victoria - 2010-03-13 I was wondering how big are sword tails? I have fish that died recently because they got sucked up by my filter because my filter has openings around it, but it's too small for bigger fish than platys to get in it so my mom was going to buy some sword tails. I am wondering how big are they because I have to have a fish that is bigger than a platy! What do you think?
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nm123 - 2011-11-10 about 2 inches
Rick - 2012-04-11 Swordtails can grow up to 4.5 inches, depending on the variety purchased and care given. They usually have a life span of 2 - 4 years.
Jeremy Roche - 2012-04-12 You can get screens for you filter end that would help prevent this. Do you have the tip on the end of the filter or is it wide open?
Joe - 2011-10-23 Two of my female swordtails had their fry about 2 months ago. How long before I can notice if the fry are male or female? When does the male start developing their swordtail? Joe
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Charlie Roche - 2011-10-24 It could take over a year before you know the sex, They reach sexual maturity around 2 years old. Interesting thing (I thought) that I found is that usually only one male in a group will “sex out” or develop a huge tail. Sometimes two will but usually only one will mate with the females. Most times the other males do not develop the swordtail. It was said that if you remove the male with the sword from the group that another male in the tank will develop the tail sometimes in just a few weeks.
Rick - 2012-04-11 I can usually spot which sex mine are at 3 months old. The males will be starting to develop their gonopodium and some also become more aggressive, dancing around a female or nipping another potential male. Females generally will have a rounder belly and only one anal fin. The late blooming male can fool many people because he often appears female and turns out later to become a big male. These are considered the 'prize' males.
valerie - 2012-03-01 We have some 3 month old fry red sword tails and we were wondering how long till we will start to see the tails on the males. The guy at the pet shop says about 2 months old....really, because if this were the case I have a tank FULL of females :/
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Jeremy Roche - 2012-03-02 It normally takes longer then that to grow the actual sword. Check the gonopodia. The gonopodia is the fin on the underside of the fish. Females will have rounded fin and male will have a thin longer fin pointing to the rear.
J_H - 2011-12-21 Hello, I have 2 female black swords. I was wondering if I put them in with my 3 orange male swords and 6 orange females will they breed or should I get a black male?
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nm123 - 2012-01-10 There is a good chance that they will cross breed but I would reccomend getting a black male swordtail
Katie - 2010-04-07 I have had a tank with Mollies and Platies set up for about five years. Of course they have bred well over the years and it has always been interesting to see what will come from them. A few months ago I started to notice that some of the younger males were sporting what looked like a swordtail. I have often seen these fish in the pet store, but I have never bought one. Is it possible that through their interbreeding they have created the swordtail? It's very difficult to tell if they are from the Mollies or the Platies.
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nm123 - 2011-11-11 Yes if one of the fish bred with a swordtail before you got it.
The most popular fish next to the Guppy is most certainly the Swordtail!
What should I do if I have overcrowd of swordtails. Can I slow down or prevent them from breeding?
Not really. ometimes pet stores will take them in trade.
Will swordtails also eat live plants, or only blanched lettuce?
They should. Get an aquarium clip for the lettuce.
I was wondering how big are sword tails? I have fish that died recently because they got sucked up by my filter because my filter has openings around it, but it's too small for bigger fish than platys to get in it so my mom was going to buy some sword tails. I am wondering how big are they because I have to have a fish that is bigger than a platy! What do you think?
about 2 inches
Swordtails can grow up to 4.5 inches, depending on the variety purchased and care given. They usually have a life span of 2 - 4 years.
You can get screens for you filter end that would help prevent this. Do you have the tip on the end of the filter or is it wide open?
Two of my female swordtails had their fry about 2 months ago. How long before I can notice if the fry are male or female? When does the male start developing their swordtail? Joe
It could take over a year before you know the sex, They reach sexual maturity around 2 years old. Interesting thing (I thought) that I found is that usually only one male in a group will “sex out” or develop a huge tail. Sometimes two will but usually only one will mate with the females. Most times the other males do not develop the swordtail. It was said that if you remove the male with the sword from the group that another male in the tank will develop the tail sometimes in just a few weeks.
I can usually spot which sex mine are at 3 months old. The males will be starting to develop their gonopodium and some also become more aggressive, dancing around a female or nipping another potential male. Females generally will have a rounder belly and only one anal fin. The late blooming male can fool many people because he often appears female and turns out later to become a big male. These are considered the 'prize' males.
We have some 3 month old fry red sword tails and we were wondering how long till we will start to see the tails on the males. The guy at the pet shop says about 2 months old....really, because if this were the case I have a tank FULL of females :/
It normally takes longer then that to grow the actual sword. Check the gonopodia. The gonopodia is the fin on the underside of the fish. Females will have rounded fin and male will have a thin longer fin pointing to the rear.
Hello, I have 2 female black swords. I was wondering if I put them in with my 3 orange male swords and 6 orange females will they breed or should I get a black male?
There is a good chance that they will cross breed but I would reccomend getting a black male swordtail
I have had a tank with Mollies and Platies set up for about five years. Of course they have bred well over the years and it has always been interesting to see what will come from them. A few months ago I started to notice that some of the younger males were sporting what looked like a swordtail. I have often seen these fish in the pet store, but I have never bought one. Is it possible that through their interbreeding they have created the swordtail? It's very difficult to tell if they are from the Mollies or the Platies.
Yes if one of the fish bred with a swordtail before you got it.
I'm about to buy some platies any advice please on breeding and caring?
just type in platy care on the internet
My male swordtail looks like hes going to Blow UP. He looks like a Turkey What happened?
Check out Fish Disease and Treatment on Animal World - look at bloat.
Can different types of swordtails interbreed with each other? I have 4 different types of swordtails?
Sword tails do cross breed and people do it. Let them enjoy who they love......