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You are Tps an out of Fis browser. It may not Swordtial this or other websites correctly. You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Any Swordtail Breeding Advice? Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips have Saordtail gorgeous green swordtail males in my 46 gallon Breedinv front along with Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips angel and red wag or Mickey Mouse Probiotics for yeast infectionsand I would love to get a good amount of females to balance Swordttail the Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips.
First, how many females should I get? Tipw know swords poop a wSordtail so I would like the minimum amt but Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips the male to female ratio balanced.
My Swordtxil is Swordtsil under stocked currently but I may be getting a schooling fish in the future. Endurance training for athletes, how Sworctail of Breedinv Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips Brewding cross Swordtil between the platy and swords?
How big are they and what do they eat Swrodtail they come out? Fifth, any plant recommendations to keep fry happy? Possibly Neon but the black markings is what confuses me!
Last edited by a moderator: Jul 18, They definitely can and will breed with platys. Livebearer fry are super easy to feed. Floating plants will help the fry but I also suspect the angel will get all fry.
Powdered food should work fine for fry. The platy and sword can cross but probably won't. Any color sword can be breed with green as they are the 'base color' of all swords.
Beautiful looking fish. Click to expand Last edited by a moderator: Jul 19, With green as the natural start almost any color sword can still throw green. About every fry from my Ed Parker jet blacks I get a straight green!
Kind of cool. I would think red and green would enhance the pineapple coloring through the body also. Their genetic common ground is close enough and swordtails grow faster so they used them for color combos.
The book list out what gets you what but I never really got into custom swordtails too much. Trying to keep my lines true is hard enough and takes multiple tanks so cross breeding colors only adds even more dedication.
Swords can grow pretty big. Another schooling fish may crowd thimgs? What fish are you thinking? I can also go see if they would be willing to order some green neon swords for me to purchase but any insights on those different types and how they would look with my current ones?
Sad news, one of my male swords died last night. Sometimes males are so mean there can only be one. I had a black male that killed all other males if there was less then 10 in a 75 g. For real mean! I picked up 3 female pregnant Marigold swordtails and one female pineapple swordtail from my lfs today!
They also said that if I raise up the fry to selling size they would buy them back from me! Similar Aquarium Threads. Locked Question Advice needed breeding apistos. Cade Feb 23, Breeding Fish Forum.
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: Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips| How to Breed Swordtail Fish in Your Own Aquarium | There has been a long-standing debate among enthusiasts, with some claiming that late males are infertile while others attribute this to unfavorable conditions such as high or low temperature, acidity, etc. Some die earlier because of the strain that they get from giving birth. When you first look at a swordtail fish, the first striking feature is the caudal fin. They thrive in a wide range of environments and are very forgiving to common beginner mistakes. Now that we have discussed the tank setup and the water parameters, we move on to the tank landscape. In Conclusion Swordtails are a great choice for beginner aquarists due to their ease of care, adaptability, and forgiving nature. For real mean! |
| General information as mentioned in our database | A few other signs that a female could be pregnant is if you notice an increased appetite, being more aggressive towards other fish than usual, or hiding from males in other parts of the tank. Over the course of many years, Swordtails have undergone selective breeding to produce various colors red, orange, black, gold, spotted, neon, albino, silver, blue, etc. Tks Comment by Terry — October 29, pm Reply. The more space you have the better you will do. The fish will take care of the rest. |
| Swordtail Care | Xiphophorus hellerii - Maryland Aquarium Design, Installation, and Maintenance | be inspired. You May Also Like. I would not keep more than sword-tails in them. Instead one should give or sell them, otherwise there's a risk of overpopulating your aquarium. Plus 3 full grown ones 1 male to 2 females. |
