Theresa - 2013-03-26 I have a Swordtail that I separated because she was about to have her babies. She had one that was born dead. About 2 hours later she had another stillborn. It has been 2 days and nothing else has happened. She still has the dark coloration like there are still babies there. But so did my Platty when she was done. Is it ever the case that it takes days sometimes for them to finish giving birth or can I assume she is finished at just 2 born dead?
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Jeremy Roche - 2013-03-26 I have never seen 2 days but anything possible. Any changes in water? Temp?
janj - 2013-01-28 My dead swordtail has a worm by its gills. This is the second time it's happened, what is it please?
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Jeremy Roche - 2013-01-28 Whats the worm look like?
Clarice Brough - 2013-01-31 It sounds like your fish may have had anchor worm. The anchor worm (lernea spp.) is a true parasite that embeds in either the gill or body of a host fish. It can do considerable damage to its host, and it very contageous. This is actually a copepod (crustacean arthropod) rather than a true worm. It looks like a small whip (just a few mm to under an inch in length) with a forked tail. It attaches to the fish with its 'anchor' shaped head.
For future reference... it is rather stressful for a fish, but the parasite can be carefully removed. Hold the fish on a damp cloth in your hand, then extract it with a pair of household tweezers. Gently press the tweezers as close to the skin as possible, but only extract the worm, not the flesh of the fish. Treat the infected area with an antiseptic (I've used iodine) after removing the parasite. Then return the fish to its tank.
J - 2008-07-22 I'm wondering how people tell if the swordtails are pregnant, since I have 2 males and 3 females.
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Margaret - 2012-09-16 The bellies of pregnant livebearers get very large, just as humans!
Jeremy Roche - 2012-09-17 They will get large and you will be able to see the babies in the back portion of the belly there is a black spot that will expand as they grow!
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.
The most popular fish next to the Guppy is most certainly the Swordtail!
I have a Swordtail that I separated because she was about to have her babies. She had one that was born dead. About 2 hours later she had another stillborn. It has been 2 days and nothing else has happened. She still has the dark coloration like there are still babies there. But so did my Platty when she was done. Is it ever the case that it takes days sometimes for them to finish giving birth or can I assume she is finished at just 2 born dead?
I have never seen 2 days but anything possible. Any changes in water? Temp?
My dead swordtail has a worm by its gills. This is the second time it's happened, what is it please?
Whats the worm look like?
It sounds like your fish may have had anchor worm. The anchor worm (lernea spp.) is a true parasite that embeds in either the gill or body of a host fish. It can do considerable damage to its host, and it very contageous. This is actually a copepod (crustacean arthropod) rather than a true worm. It looks like a small whip (just a few mm to under an inch in length) with a forked tail. It attaches to the fish with its 'anchor' shaped head.
For future reference... it is rather stressful for a fish, but the parasite can be carefully removed. Hold the fish on a damp cloth in your hand, then extract it with a pair of household tweezers. Gently press the tweezers as close to the skin as possible, but only extract the worm, not the flesh of the fish. Treat the infected area with an antiseptic (I've used iodine) after removing the parasite. Then return the fish to its tank.
Do the female become infertile when they get older?
Most will either loss fertility or slow down a bit. A lot depends on health and environment.
I'm wondering how people tell if the swordtails are pregnant, since I have 2 males and 3 females.
The bellies of pregnant livebearers get very large, just as humans!
They will get large and you will be able to see the babies in the back portion of the belly there is a black spot that will expand as they grow!
yes u can
Can I put sword tails in a community tank containing guppys and its frys ?
Swordtails and guppies will eat their fry. Fry should be removed if you are trying to keep as many fry alive as possible.
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.