Female swordtail got stuck again...

[emeraldking]

I've got a specific comma swordtail (Xiphophorus signum) that keeps entering a small cage (meant for newborns to hide for sometimes adults eat their young) frequently. But in some way she can't get out. Every time I have to free her. But she keeps doing this. She's the first one which is doing this. Not have I ever had another female that entered this small cage.

 

[BigDog]

Maybe she feels it’s a safe spot for her

Do you have hiding places for her to go to or hide inside ?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

She must really want whatever is in there, it looks like a very tight squeeze!

 

[emeraldking]

Maybe she feels it’s a safe spot for her

Do you have hiding places for her to go to or hide inside ?

There are more hiding spots but in some way she prefers this particular spot.

She must really want whatever is in there, it looks like a very tight squeeze!

Yes, it's narrow in there but gtood enough for fry to hide in.

 

[Sir Guppy]

Maybe trying temporarily removing the cage for about two weeks then putting it back in.
If this a habit of the swordtail, this might put an end to it.

 

[Colin_T]

She found a new place to hang out and not be pestered by anyone. Leave her be.

 

[emeraldking]

Maybe trying temporarily removing the cage for about two weeks then putting it back in.
If this a habit of the swordtail, this might put an end to it.

This is something she just does and in my opinion just to get away from those males.

She found a new place to hang out and not be pestered by anyone. Leave her be.

I am sure that she's doing this to avoid those males. And this cage does protect her from them. Oh, but I'm not planning to get that cage out of there. It has always worked to protect those comma swordtail fry. I've got other wild swordtail species which leave their fry completely alone.