| Introduction to raising Swordtails | I will also discuss about breeding them and raising their fry i. baby fish. The Swordtail fish scientific name : Xiphophorus helleri is one of the popular aquarium fish. The name Swordtail is derived due to the unique sword-like tail seen in adult males. a Common Name : Swordtail fish b Scientific name : Xiphophorus helleri c Origin : Commonly found in the flowing waters of Central America d Preferred Water Temperature : 22C — 28C e Preferred pH of water : f Max Size : Can grow upto 4 inches in the aquarium g Compatible Tank Mates : Generally Peaceful. Hence suited for a community aquarium with non-aggressive tankmates. h Breeding Class : Livebearers i. e Swordtails do not lay eggs, but give birth to live young ones. Swordtails found in the wild are generally green olive green in colour with the sword being yellow with black or brown borders. Cross Breeding in captivity by fish farms and hobbyist has given many strains of Swordtails with varying colours like red, red velvet, red wag tail, marigold, pineapple colour, black, etc. Different strains like Lyretail a. Swordtails are very active and lively in the aquarium and unlike other fish, move around all levels of the aquarium i. They can be seen moving in the bottom , middle and upper layers of the tank. Hence you need to house them in an aquarium which has adequate swimming space. Higher activity in the aquarium leads to higher oxygen comsumption by the fish, and hence they need a well aerated aquarium. This is also seen from the fact that they are usually found in fast flowing streams of Central America, which are rich in dissolved oxygen. Swordtails are good jumpers and could jump out of the tank when they are disturbed, stressed or scared. Hence it is advisable to keep your swordtails in a tank which has a cover hood and keep the tank in an area with minimal noise and disturbance. Keeping the tank in an area with minimal noise and disturbance is necessary to have stress free and healthy fish, irrespective of the kind of fish you house in your aquarium. Another trait I have noticed in my years of swordtail keeping is that they seldom jump in a planted tank. They get a sense of security in a well planted read densely planted tank, and hence are not disturbed or stress easily in a planted tank. I have lost quite a few fish due to their jumping habit whenever I forgot to put the cover on my breeding and grow-out tanks. On the contrary, I have seldom seen them jump in my display tank, which is heavily planted. Sexing of the fish : Swordtails are sexually dimorphic, i. you can identify the sex of the swordtail fish by their external appearence. It is through this gonopodium that the males deposit their sperms into the females during mating. The above two features are a sure shot way to distinguish a male swordtail from a female swordtail. Other differences are in their relative size, while the males are thinner and look elongated, the females are more round and grow a little larger and longer than the males. Now, why am I talking about sexing the fish so early in the post. The reason for this is simple. Swordtail males tend to become territorial as they mature. Hence it is advisable to purchase more females than males when you visit your pet store. The generally accepted practice is to have 3 females for every male swordtail in an aquarium. Swordtail breeders generally have 5 females for every male so as to keep the male always busy 🙂. Comment by james — April 14, pm Reply. Comment by linelogic — April 14, pm Reply. Comment by MicidEgy7 — May 12, pm Reply. only 1 survive.. thank for ur info.. i think i need to buy the female.. Comment by Mr. Homosapiensz — July 24, am Reply. i have 2×1. want to start 4x2x2feet Planted. Can u tell me can i supplie CO2 continue DAY — NIGHT or i should Shut Down CO2 at Night.??? Comment by Jitendra Patel — September 22, am Reply. The only difference is that you will have to refill your CO2 cylinder more frequently if you keep it one even during the night. I do not see a need to keep them on during the night. Comment by Prabhu M — September 22, am Reply. Hi sir, i am sandeep from kerala india. i bought 3 lyretail swordtail fish 1 male and 2 female. i came to know that it is very difficult to breed them,especially the male will not breed with the female. is it true? what should i do to breed them. do my red eye swordtail male will breed with the female lyretail. pls help me. My mail id- sandeeprakeshtvm gmail. reply soon. Comment by sandeep — January 19, am Reply. Sandeep, Breeding Lyretail Swordfish with a Lyretail male is very difficult. This is because his gonopudium is unable to perform the normal function of penetrating the female. The usual way that breeders use to breed Lyretail Swordfish is to use a Lyretail Female with a Normal Male. Comment by Prabhu M — January 19, am Reply. Hey, I had 3 females and 1 male swordtail and they all died within a week. I had the ph and temperature right, I also had a filtration system. I also remembered to put in water conditioner and had the water quality at its best. I think the reason they died was because i didnt put salt in it. Does the swordtails need salt? if not, can you find the reason why they died? Comment by fifi — February 29, am Reply. Hi Fifi, Fishes do not need salt in their