5teady_2012
Here to help
EDITED (15th july 2009) - SORRY FOR THE SMALL PICTURES, THE ORIGINAL ONES WAS LOST BUT I MANAGED TO RETRIVE THE THUMBNAILS FROM GOOGLE IMAGES. THIS IS THE BEST I CAN DO...
TO TRY TO VIEW THEM BIGGER, HOLD CTRL AND USE THE - AND + TO ZOOM IN AND OUT ON YOUR KEYBOARD.
Since i took some pictures of my fish before it dropped its fry, i decided to show you all how to know when to trap your fish when the time is right.
I trapped this fish as i knew it was ready to drop, 10 mins later she started to gave birth... (lights out now so pics of fry tomorrow)
Please note that even though this explanation is with a platy, its the same process for all livebearers.
here is the pics of how to know when they are ready
Notice a white spot (ball like) near her anal fin, this has opened ready for the fry to come out
The white dot around their anal area is not what to look for, its actually the inner part of the tube to pay attention to, a slight ring will appear on the inner part and this is when the birthing tube has opened, the white dot just swells more when this appears.
Please not that using this method alone is not going to give you accurate info on when it will drop, after observing my pregnant fish, and tracking their due dates, this birthing tube can open up up to 7 days before the drop.
, also you can see her gravid spot is very dark (gravid spot is not always a good indication though so please dont go just by that)
From the overhead view, you can see she is very wide
From a back view, you can again see her width is larger. (almost like a ball type shape)
Notice how on this, you can see her belly is squared off (bottom) her back end of her belly has dropped as much as the front.
^^^again, notice the white ball like spot near her anal fin^^^
From this view again, you can see her belly is squared off
Here is a view of her how her belly should look (ive drawn a line to represent her normal size)
Again lines to represent her normal size.
This is what is best to look out for for when your fish is ready to drop.
Also before i trapped her, i noticed her dwelling in the plants being very unsocial and almost static in movement.
Most people catch the fish with net then put them in the trap..
its best to just use net to persuade her to move towards the trap then scoop her in with the trap (put trap underwater below her), this way no handling at all has to be done.
I hope this helps you to figure out how to not only use a trap at the right time, but the best time to place her in it, and know when she is ready to drop.
please be aware that when placing a fish in a trap, she should not be kept in it longer than 48 hours, if she drops fry beforehand, release her when you think she is done.
Always feed her a tiny bit of food and out the tank lights when placing her in the trap (put a cover over the tank if in bright room)
Mummy gets hungry after giving birth so to help the fry, place some floating plants in the trap, the fry will drop in the bottom section out of danger anyways, but thier first instinct is to swim towards the surface (nearl light especially and this is why we out the lights as well)...
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ADDED 15th september
there is more to to take in to consideration, like age, size etc..
The best thing to do is, when they have had thier first drop, write down the date, they should drop again 4 weeks after (6 at most but very rare), you will start to see a pattern in thier drops and this gives you a more accurate time of when they will next drop...
Otherwise, there is other signs..
They will become very unsocial
The anal area will slighty open up
The back end of the fish's belly will drop as much as the front causing it to square off.
The gravid spot may darken (not the best indication)
You will see little black dots in the gravid spot (the fry's eyes)
From a over head view, she will look very wide.
From a back or front view, she will be ball shaped.
You must take in to consideration that smaller fish will not get as big as adult ones when pregnant as they produce less fry
Other behaviour when ready to drop...
The fish will be static in movement whilst dropping fry, (only while the fry is actually coming out)
They may hide away in plants and other areas.
They will dwell on the bottom of the tank.
They will go to corners of the tank (top and bottom)
They may hang around the heater, internal filters, etc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sep 10th, she has dropped again, this time i video taped it and edited so you can see the drop of the fry,
click here for vid
She has had 33 fry altogether, 20+ of which is on the video.
I trapped at 11:30 midnight 9/9/08 and she dropped at around 12:00pm 10/9/08
Same behaviour, dwelling before i trapped her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
September 16th..
Lyretail sword, dropped.
11:03pm, i placed her in the trap cos her birthing tube had opened (white spot near anal area) and she had isolated herself in a bunch of plants.
Placed in trap...
Overhead view she was wide
side view, she wasnt huge but i knew it was time. (look at the anal area - white dot=brith tube opened)
The new fry - 33 in total counted (2:59am)
How she looked after the births.
Very slim from front view
Clearly see the diffrence in the belly (not dropped as much anymore.)
Understanding what squared off is, and knwoing the difference between squared off, over fad, and normal size.
ADDED - 15/04/10
Here is a pic (Krissykat's picutre), i have done lines to represent what i mean...
