Is this Tetra going to lay eggs?

[Weeg]

Hi everyone, I hope this is the right forum, if not feel free to move it to the correct one.
I was cleaning my tank today, and as I was doing so I was watching my White Skirt Tetras. I noticed that one of them seemed "fatter" than the other, its definitely noticeable. I did a quick Google search, and it does appear that this one is a female, the other one appears to be a male. They are in a tank with two Gouramis', a GlowFish Tetra, a Cory Catfish, and 4 Neon's. I'm fairly new to keeping an aquarium, so I would not be surprised if I was wrong.
Photos are below, tell me what you think.

Male-

Female-

Both-

Thoughts? If she is going to lay eggs soon, what does that mean? I obviously wasn't planning on having baby fish, so what would I need to do prepare for it? I'm assuming I would have to have another tank to separate her in so she can lay her eggs. Does she need to stay with the eggs after that? Do I need to do anything special in that tank? How big does it need to be? How do you care for baby fish? Thanks for the help guys. Newbie here, so I could be wrong about her even carrying eggs. Thanks for the help!

Also, I just finished cleaning and filling the tank in these photos, so its a it cloudy.

 

[GaryE]

She's be better off if she unloaded those eggs, but it isn't as easy as that. Whiteskirts are one of the easiest tetras to breed, but they need a proper set up or it comes to nothing.

 

[Weeg]

She's be better off if she unloaded those eggs, but it isn't as easy as that. Whiteskirts are one of the easiest tetras to breed, but they need a proper set up or it comes to nothing.

Got it, I figured I had a lot to learn about this whole scene if she was indeed going to start popping out eggs. Does it look like she's going to lay? I think so, but a newbie so could easily be wrong.
What do I need to know? What should my extra tank look like? Assuming I need to separate her, I can't imagine the babies would do well with Gourami's. Is there any good source I should go to for reading? Also, how long do you think I have until she starts to lay? If that is predictable? Just wondering how long I have to get a new tank setup. Thanks for the help!

 

[itiwhetu]

Try this,

 

[Weeg]

Try this,
View attachment 159783View attachment 159784

Thank you! That is very helpful. My biggest concern is that I wont be able to get another tank setup in time. I don't have another tank on hand, and we're not going to two until Wednesday next week. How long do you think I have? I wouldn't want her to start spawning in the tank with the others.

 

[itiwhetu]

Thank you! That is very helpful. My biggest concern is that I wont be able to get another tank setup in time. I don't have another tank on hand, and we're not going to two until Wednesday next week. How long do you think I have? I wouldn't want her to start spawning in the tank with the others.

Plenty of time, just do what you can she will be fine.

 

[Weeg]

Plenty of time, just do what you can she will be fine.

Oh good! Thank you! Thats a relief.
I dont know a thing about this, so happy to know I have time to be prepared. Perfect, I'll plan on getting stuff for the new aquarium on Wednesday. Order whatever I can't find. I'll keep everyone updated. Thanks for the help!

 

[itiwhetu]

If possible, set the tank up so it gets some early morning sun strike, first rays. I have found that it is a great catalyst for spawning fish

 

[Weeg]

If possible, set the tank up so it gets some early morning sun strike, first rays. I have found that it is a great catalyst for spawning fish

Good to know, I think I can make that happen. I have a window in my room that is perfect for that.

 

[Weeg]

I posted about this on another forum I'm part of, its not for fish specifically but there are fish owners on there. Anyway, a lot of them were saying its difficult to raise the fry after they hatch. I would love to raise them, I feel like it would be a fun and interesting experience, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. What do they need to eat? Are they difficult to raise? Do they need anything special other than a separate tank with foliage to hide in? Java moss was recommended as well. Is it something that a newbie fish owner could accomplish successfully, or is it something that I shouldn't attempt. Thanks for the help everyone!

 

[Colin_T]

What do they need to eat? Are they difficult to raise? Do they need anything special other than a separate tank with foliage to hide in?

Feed the adults 3-5 times a day for at least 2 (preferably 4) weeks before breeding them. This lets the adult fish develop good quality gametes (eggs & sperm).

Separate males and females for 5 days before you breed them. This makes the fish a little randier than normal because they haven't seen the girls for a few days.

Put a pr (male & female) into a 2 foot tank. Have a thin layer of sand or gravel on the bottom. Have a clump of Java Moss on one side. Have an air operated sponge filter in the breeding tank. Have a heater in the tank. Put black card or paper on the back and sides of the tank. Add the pr of fish in the afternoon and they usually breed the following morning, sometimes that night.

Don't have a light on the breeding tank, but do have a coverglass to stop the fish jumping out.

Try to use soft water (GH below 50ppm and if possible 0ppm). Have the pH between 6.5 & 7.0.

Have the temperature around 26C.

After you remove the adult fish from the breeding tank, put a piece of black card over the front of the tank to stop light getting in.

Wait for the babies to hatch and when the babies are swimming around, start feeding them with green water, infusoria and or boiled egg yolk. After a week on these foods, add newly hatched brineshrimp. Keep feeding green water, infusoria and or boiled egg yolk until all the babies are eating the newly hatched brineshrimp. Then you can drop the other foods and keep them on brineshrimp and start adding other foods like microworms.

The following link has basic information about breeding fish and culturing food for the babies.

Back to Basics when Breeding Fish

STARTING OUT Make sure you have a pair, (1 male + 1 female). There is nothing worse than spending your hard-earned dollars buying a couple of fish to try and breed and ending up with a pair of fish of the same sex. Let's face it, to reproduce fish you need a male and a female. Two males won't do...

www.fishforums.net

 

[Weeg]

Feed the adults 3-5 times a day for at least 2 (preferably 4) weeks before breeding them. This lets the adult fish develop good quality gametes (eggs & sperm).

Separate males and females for 5 days before you breed them. This makes the fish a little randier than normal because they haven't seen the girls for a few days.

Put a pr (male & female) into a 2 foot tank. Have a thin layer of sand or gravel on the bottom. Have a clump of Java Moss on one side. Have an air operated sponge filter in the breeding tank. Have a heater in the tank. Put black card or paper on the back and sides of the tank. Add the pr of fish in the afternoon and they usually breed the following morning, sometimes that night.

Don't have a light on the breeding tank, but do have a coverglass to stop the fish jumping out.

Try to use soft water (GH below 50ppm and if possible 0ppm). Have the pH between 6.5 & 7.0.

Have the temperature around 26C.

After you remove the adult fish from the breeding tank, put a piece of black card over the front of the tank to stop light getting in.

Wait for the babies to hatch and when the babies are swimming around, start feeding them with green water, infusoria and or boiled egg yolk. After a week on these foods, add newly hatched brineshrimp. Keep feeding green water, infusoria and or boiled egg yolk until all the babies are eating the newly hatched brineshrimp. Then you can drop the other foods and keep them on brineshrimp and start adding other foods like microworms.

The following link has basic information about breeding fish and culturing food for the babies.

Back to Basics when Breeding Fish

STARTING OUT Make sure you have a pair, (1 male + 1 female). There is nothing worse than spending your hard-earned dollars buying a couple of fish to try and breed and ending up with a pair of fish of the same sex. Let's face it, to reproduce fish you need a male and a female. Two males won't do...

www.fishforums.net

Thanks for the help! I wasn't able to follow all of this protocol. She started to fill up with eggs all on her own, I wasn't trying to breeder her. I ended up ordering a breeder box so I could easily separate her from the others within the tank, no need to setup a different tank. I'm making one for now until the box arrives encase she starts laying soon.