water, unless they are sick and you are trying to regulate their osmotic balance. I suspect that your tank was new and was not cycled properly. You might want to read more about tank cycling and Nitrogen cycle before you add new fish into a newly setup tank. Comment by Prabhu M — February 29, am Reply. i want to ask, if they breed will my other fish eat the babies?? i have got 5 endlers guppys, 2 pearl gouramis, 6 rummy nose tetras and some corrys. Comment by sarah — October 11, pm Reply. When I was buying my lyretail swords six months ago, the lady who bagged then for me told me that the females happen to turn to males as they age. Comment by Kristina — November 23, am Reply. Kristina, The males in swordtail fishes are born males, and they do not change their sexes from females to males. Some of the males are late to change their appearance i. late in showing off their sword or gonopodium and hence they appear like females until then. Hence this myth that females change their sex to males in their later life. Regards Prabhu. Comment by Prabhu M — November 24, am Reply. Just want to know how many fish can I put in a 30 liter tank. Breeding can start from the 3rd month of age, so it is advised that swordtails be separated after determining sex. You may see the bellies becoming bigger but the sure sign they are close to giving birth is when they start separating themselves from the males and they suddenly become aggressive towards the male swordtails. The best temperature for breeding is 78°F. Other parameters like kH, pH, ammonia, nitrites and nitrates should be checked and kept within safe levels. Doing so would lessen stress and encourage spawning. Swordtails can produce 50 — fry every time and may give birth again four to six weeks after the first birth. It may take longer. According to experts, the second birth session can even take up to a half year after the first and that can take place even without the presence of a mate. Swordtails can keep sperm cells inside their pouch and fertilize on their own over and over again. It is natural for this fish to eat their fry. The solution to that is to make sure that they are well-fed as they get closer to giving birth. Feed them two times a day. As soon as you see the fry swimming, rescue and transfer them in another tank. The size will be like that of the point of a pen and they will look as clear as bubbles. Buy some driftwood and stones. Caring for swordtails is easy, the only thing that you really need to be sure of is the size of the tank. Although several swordtails can live in a gallon aquarium, it would be better if they have a larger space to move about. This fish loves space and will give birth earlier if this requirement is met. A gallon tank is a minimum but a larger size would be much more welcome. Remember that they can produce offspring in as little as three months and would continue to give more every after weeks. Another possibility to consider is the fact that this fish can produce babies in one birthing. Most swordtails come from Belize, Guatemala and Mexico, where they can be found in almost all places that has a freshwater source — like mountain creeks, streams and rivers at the lower parts of these countries. The waters in those areas are rapidly moving, have high oxygen content and have an acidity range from 5. Water hardness is from 1DH — 24DH. The water temperature seems to be the same all throughout those regions, which is 75°F. In their captive condition, swordtails seem to be at home best with water that has DH, is moderately alkaline at 7. Flakes and commercial foods like those that have been frozen or freeze-dried will work just as well. Make sure that the meals contain large amounts of meat and live foods. I typically use a combination of a high-quality flake food such as these TetraMin flakes , as well as occasionally supplementing some dried brine shrimps. The brine shrimp are a nutritional treat that are inexpensive to buy when you buy them freeze-dried. The ones I use are less than 10 bucks. |
| The Swordtail Fish - Caring and breeding in aquariums | Even more, male Swordtails will court and mate with females of their own species, as well as with females of other poeciliid species, resulting in hybridization. Beaugrand, Jacques P. Author Note: Make sure to remove the adults after the female gives birth. if not, can you find the reason why they died? Thanks James. To provide some plant-based cuisine, offer up algae wafers every once in a while. Well now that I have 2 sword tail fish, I have been learning a lot about them, however, how well would it work if I were to have say like 5 or 6 female sword tail fish with the 2 male swordtail fish that I have already? |
Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips -
Breeding swordtail fish entails putting a male and female or multiple females into a separate tank and letting them get to work! Swordtail fish are one of the easiest fish to breed in an aquarium with no extra work involved. They are livebearers, which means no eggs, and are always ready to mate.
