Aquarium swordfish. Varieties of aquarium swordtails How to distinguish between two forked swordtails

The swordtail is almost the most unpretentious aquarium fish. This species first appeared in 1964 and has only been gaining popularity ever since. The long outgrowth on the tail of the males gave the name to the fish. They are loved for their unpretentiousness, beauty, variety of species and ease of breeding.

In general, the swordfish aquarium fish is peaceful, individuals get along well in aquariums with other species. But their characters may differ, bullies come across, mainly for males. Most often they show aggression towards each other.

It is recommended to keep the fish in an aquarium that is densely planted, but also with free space for swimming. The presence of algae floating on the surface of the water will help diffuse the light and provide an excellent hiding place for future fry.

Like other viviparous fish, these individuals take root well in salt water, but it is not necessary to do it on purpose.

Differences between males and females

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish small females and male swordtails from each other, but it is possible with certain knowledge. Naturally, at first it is important to pay attention to the fin on the tail, which is long on the bottom of the males and resembles a sword. In females, there is no such difference.

In addition, you should examine the fin next to the anus, located at the bottom of the abdomen. In males, it has an unusual shape - it is elongated and looks like a tube. Thanks to him, he fertilizes the eggs in the abdomen of the female. The same fin in females is rounded in shape.

Males and females do not differ in coloration. And because of the many crosses, hybrids of any shade are bred.

The swordfish aquarium fish is unusual in that females are able to turn into males. The sex of the fish is formed in several stages.

Among the fish of the age of 4 months, small males are first formed, and after a while some of the females also become males. Some of these females have already spawned at first. But if you keep the swordsmen in favorable conditions, then they will not change their gender.

Varieties of fish

- is distinguished by its olive color with a greenish tint. Along the horizontal of the body, he has a bright red stripe and a few more lighter ones. The body is flattened from the sides, and the sword on the tail of the males is beautifully bordered. Females are slightly larger, their shades are lighter.
variety of the previous species. Its difference lies only in the yellowish tint of the body. They do not survive well when breeding.
- also an albino variety, but they are more viable than lemon ones.
Black - a hybrid from crossing green swordsmen and black pelicia. Their body is somewhat wider compared to the usual species. Color - black with a greenish or bluish tint. Fish often suffer from a disease associated with an excess of pigments in the body. This makes it difficult for them to reproduce.
Red - were obtained by crossing green swordsmen and red pelicia. The species is distinguished by a bright red body color.
- they were named so due to the tricolor color - the main white color of the body is complemented by several large black and reddish spots.
Rainbow - similar in color to Australian rainbow fish. Their body is gray-green in color with an orange sheen. Along are red-brown stripes. The fins of the fish are bright orange.
- they got their name because of the pronounced black spots on a red background. Males have a long sword on their tail.
Mountain- their body is creamy yellow, and on the sides there are small spots and barely noticeable zigzags.
- the birthplace of this species in nature - the country of Mexico. The size of individuals is from 5 to 5.5 cm, females are also larger than males. On the body from the tail to the eye is a brown stripe in the form of a zigzag. The scales of the fish are gray-yellow, and there are specks on the back fin. The sword on the tail of males grows up to 2 cm in length and is distinguished by a yellow color.
Micro-sword swordsman (Xiphophorus xiphidium) - this species also lives naturally in the Mexican climate zone. The female swordtail reaches 5 cm, while the male does not grow more than 4 cm. This type of beige or olive hue with or without vertical stripes. There are dark spots on the tail. The sword on the tail of males is transparent and short, only 5 mm.
Swordsmen of Clementia(Xiphophorus clemenciae) - individuals reach 4.5 - 5 cm in length, but the female is much larger than the male. Silver-blue body with reddish horizontal stripes. The sword on the tail of the male is large - up to 3.5 cm in length.
Montezuma swordsman (Xiphophorus montezumae) - the body length of the female of this species reaches 7 cm, and the male - a maximum of 5 cm. The body is painted in a lilac shade, which turns brown on the back. Also on the body are several zigzag stripes that are paler than the base color. The male is distinguished by a yellow dorsal fin with a dark speck.
Swordsman KoiKohaku, otherwise Santa Claus - this species is distinguished by three large spots of bright red color on the white body of the fish. Santa Clauses can be up to 10 cm long.
(forked) - got its name due to the unusually forked shape of the tail.
- a variety of bright red with black fins.
- a large individual, growing up to 10 -12 cm in length, excluding the tail in males. The lower fin resembles a pike, and the lower part of the abdomen is darkened.
- has bright orange fins and the same color lower half of the body.
- so called because of its dorsal fin, it is large and resembles a sail in appearance. A subspecies is considered to be a swordsman ruby flag of deep red color. Also a subspecies of the flag species is the red black-tailed.
- is a selection form of green swordsmen with an unusual tail fin.

