Swordtails commonly breed in community tanks The urge to reproduce is so strong in this species that the females are hermaphroditic In populations consisting entirely of females one will frequently transform into a male to insure the propagation of the species
Do swordtails interbreed?
In these cases, the basic raw materials are provided by nature itself because swordtails and platies are very closely related to each other They belong to the Xiphophorus genus, and because of their “biological proximity,” they can easily interbreed and produce viable hybrids in the process
Can male swordtails be only?
Swordtail fish are commonly available fish who can thrive in community aquariums The males’ long tail spikes give the fish their name, and males can be territoriality aggressive toward one another, especially when there is a female present
How can you tell if a swordtail is male or female?
Telling Males From Females Only male swordtails have the tail fin extension Females have a rounded tail fin Females’ bodies are also more rounded, fuller and about one-half-inch longer at maturity
Can Swordtails breed with guppies?
Guppies and Swordtails are livebearers which means that their babies come out swimming Like most livebearers, there is not much to getting your guppies or swordtail to breed If you have a male and a female then you will eventually have a pregnant female
How many Swordtails should be kept together?
Swordtail Fish Behavior and Temperament The swordfish is pretty peaceful and friendly and will gel well with other tank mates They aren’t necessarily shoaling species, but they should be kept in a group of 5-6 to help them feel comfortable in the tank
Are Swordtails aggressive?
Swordtails are generally very peaceful and make excellent community fish Males can however turn aggressive towards each other once they reach sexual maturity, so it is advisable to house only one male with several females in an aquarium
Can Swordtails be kept in pairs?
Peaceful, active fish such as Swordtails pair well with other similar species They are social fish that will enjoy the company of other passive tank mates
Do female swordfish have swords?
Swordtail fish exhibit a striking sexual dimorphism in the structure of the caudal fin; males have a colourful, elongated caudal appendage, termed a sword, that is absent in females
Are Swordtails fin nippers?
It should be noted that when they are fully grown they can be very active and may out-compete some smaller or less active species for food Some adult Swordtails can be aggressive and develop the habit of fin nipping Wild Swordtails are generally a dull green colour with a small extension to the tail fin
What fish can breed with Swordtails?
A female swordtail can be interbred with a male member from the platy family of fishes, so one of the options for achieving variety is mixing these two groups in one aquarium When buying from a fish shop and you’re looking for a male pure swordtail, make sure with the shopkeeper that it’s indeed a purebred
What other fish can Swordtails mate with?
Tank Mates Platy Fish Molly Fish Angelfish Cory Catfish Rosy Barbs Dwarf Gouramis Neon Tetras Celestial Pearl Danios
What can Swordtails crossbreed with?
Can Platys Breed With Swordtails? Yes, since Swordtails and Platy fish come from the same family of Xephophorus, they can breed and produce viable offspring Platies and swordtails are both live bearers, both freshwater fish, and both from the same family: the genus Xiphophorus
How long is a swordtail fish pregnant for?
But here’s an indication of how long each of the popular species is pregnant for: Guppies 21-35 days Platies 24-35 days Swordtails 28 days
What is kohaku swordtail?
The Kohaku Swordtail is a popular color morph of this type of freshwater fish Also known as a Koi Swordtail, the semi-transparent body is a fantastic addition to any aquarium Minimum tank size: 30 gallons – Prefers a well planted aquarium with room for swimming
How long does it take for a swordtail to reach full size?
Say you have a baby Swordtail Most Swordtails can reach maximum size in about 2 years But if the water quality and feeding schedule and lighting are all sub-par then that number will be skewed somewhat Keeping proper water, food, and lighting parameters will help tremendously with the growth of any species
Can Swordtails live with bettas?
They thrive on a varied diet of flake or pellet food along with freeze-dried brine shrimp, tubifex, and bloodworms Swordtails also come in a variety of colors, but darker colors are recommended to live with your Betta
Can Swordtails go with angelfish?
Swordtails Much like Platies, Swordtail are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young They have a very peaceful temperament, but are able to hold their own even with relatively aggressive fish This makes the good tank mates for Angelfish because they can withstand a small amount of aggression
Can Swordtails live with neon tetras?
Some species of tetra can live with red swordtails Since swordtails tend to measure between 4 and 4 1/2 inches long, larger tetras are better suited so they don’t end up getting bullied All tetras are schooling fish, so they need to be kept in groups of six or more of their own species
Do Swordtails need a lid?
They are also known to be great jumpers, so make sure to cover your aquarium or tank to prevent them from escaping and dying in the process
Do Swordtails need live plants?
They keep it fresh and oxygenated for the Swordtail Fish Here are a few of our suggestions for the plants: Java Fern, Anubias Nana and Dwarf Hairgrass If you can get any of these, your Swordtail will be more than grateful
When should I separate my pregnant swordtail?
Even before her belly begins to enlarge, assume your swordtail is or soon will be pregnant if you keep her with males Move the expectant mother to a separate, smaller, heavily planted nursery aquarium when her belly swells noticeably
How does swordtail mate?
Swordtails mate very quickly, so if you aren’t watching them you could easily miss it Typically the male will approach the female, often from the side, and may flare his fins in an attempt to impress her He then swims up close to her and quickly touches her on the underside, near her anal fin, with his gonopodium
Can guppies breed with Mollies?
Potential cross breeding between guppies and mollies These adult fish are not fertile and will not reproduce Sadly, most babies from the guppies and mollies will die before, during or shortly after they are born Both guppies and mollies can carry sperm for a long time after reproducing