Despite swordtail fish being easy to breed, there are a few things to know prior to beginning the breeding journey. Swordtails are extremely easy to breed due to the fact that they are always ready to mate, as long as the tank parameters are set correctly and checked on.
If the numbers are right, they may begin breeding within a few days of being placed in the tank, or even sooner. Since swordtails breed so easily, you should have at least a 20 gallon tank to accommodate the adults and fry.
As stated, the females can become pregnant every 28 days and have up to fry per time. Swordtails should be kept in sets of females per 1 male. This will help overbreeding on any one female and keep any fights to a minimum. With that being said, swordtails generally have a very pleasant demeanor and can be housed with other species of fish as well even if you are trying to breed.
The following are just a few of the cohabitants that can be housed with swordtails:. The above fish are all around the same size as a swordtail so would cause no imminent danger to them. Swordtails are not aggressors and should not be housed with larger fish, such as cichlids that are very territorial.
This match could end up killing the swordtails, especially when breeding. Another sign is catching your fish nudging the rocks with their tail up.
One of the more immediate tell-tale signs that a swordtail in your tank is pregnant is an enlarged belly. A few other signs that a female could be pregnant is if you notice an increased appetite, being more aggressive towards other fish than usual, or hiding from males in other parts of the tank.
The gestation period for a swordtail is 28 days. As opposed to other species of fish, swordtails are livebearers. This means that rather than laying eggs, they give birth to live fry baby fish. Swordtails can also get pregnant again within a few days of just having their fry!
This means they can have about fry some batches are much smaller , 12 times a year. This makes it extremely important to have a plan in place on what to do with the fry.
Feel free to visit the following page too: Swordtail profile with forum. We'd love to hear about your experiences regarding raising Swordtails, so once you've finished reading the below-shown article leave us a message at the bottom of this page , please!
Xiphophorus hellerii - Swordtailfish is a favourite aquarium live-bearer fish and generally, this species is considered a suitable tropical fish for beginners, however it is not that easy indeed. In fact one has to be an experienced aquarist because Swordtail fish require proper care and handling just like other fish, thus impulsive buy must be avoided.
Both genders may reach reasonable lengths in the adulthood, which as mentioned above, can range between cm 3. This tropical fish has some general colour variations. The wild form is olive green, with a red or brown lateral stripe and speckles on the dorsal and, sometimes, caudal fins.
Just like other species, captive breeding of Swordtails has produced many colour varieties including black, red, and lots of body patterns. This species can be fed flakes, live-frozen worms and other food designed for tropical aquarium fish.
Like for all fishes, their diet has to be varied and not monotonous. Especially they need green foods which contain algae, which means any food with, or based on, spirulina is an ideal supplementary diet not only supporting their taste, but the immune system, general condition and health too.
In addition aquarists could install powerful lighting in order to stimulate algae bloom in a tank thereby providing the Swordtails with what they demand and require as the basic food element. Reviewing the excrements of the fish will give a fishkeeper good overview of foods the fish are fed as when the colour varies from green to black then everything is fine.