How to properly feed the swordsmen

These fish can be fed flakes, fresh live or frozen food, and other suitable aquarium fish food. They require a varied diet including plant-based foods high in fiber. The thing is that in natural conditions, almost the entire diet consists of algae and their fouling.

It is impossible to plant a huge number of plants in an aquarium, so you can always buy special bait based on plant components. It is recommended to make these flakes the basis of the diet, and give live food only as a supplement in a small amount. You can choose any live food, as the fish are completely unpretentious in food.

How is reproduction

Swordtails are viviparous fish, the fry appears already fully formed. The eggs are fertilized inside the body of the female and hatch until fully mature. This time is about 30 days.

Breeding fish in a home aquarium is very simple. Males are constantly active. The main thing is to plant the female in time to save the fry and they become food.
When a female swordsman becomes very fat and a dark spot appears on her abdomen, it means that the time of childbirth is approaching. It can be left in the general aquarium, but too few fry will survive, as other fish will quickly eat them.

If you want to breed a large number of fry, you need to transplant the female before giving birth and equip this place with a large number of dense plants. She gives birth most easily in thickets, and after giving birth she chases fry, so they will be calmer in shelter.

So, after getting acquainted with the peculiarities of the care, maintenance and breeding of swordtails, even novice aquarists will be able to create suitable conditions for the life of fish.

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Due to their unpretentiousness, swordtails are one of the most popular aquarium fish. The inhabitants of the aquarium quickly adapt to difficult conditions, are distinguished by good survival. Active breeding of swordtails at home is an advantage of fish, because many capricious species refuse to give birth in captivity. In aquarium swordfish, reproduction occurs with the help of a bizarre fin, which is also an ornament. Before you start breeding these wonderful inhabitants of the aquarium, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the basic rules, recommendations of specialists, find out what measures need to be taken during the preparatory period, what features swordtails differ in, reproduction and further care for the fish.

Fundamental points

An important condition in breeding swordtails is to maintain or even improve all the species characteristics of the fish. To do this, it is recommended to decide in advance which pair will give offspring. Be sure to make sure that the male and female are in good health, have no developmental defects.

Before breeding swordtails, it is necessary to create the most favorable conditions, to satisfy the simple requirements of the fish. There will be no particular difficulties here - the inhabitants of the aquarium are perfectly adapted to reproduce offspring at home.

Unlike many representatives of the aquatic family, swordtail females do not spawn - fry are born prepared for survival and a fulfilling life. To get numerous offspring, a large capacity is not required - a three-liter jar is enough. Only after the fry begin to grow up, you will have to move them to the aquarium.

A prerequisite for breeding swordtails at home is to understand the life expectancy of fish and the characteristics of puberty. The life cycle of fish lasts up to 6 years with proper care. Sexual maturity occurs quite early - already six months after birth, males and females are completely ready to reproduce offspring. Experts recommend that before you start breeding these beautiful fish, figure out what optimal conditions should be created, how to determine the pregnancy of a female swordsman, how to prepare the inhabitants of the aquarium for breeding.

