My fish are pregnant....!

Question
I have  six questions
My two swordtails iI got from the store both have black bottoms and I was wondering if that means they are Pregnant?
How long does it take to give birth?
How many will they have?
I already purchased a side hanging net for the babies is that okay to have them in there till they mature?
How big will they get they look like they will explode?
Why do they not have there tails yet? (The mothers)

Thank You Tricia

Please hurry!!!!I dont know when they are due...And i have other fish in the tank....

Answer
hey tricia,
platies gestation period is about 1 and a half months, but that doesn't help you much right now.
black spotting around the belly from where they give birth, i think that is what you mean by black.

they will normally start trying to push and you will see them do a "shaking, swimming in place" sort of thing within a week of them haveing the babies.
they could have any number, my guess would be 20-30 babies at the most for them becasue they are new and probably younger fish.

not sure what you mean by not having tails yet...that doesn't sound good. they could have gotten biten off or something becasue they are supposed to have tails from when they are actually born.

the size depends on the number of babies, so it is hard to tell by size. I would just stick them in the net to have them ready to have the babies. if they have them, get the mothers out ASAP...they WILL EAT THEIR YOUNG!

it is okay to have the babies in the net, but i dont know how much success you will have with them. I never had much at all...I think I have had maybe two babies grow up that way. It is much easier to do with a seperate tank. But of course it works if you don't have the money or space or time to care for a second tank.
also, if they have second litters, the older ones tend to bully thre younger ones.
also also, (lol), you don't need to keep them in there until they mature, only until they are a few months old, maybe half of the size of an adult.

good luck with the babies when they arrive, i hope this helps you out.
best wishes, chelsey