If you notice other colours, you should consider changing the food, otherwise your fish may face serious problems. If this is the case it is recommended you simply change the food quality and amount. The difference in foods is not only whether one brand colours the water, but it also is about what ingredients each food contains.
Feeding should be performed once or twice a day for adult specimens. Newborns should be fed up to 6 times a day while juveniles maximally 2 times a day.
A juvenile is a fish which is at least 3 cm 1. Firstly the male fertilizes the female with the gonopodium. The male inserts his sperms into the female. Unusually though, the females are able to save some sperms for later fertilization.
The fry grow in the female where they consume the yolk stores. Young swordtails are bigger than other fry of non live-bearer fishes. They immediately swim and can hide from predators. They also grow quickly and can eat flakes soon after birth. This species needs free space for swimming, however lots of aquarium plants is a necessity too.
It is a good idea to keep them in groups of at least individuals. Ideally, you need to have females per 1 male. Being in a group allows them to engage in natural behaviors, which will reduce stress and improve their overall well-being.
Their temper is generally peaceful , but Swordtail fish may also have the habit of biting the fins of other fish regardless of their size. Male swordtails can be somewhat aggressive towards each other , especially if they are kept with females and in small groups.
Males establish dominance hierarchies and compete for access to females. In a contest that usually lasts more than an hour, the winners and losers can be identified by their behavioral and physical traits. It is generally recommended to keep only one male swordtail with several females or to keep a group of males with plenty of space and hiding places to reduce aggression.
Interesting fact : Restricted food early in life has long-turn consequences. Such males often become subordinate to size-matched opponents.
Basically, early developmental trajectories can shape the physiology and behavior of the adults. Swordtails are active swimmers. Therefore, it is not advisable to keep them with fish that are too calm or small, as they can be intimidated by the sudden moves of these fish.
Swordtails tend to occupy the upper and middle sections of the tank, with occasional visits to the bottom. Xiphophorus hellerii is a diurnal omnivore. Studies of the stomach contents of the swordtails indicated that both terrestrial and aquatic insects are eaten along with phytoplankton and some macroalgae.
Nonetheless, a significant difference is also observed between the diet of juveniles and adults i. juveniles consumed greater quantities of aquatic invertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton, etc. whereas adults consume more vegetable components.
In the aquarium, the Swordtails can be fed with a wide variety of meals such as:. How to Improve Coloration of Swordtails? Carotenoids are natural lipid-soluble pigments that are primarily synthesized in plants, including phytoplankton and algae, and contribute to the wide range of colors found in nature.
These pigments typically manifest as various shades of yellow, orange, and red. Unlike plants and algae, fish cannot produce carotenoids on their own and must acquire them from their diet.
Therefore, it is recommended that feeds containing color enhancers or pigments such as astaxanthin should be fed to bring out the full color of the Swordtails, such as links to amazon :. Adult Swordtails should be fed twice per day. Fry should be fed 3 times per day. They eat a lot and grow really fast.
This technique means that fish should consume all the food within minutes. Yes, these fish are completely plant safe. They will not eat any healthy plants in the tank. This specie does not eat living plant material.
Swordtails can tolerate a wide range of temperatures, salinity, hardness, and dissolved oxygen, in the water. Although they are pretty hardy and can withstand varied ranges of water parameters, we still need to address their core needs!
Important: Make sure that you cycle your tank before bringing these fish home. Once the tank is cycled you need to check the quality of the water using a test kit. Swordtails should not be kept in small tanks due to their size.
The minimum tank size for this species is 15 gallons 60 liters for 1 male and 3 — 4 females. Temperature: Swordtails are able to withstand temperatures that vary greatly. According to the study , the lethal minimum temperatures ranged from 41 — 52°F 5.
In the aquarium, they will thrive in warm temperature conditions of 71 — 78°F 22 — 26°С. Interesting fact : Temperature also affects the body shape of Swordtails during their early development.