Preparing fish and spawning grounds for breeding

Breeding in a community tank is a bad idea. The risk that the female will be injured by more active aquatic inhabitants or the fry will be eaten by voracious predatory species increases several times. It is recommended to take care of a separate container in advance, even if it is small. The optimum temperature for active reproduction is within 28 degrees, and you will have to regularly change the water. Intensive aeration is another prerequisite, the saturation of the liquid with oxygen contributes to the active growth of fry, and aquarists will begin to breed earlier.

Interestingly, the sex of the young depends on the conditions of detention. Before breeding swordtails, it is recommended to determine what to give preference to in further cultivation - females or males. If it is desirable to raise representatives of the stronger sex of the fish family, the temperature in the aquarium should fluctuate between 27-30 degrees. To increase the number of females, reduce the water temperature to 24-26 degrees.

It will not work to determine the sex of the swordsmen by the shade of the abdomen, the only difference is the shape of the anal fin. In females, it is round and rather lush. In males, it resembles a long tube - it is she who takes a direct part in fertilization. It is recommended to place only one pair in a small container - this will facilitate subsequent care and prevent unpleasant consequences.

How long does the gestation period last for swordtails? With proper care, creating optimal conditions, fry will appear in just a month. In cool conditions, the female's pregnancy will last up to 6-7 weeks.

How much, and how many fry of the swordtail grow? Often she is a female gives up to two hundred young, although not all survive.

A question that often arises among beginners is whether and how to understand that a female swordtail is pregnant? Determining successful fertilization is quite simple - carefully examine the abdomen. If it swells, becomes almost square, changes color (becomes darker, almost black) - the female is pregnant. It is recommended to change the diet to a more nutritious one, change the liquid in the aquarium more often, and provide a long light regime.

In the absence of a separate container, place the pregnant female in a jar, after planting the vegetation on the bottom. Algae will be an excellent refuge for fry, which are threatened even by their own mother - a hungry female is quite capable of swallowing her offspring. To protect the fish, soon after birth, it is better to settle them separately.

Feeding the young

One of the prerequisites for successful rearing of young animals is a properly composed diet. Nutrition is especially important from the first days of life - the lack of certain substances in the feed will cause poor growth and development of the fish. Subsequently, they will be lethargic and weak, often suffer from diseases and even die.

Fish should receive enough nutrients and vitamins. It is recommended to purchase ready-made balanced food. If not possible, add to the diet:

oligochaetes (crushed);
chopped chicken yolk;
microworms (mix with carrot gruel);
cyclops;
curdled milk;
rotifers.

It is also allowed to use hard cheese for feeding, but in limited quantities. The product is pre-grinded with a grater. It is not recommended to give a lot of cheese at a time - there is a risk of spoiling the water and provoking the death of fry.

Powdered milk is another component of the fish diet. It is easy to prepare the product - pour ordinary milk into a small container with a wide bottom, send it to a water bath and evaporate until a dry powder remains.

Despite the nutritional value of boiled yolk, it is not recommended to abuse this type of food. A sour product is an excellent breeding ground for bacteria, which can be detrimental to young fish. In rotten water, young animals quickly die, begin to get sick. Frequent fluid changes will not help here - such procedures usually cause stress in fish.

If the young are growing slowly, it is recommended to introduce fermented milk products into the diet. Most often, curdled milk is used, and it should first be brewed with boiling water - this will allow the casein to curdle. A large amount of this element is harmful to young fish. After brewing, rinse the resulting lumps, put in a net and send to the water. The advantage of such food over the yolk is that water does not deteriorate from yogurt. It is recommended to store cooked fish delicacy in the refrigerator. Duration of storage - no more than 4 days, then prepare a new portion.