Black line - Her normal size how she should be.
Red line - Over fed (belly dropped too much at front)...
White line - How she will look when heavy pregnant.
TO TRY TO VIEW THEM BIGGER, HOLD CTRL AND USE THE - AND + TO ZOOM IN AND OUT ON YOUR KEYBOARD.
Since i took some pictures of my fish before it dropped its fry, i decided to show you all how to know when to trap your fish when the time is right.
I trapped this fish as i knew it was ready to drop, 10 mins later she started to gave birth... (lights out now so pics of fry tomorrow)
Please note that even though this explanation is with a platy, its the same process for all livebearers.
here is the pics of how to know when they are ready
Notice a white spot (ball like) near her anal fin, this has opened ready for the fry to come out
The white dot around their anal area is not what to look for, its actually the inner part of the tube to pay attention to, a slight ring will appear on the inner part and this is when the birthing tube has opened, the white dot just swells more when this appears.
Please not that using this method alone is not going to give you accurate info on when it will drop, after observing my pregnant fish, and tracking their due dates, this birthing tube can open up up to 7 days before the drop.
, also you can see her gravid spot is very dark (gravid spot is not always a good indication though so please dont go just by that)
From the overhead view, you can see she is very wide
From a back view, you can again see her width is larger. (almost like a ball type shape)
Notice how on this, you can see her belly is squared off (bottom) her back end of her belly has dropped as much as the front.
^^^again, notice the white ball like spot near her anal fin^^^
From this view again, you can see her belly is squared off
Here is a view of her how her belly should look (ive drawn a line to represent her normal size)
Again lines to represent her normal size.
This is what is best to look out for for when your fish is ready to drop.
Also before i trapped her, i noticed her dwelling in the plants being very unsocial and almost static in movement.
Most people catch the fish with net then put them in the trap..
its best to just use net to persuade her to move towards the trap then scoop her in with the trap (put trap underwater below her), this way no handling at all has to be done.
I hope this helps you to figure out how to not only use a trap at the right time, but the best time to place her in it, and know when she is ready to drop.
please be aware that when placing a fish in a trap, she should not be kept in it longer than 48 hours, if she drops fry beforehand, release her when you think she is done.
Always feed her a tiny bit of food and out the tank lights when placing her in the trap (put a cover over the tank if in bright room)
Mummy gets hungry after giving birth so to help the fry, place some floating plants in the trap, the fry will drop in the bottom section out of danger anyways, but thier first instinct is to swim towards the surface (nearl light especially and this is why we out the lights as well)...
------------------------------------------------------------------
ADDED 15th september
there is more to to take in to consideration, like age, size etc..
The best thing to do is, when they have had thier first drop, write down the date, they should drop again 4 weeks after (6 at most but very rare), you will start to see a pattern in thier drops and this gives you a more accurate time of when they will next drop...
Otherwise, there is other signs..
They will become very unsocial
The anal area will slighty open up
The back end of the fish's belly will drop as much as the front causing it to square off.
The gravid spot may darken (not the best indication)
You will see little black dots in the gravid spot (the fry's eyes)
From a over head view, she will look very wide.
From a back or front view, she will be ball shaped.
You must take in to consideration that smaller fish will not get as big as adult ones when pregnant as they produce less fry
Other behaviour when ready to drop...
The fish will be static in movement whilst dropping fry, (only while the fry is actually coming out)
They may hide away in plants and other areas.
They will dwell on the bottom of the tank.
They will go to corners of the tank (top and bottom)
They may hang around the heater, internal filters, etc.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Sep 10th, she has dropped again, this time i video taped it and edited so you can see the drop of the fry,
click here for vid
She has had 33 fry altogether, 20+ of which is on the video.
I trapped at 11:30 midnight 9/9/08 and she dropped at around 12:00pm 10/9/08
Same behaviour, dwelling before i trapped her.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
September 16th..
Lyretail sword, dropped.
11:03pm, i placed her in the trap cos her birthing tube had opened (white spot near anal area) and she had isolated herself in a bunch of plants.
Placed in trap...
Overhead view she was wide
side view, she wasnt huge but i knew it was time. (look at the anal area - white dot=brith tube opened)
The new fry - 33 in total counted (2:59am)
How she looked after the births.
Very slim from front view
Clearly see the diffrence in the belly (not dropped as much anymore.)
Understanding what squared off is, and knwoing the difference between squared off, over fad, and normal size.
ADDED - 15/04/10
Here is a pic (Krissykat's picutre), i have done lines to represent what i mean...
Black line - Her normal size how she should be.
Red line - Over fed (belly dropped too much at front)...
White line - How she will look when heavy pregnant.