For example, under high temperatures, Xiphophorus hellerii has a deeper head and body shape. Lower temperatures lead to a pointy head, longer tail, and a dorsal position of the pectoral fin forming a fusiform body shape.
pH: Swordtails generally prefer slightly alkaline conditions. The ideal pH range should be between 7. Hardness: These fish can live in any water but they will appreciate optimal GH between 5 — It is not a requirement.
Although Swordtails prefer moderate water flow, they will be absolutely fine everywhere. Lighting should be adapted to the needs of plants in the tank. Related article:. Although you can choose any substrate for the tank, it is better to have a dark color so that the fish look more contrasting against its background.
The natural habitat of Swordtails is abundant in vegetation. Plants provide good hiding spots for them. It makes them happy and playful. This should be replicated in their tank. You can use floating plants , fake plants , driftwood , leaves , and small rocks to provide additional hiding spots for them.
However, you may need to remove a different percentage of water depending on your filter and other tank factors. Keep in mind that any water that you add to the tank should also be at least dechlorinated.
Note: Dechlorinators can be purchased at any pet store, Seachem Prime — link to check the price on Amazon , to make sure the water is safe for your fish.
While some hobbyists recommend using Nonetheless, if you do choose to use salt, make sure to only replace water with salted water during water changes. This is because when water evaporates, it leaves salts behind, so adding more salt to top off evaporated water is unnecessary.
Swordtail — Male and Female Differences photo credit to Zaraza Xiphophorus hellerii is sexually dimorphic. Adult males and females are very easily identified.
Breeding these fish is very easy. Thus it can be a rewarding experience even for beginner hobbyists. Swordtails are a livebearing species, meaning that the females give birth to fully-formed, swimming fry instead of laying eggs. Livebearers will reproduce as long as adequate feeds are available and appropriate temperatures are maintained.
Xiphophorus hellerii attains sexual maturity at 1 — 1. There has been a long-standing debate among enthusiasts, with some claiming that late males are infertile while others attribute this to unfavorable conditions such as high or low temperature, acidity, etc. However, science and practice indicate that early swordtail males carry a larger number of male genes.
Therefore, if we use early males for breeding, the offspring will have more males, while if we use late males for breeding, the offspring will have more females. Female to Male Changes.
Another interesting feature of swordtails is that some adult females, including those that have given birth multiple times, can transform into males — their fin becomes similar to that of males.
This usually happens due to sudden fluctuations in water parameters, which can cause hormonal imbalances. However, some hobbyists believe that this occurs when there are not enough males in the aquarium.
Unfortunately, such individuals cannot fertilize or carry fry. Mating: Once they reach sexual maturity, Swordtails do not form monogamous mating pairs and instead exhibit complete polygamy. Even more, male Swordtails will court and mate with females of their own species, as well as with females of other poeciliid species, resulting in hybridization.
Male to Female Ratio: A good rule of thumb is to keep a male to female ratio of in your breeding tank. This will ensure that there are enough females to keep the males from overzealously pursuing a single female and that there will be enough diversity in the gene pool of the fry.
According to the study, from a single mating event, a female can give birth up to 9 consecutive broods, as viable sperm for fertilization can be provided for up to 2 years!
In Swordtails, embryonic development may vary from 26 to 63 days , depending on the temperature.
Swordtail fish are one of the most Tipx fish Swordtal care for Swordtial a home aquarium. They iTps a pleasant demeanor towards other small fish Sworstail are vibrant in Anti-inflammatory as well. It is no wonder why a Swrodtail would want Swordtail Fish Breeding Tips breed these fish and here is how to do it! Breeding swordtail fish entails putting a male and female or multiple females into a separate tank and letting them get to work! Swordtail fish are one of the easiest fish to breed in an aquarium with no extra work involved. They are livebearers, which means no eggs, and are always ready to mate. Despite swordtail fish being easy to breed, there are a few things to know prior to beginning the breeding journey.
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