The quantity and quality of nutrition is the key to the health of fry

The use of cereals, curdled milk, yolk is recommended only for the first days after the birth of the fry. Aquarium fish require a more balanced and nutritious diet. A prerequisite is the use of only fresh feed, otherwise the fry will not have to wait long for the disease. It is recommended to introduce vegetable components into the diet (algae are usually used).

Up to a week old, a fry during the day is quite capable of consuming an amount of food that is almost twice its weight. After reaching the age of one month, the appetite of the fish decreases significantly; during puberty, the swordtail consumes only up to 5% of its mass.

A prerequisite is to feed newborn swordtails in the aquarium often, but in small portions. Feed up to 5 times a day. For the second week, the frequency of tossing food is no more than 4 times. Upon reaching two months of age, three meals a day are recommended. Alternate different types of feed - a balanced diet will accelerate the growth and development of young animals.

It is recommended to pay special attention to fry in the first week after birth. Poor quality of food or its insufficient quantity will certainly cause poor coloration of the fish, reduce the intensity of development. Lack of nutrients, vitamins can lead to deformation of the fins. The most preferred option for getting good fish is to select stronger individuals and put them in a separate aquarium. It should be borne in mind that the fry are able to jump high out of the water, so they can easily be outside the water tank and die. To prevent trouble, be sure to cover the jar or aquarium, and make sure that there is no lack of oxygen - provide a purge using a compressor.

Breeding swordtails is a fascinating and fairly simple process. The main thing is to understand the features of reproduction, the rules for caring for fry, dietary requirements and feeding frequency. If you do not make mistakes, in just a short time it will be possible to replenish the fish family with beautiful sparkling inhabitants of the aquarium.

Swordtails are very popular with both professional aquarists and amateurs. But before you get these bright fish, it is better to find out the details of care, breeding, compatibility with other types of fish, etc.

The natural habitat of swordtails is the reservoirs of Central America and Southern Mexico. Such an interesting name was given to these fish because of the unique shape of the fin. Only males have it and are used by them to demonstrate strength and attract the attention of females. Depending on the sex, the fish can reach a length of 8 to 12 cm, not counting, of course, the fin in males. Swordtails live for about 4-5 years.

Swordtails - aquarium fish: species

The natural swordtail is usually olive in color, all other multi-colored fish are artificially bred hybrids. Types of swordsmen:

mountain;
high fin;
green;
Bulgarian white;
citric;
Red;
lyretail;
red-speckled brindle;
chintz;
rainbow;
the black.

In captivity, they perfectly interbreed with, as they are representatives of the same genus. Many breeds of both platies and swordtails are obtained by hybridization.

Swordsman of natural color.

fish tank

Swordtails do not require any careful care. This makes them easy to keep. They do not need a special composition or a certain amount of water, they can withstand temperature drops quite well (the optimum water temperature for them is 23-25 ° C). Water hardness also does not become a problem for these fish - 8-25. Acidity is acceptable within 7-8.

To arrange an aquarium, you first need to figure out what shape it will be. It is better to take a rectangular aquarium without any decorative ornaments that only interfere.

In terms of volume, for two representatives of this species or fish of a similar size, an average of 8-10 liters of water is needed, that is, 10-15 individuals for a capacity of 50 liters.

It is better when there are soft plants in the aquarium, then you can not be afraid to leave your pets without food in rare cases. you need to plant as thick as possible so that the fry can hide from older individuals. But there should also be space for the free movement of fish. Riccia, glitter and cabomba are suitable for this.

As a soil for an aquarium, you can take the usual small pebbles. Aeration of the water is desirable, but not necessary at low fish population density.

As for food, swordtails are universal here too - any one, both live and dry, is suitable for them. It is recommended not to forget about vegetable types of food, and use them in addition to algae. For this, varieties of lettuce, spinach, cucumber or oatmeal are suitable.

When deciding to get these fish, you need to remember the so-called hierarchy, and therefore it is better to place more females in one aquarium. A few males are enough so that there is no particular competition between them.

