how do i save fry from a dead livebearer?

is there any way to save the fry of a dead livebearer if they are pregnant ?

Interesting question Jazzer. I am not sure, but are you talking about a Goodeidae or Poeciliidae species (or another)?

As I understand it, Goodeidae fry have trophotaeniae which are like an umbilical cord and I think they rely on the mother to survive whilst they are gestating, whereas with Poeciliidae, basically unborn babies are eggs which happen to be fertilised and hatch internally so I would guess that you may have more of a chance with unborn Poeciliidae fry than Goodeidae fry but little chance with either.

I am sure there are people on this forum who are far better qualified to help though, but I would be interested to know whether my understanding is correct.

i mean all livebearers(poeciliidae,goodeidae etc.)if the female is not too pregnant but goodeidae ,i wouldnt save it but if it was a heavy pregnant one like one due to give birth in a few days they might be worth saving.

Well I am certain that you would not be able to save the fry of a fish which was not heavily gravid and almost certain (but not quite) that you would not be able to save the fry of a fish which was a few days short of giving birth, you might have a chance if she died whilst dropping fry, but I doubt that you would have much luck if you are not a vet and if you use a vet, it would cost more than it is worth.
It is an interesting subject though, particularly since I lost a Gambusia sexradiata female during 'labour' the other week and only managed to get two fry from her, so it would be nice to know if there was anything I could have done.

i have on several occassions 'saved' fry from a female who had died in front of my eyes. this was done by gently pressing on the abdomen just after the stomach, before the gravid spot.most of the fry died within hours of being saved. poecilia fry seem to fair better when born premature than goodeid etc. but the survival rate is still poor. perhaps it is to do with the reason for the females death or the lack of blood supply after the female has died.
i certainly would not try this if i found a dead fish as there is no way of knowing how long they have been dead.

k even keith(the nurse) has said fry cant be saved so i doubt they can be saved.i've also being searching and still no results so if they cant be saved they cant be saved.

Jazzer you have lost me, Keith thinks that they can be saved, but only in very specific circumstances (when the female died before his eyes) and not very successfully, where have you been 'searching'? and where does a nurse fit in to all of this? You have confused me completely!!

the nurse is me Duncan, lol

Well I don't have the legs for a nurse's outfit, so it must be you!!

lol,lol[:-slaphappy]

lol kk lets get this straight .keith is the nurse and searching means i've been searching the internet on this topic.understand now?

Crystal now thankyou.

The problem is squeezing the fry out will damage the fry due to the pressure.

I've used a scalpel with goodea atripinnis, at college to remove the fry, She had fungus which i found was quite common with them and know she was going to die soon.

With the G. atripinnis the overy's are massive takeing up some 15% of the body cavity (most ae 2-3% or less). The fry was housed insive the ovaries where most fish the eggs are expeled into the body cavity like guppies etc etc.

I removed several fry and the did surive quite well the same would have to be dume with others, you would have to open the belly to extract the fry, but this would only have to be an extream measure.

Alan

hm seems that it might work.i've tried sqeezing but they dont come out.wats a scalpel?

a scalpel is the knife a surgeon would use to cut open a patient for surgery.
you could try a good craft knofe with a very sharp blade. personally i do not like the idea of cutting open a dead fish.[:-weepn]