males detect these substances in the water column, they begin to “dance” to attract the female’s attention. Males will also try to force other males away from spawning, and if they don’t move, they may be attacked (this is common in male swordtails, especially as it gets closer to breeding time).
Conclusion
When a swordtail fish is pregnant, she will overflow with eggs until the time comes for them to hatch. As a result, she can carry up to 100 infants at once. This signifies that when it’s time to give birth, it’ll be a memorable occasion! If you don’t see her give birth, all of those babies will perish if you don’t get them back into the ocean.
It’s critical to be prepared for when she gives birth, as it happens swiftly. She will give birth in a single, massive wave, releasing all of the children simultaneously. As a result, ensure sure there’s nothing around them that could damage them or restrict their movement. A net, for example, will kill a significant number of children.
Thus, I hope this blog post helped you gain information on what happens when and after pregnant swordtails give birth. Keep following our blog posts to get proper fishkeeping guides to keep your pet fish happy and healthy.
