My FEMALE MARBLE is PREGNANT! woohooooo!!

[omojena]

I went downstairs this evening to do a water change. i always observe all the fish closely at this time since i have to keep switching the filter from backwash to rinse. as i was watching one of me female marbles i noticed that she was looking fatter than usual. upon closer inspection i clearly saw MOVEMENT!! the baby was flipping around all over the place in there!! the only possible fathers are either my 9" male marble or my 15" male marble, thus, the baby will be a purebred marble.

When should i separate the mom into a quarantine area? i definitely cannot leave her in the main tank because there are toooo many huge bass and my large flower rays, pikes, arrowana etc.... The movement must be recent because i would (or should) have noticed it before if there had been movement.

im very excited. All who have formerly bred their rays PLEASE CHYME IN!!!!! i need advice and your own experiences! thanks!!!!

 

[Cajun]

That's awesome news! Sounds like you may need a divider. Eggcrate & suction cups might do the trick.

 

[sebarau]

i would say the pregnancy is already at the final phase. May be 20 days or less to go. better use a divider to split the female. remember to allow the pups to settle down at least 1 week in the same water before moving them to somewhere else. congrats.

 

[mrbondatut]

apparently none of you have seen his tank. hes gonna need a big ass divider if he goes that route and hes got to many monsters in his tank that i wouldnt make their space smaller with a divider. jmo. prolly best to get another tank cycling.

 

[vamptrev]

in your situation i would move the female now. first sign of movement is somewhere around the halfway point (45ish days). move her now, she will have enough time to settle b4 she gives birth.

typically its best to move the males out so u dont stress the females but with your stocklist u deff need to move the female

 

[r8t8]

If i were you, i will start preparing the tank by using your current filter media and even the water in your tank to maintain the water condition to lessen the stress. at least, if you will decide to transfer her, the tank is ready although it would be stressful for the pregnant ray. Good luck

 

[omojena]

well when i designed this tank i implemented an 8ft long sump. in that sump there is a 4'X2' section that was left empty with the idea that i could move pregnant rays down into it. ill have to move her down this weekend when i get a few minutes.

so from the consensus, how far along do you guys think she may be? is there any way to tell when she is getting ready to give birth? will she stop feeding? right now her appetite is ravenous and she is constantly in search of food.

 

[keepinfish]

i have usually seen movement as vamptrev said around day 50. So my guess would be around this far along. most pregnancy's will go 100 days +/- 15 days.

Be very careful moving her, and if there is anyway to install a divider do this instead of move her.

I have always taken the pups out of the main system immediately after birth.

 

[Gshock]

You could try out T1's neat little trick. His tank was also too big to fully divide so he made a box out of eggcrate and wire ties, then weight it down with something and you'll have a fenced box so you dont have to move your prego female.

 

[omojena]

You could try out T1's neat little trick. His tank was also too big to fully divide so he made a box out of eggcrate and wire ties, then weight it down with something and you'll have a fenced box so you dont have to move your prego female.

theres no room in there for that. the rest of the fish are too big.