swordtail babies dying

Question
MY SWORDTAIL HAD HER BABIES BOUT TWO MONTHS AGO AND THEY WERE GROWING SO QUICKLY AND VERY COLOURFUL TOO.MY GRANDMA SPRAYED SOME INSECTICIDE IN THE AREA AND COMPLETELY FORGOT THEY WERE THERE.WHEN I GOT HOME THEY WERE ALL SO RESTLESS AND I NOTICED THE TOP OF THE WATER WAS OILY.SO I QUICKLY REMOVED THEM AND PLACED THEM INTO SOME CLEAN WATER. THEY STARTED DOING MUCH BETTER BUT ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER THEY STARTED DYING. I'M DOWN TO 35 FROM 113. WHAT DO I DO TO SAVE WHAT'S LEFT OF THEM?

Answer
Hi Althea,

The babies probably died from the chemicals in the insecticide. The chemicals were probably not enough to kill them straight away, but it was enough to put them in poor health, and so they eventually died. It's similar to say, when a human being smokes or does drugs. It won't kill them right away, but they may die an earlier death.

Unfortunately, there's nothing you can do to save them if there's toxic compound residue in their bodies, but change 30% of the water every day to dilute any toxins in the water, and maximize the survival rate of the remaining babies. If you are lucky, you may expect about a 50% survival rate.

Just one more thing: Do you keep your fish outside? I can't imagine someone spraying pesticide indoors... Make sure they have a suitable-sized heater, in case you didn't have one. Keeping them indoors would be best.

Good Luck, and I hope they survive!