Aquarium fish swordtails: reproduction and maintenance

One of the most well-liked aquarium fish is the swordtail, which is distinguished by its vivid colors and unusual sword-like tail form. Not only do they have stunning appearances, but they also require little maintenance, which makes them an excellent option for both novice and expert aquarium keepers.

It’s important to know the necessities of swordtails if you plan to put one in your aquarium. Taking good care of your swordtails will ensure that they flourish and lead healthy lives, starting with the proper tank conditions and feeding schedule. For those who are interested in breeding swordtails, there’s even more excitement because they are also livebearers, meaning they give birth to fry that swim freely instead of laying eggs.

This post will discuss the essential elements of raising and caring for swordtails, such as what to feed them, how to provide the best environment for them, and successful breeding techniques.

Swordtails – aquarium fish: types

The majority of swordtail fish that are naturally olive in color are hybrids that have already undergone artificial breeding. various swordtail types:

• mountain;
• high-finned;
• green;
• Bulgarian white;
• lemon;
• red;
• lyretail;
• red-speckled tiger;
• Ada;
• calico;
• rainbow;
• black.

Since they belong to the same genus, they interbred well with pecilia in captivity. Through hybridization, numerous pecilia and swordtail breeds are produced.

Swordtail in its original hue.

As a well-liked and resilient aquarium fish, swordtails are a great option for novice and seasoned aquarium keepers alike. This post will walk you through the fundamentals of caring for swordtails, emphasizing their simple maintenance requirements and easy breeding process. You can cultivate a healthy environment that promotes healthy reproduction and keeps your swordtails lively and active by becoming aware of their natural behaviors and needs.

Aquarium for fish

Swordtails don’t need to be handled carefully. They are therefore simple to maintain. They tolerate temperature drops well, so they don’t require a specific composition or quantity of water (the ideal water temperature for them is 23–25 °C). These fish (8–25) do not have a problem with water hardness either. Within 7-8, acidity is acceptable.

The shape of the aquarium must be decided upon before you can arrange it. Choosing a rectangular aquarium without any obtrusive ornaments is preferable.

In terms of volume, two members of this species or fish that are comparable in size need 8–10 liters of water on average, or 10–15 fish per 50-liter tank.

Soft plants in the aquarium are preferable because you won’t have to worry about occasionally leaving your pets without food. Plants in aquariums should be arranged as densely as possible to allow fry to hide from adults. However, there ought to be room for fish to swim around freely. Cabomba, gleam, and riccia are appropriate for this.

It is advised to add sea and table salt to the aquarium water, and to replace 20–30% of the water with fresh water at least once a week. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that it can damage plants and catfish.

For the aquarium’s soil, regular small pebbles will work. At low fish population densities, aeration of the water is desirable but not necessary.

Swordtails are also omnivores in this area; they will eat any type of food, wet or dry. It is advised to use plant-based foods in addition to algae and to not overlook them. Oatmeal, spinach, lettuce, and cucumber varieties work well for this.

After making the decision to purchase these fish, keep in mind that there is a hierarchy, and that means it is preferable to have more females in a single aquarium. It will only take a few guys to ensure that there is no particular rivalry between them.

Because swordtails are very nimble and like to jump out of aquariums, something should always be covering the aquarium from above.

Aquarium fish swordtails: compatibility with other species

You can keep these fish in the same container as other species because they are generally quite calm and only settle disputes among themselves. Their potential for aggression toward smaller fish is the only drawback.

Swordtails get along well with barbs, discus, tetras, labeo, guppies, and gourami fish.

While cichlids, goldfish, and astronotus are totally incompatible with swordtails, eels and shrimps do not get along well with them.

Reproduction

Swordtails exhibit blatant sexual dimorphism; males are smaller and brighter than females, and their caudal fin features a lengthy protrusion of multiple rays. Females have a large, protruding abdomen.

The idea that female swordtails can switch sexes is a myth among aquarists. Typically, this occurs in two situations:

1. Hormonal failure can lead to the appearance of male sexual characteristics in the female. In this case, it will not be possible to obtain offspring from such a male.
2. Late-maturing males are large and have reproductive abilities. The fact is that the sex of the fry of pecilia fish directly depends on the temperature of the water in which they are raised. The higher the temperature, the more males there will be in the litter. Sometimes, due to physiological characteristics, the fish remains asexual for too long, so it is easy to mistake it for a female.

Males have a modified anal fin that resembles a tube with a hook at the end. The gonopodium is the name of this organ, which serves reproductive purposes.

Swordtails are distinguished by their ability to give birth to live young because they are members of the pecilia fish family. This indicates that pregnancy develops after the eggs are fertilized in the female’s abdominal cavity.

The female can retain the male’s reproductive materials for a while after mating, so there’s a good chance she will become pregnant if she was housed in the same aquarium as the males in the store.

Fry have a gestation period of approximately 40 days. Based on the female’s age and size, their number varies every time. This amount varies from 150 to 200 fry per pregnancy, but it may be higher.

The female is kept in a spawning tank prior to giving birth if you wish to have a lot of children. It’s simple to tell when a baby is going to be born because the mother’s belly becomes rectangular. An enormous substitution can also be used as a birth water incentive. It is advisable to place a certain number of floating small-leaved plants in the spawning tank itself so that the young can hide there. The newly hatched female is put back into the main aquarium, where she can eat the young and shows no concern for them.

The fry form quickly, swim freely, and eat well almost immediately. The babies must be fed as often as possible to ensure normal development. For example, you can use chopped tubifex, microworms, nauplii of brine shrimp and cyclops, or finely ground dry food flakes.

Since every fish develops differently, it is occasionally necessary to separate the mature fish from the smaller ones and transplant them one at a time. When the fish are four to five months old, they are deemed adults and are able to reproduce.

Swordtails’ vivid colors and lively disposition make them an excellent option for aquarists of all skill levels. They can flourish in your aquarium and liven up your arrangement with just a little attention.

You can keep your swordtails happy and healthy by keeping the tank clean, giving them a balanced diet, and providing the ideal water conditions. They get along well with a wide range of other fish species due to their calm temperament.

Since swordtails are livebearers and can readily procreate in a well-kept tank, breeding them is simple. Just make sure there is adequate room and vegetation for hiding places, especially for the fry, to improve their chances of surviving.

Swordtails are, all things considered, a fantastic choice if you’re searching for gorgeous, low-maintenance fish that will liven up your aquarium.