The aquarium should always be covered with something from above, as swordtails are very nimble and love to jump out of it.

Aquarium swordfish: compatibility with other species

These are, in general, rather calm fish, they sort things out only among themselves, so you can keep them in the same container with other species. The only thing is that they can be aggressive towards smaller fish.

Barbs, discus, tetras, labeos, guppies, gourami get along well with swordtails.

Eels and shrimps are not a very good combination with them, but cichlids, goldfish and astronotus are completely incompatible with swordtails.

reproduction

The sexual dimorphism of swordtails is quite clear - males are brighter and smaller than females, their caudal fin has a long outgrowth of several rays. Females are large and have a voluminous abdomen.

There is a myth among aquarists that female swordtails are able to change sex. This usually happens in two cases:

Hormonal disbalance 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.
late determined males large and have the ability to reproduce. The fact is that the sex of fry of pecilian fish directly depends on the temperature of the water in which they are grown. The higher the temperature, the more males 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.

The anal fin of males is modified and has the shape of a tube with a hook at the end. This organ is called the gonopodium and performs a reproductive function.

Since swordtails belong to the family of pecilian fish, they are characterized by the ability to live birth. This means that the eggs are fertilized in the female's abdominal cavity, after which pregnancy occurs.

After mating, the female can store the sex products of the male for some time, so if the female was kept in the same aquarium with the males in the store, then she is very likely to be pregnant.

The gestation of fry lasts about 40 days. Their number is always different, and depends on the age and size of the female. This number ranges from 150 fry per pregnancy, but sometimes more.

If you want to get a large number of offspring, then before giving birth, the female is placed in a spawning area. It is easy to determine the approaching birth - the belly of the woman in labor takes on a rectangular shape. Also, a massive water change can serve as an incentive for childbirth. In the spawning area itself, it is desirable to place a certain number of floating small-leaved plants in which juveniles can hide. The female who has given birth is returned back to the general aquarium, she not only does not care for the offspring, but can also eat it.

The fry quickly form and almost immediately swim freely and eat well. For the normal development of babies, they need to be fed as often as possible. You can use, for example, Artemia and Cyclops nauplii, microworm, chopped tubifex or finely ground dry food flakes.

Each individual develops differently, so from time to time it is necessary to select grown-up fish from still small ones and transplant them separately. Once the fish are 4-5 months old, they can be considered mature and capable of breeding.

Diseases

Even with full confidence in buying healthy swordtails, just in case, they should be left for 10-15 minutes in a container with salt water, and then transplanted into an aquarium.

With a clear illness of the fish, for example, the appearance of white fluff, it is first placed in a salted bath, then a weak solution of methylene blue is made and the swordtail is kept in it for 2-3 days. The temperature of this liquid must be at least 24°C. With infections and diseases of the gills, trypaflavin and biomycin are excellent.

Keeping and breeding swordsmen is interesting and even very exciting. For example, you can crossbreed fish of different breeds and get unique fry with new colors or fins. And even a child can cope with elementary ways of caring for them.

Today we will talk about one of the most popular fish that won the hearts of many aquarists - the swordtail. This unpretentious creature has become a real find for those who are just starting to create their own underwater world. We will help you choose the right one for your species, advise you on the right food, and describe the conditions and breeding process.

Aquarium swordtail and its species

The swordtail is a very famous aquarium fish native to the rivers of Central America and Guatemala.

The swordsman got its name because of the bizarre outgrowth in the lower part of the tail, which in the process of development of the fish turns into a kind of sword blade.

Both in nature and in aquarium conditions, the swordtail grows up to 10–12 cm (depending on gender). Its growth can only be stopped by a small volume of the aquarium or poor conditions.

Important! The length of the body is indicated without taking into account the caudal process.

They began to create various variations for the reason that the natural color of the fish is brown-olive. This color helps the swordsman in nature, but in the aquarium hobby such "gray" colors will not attract the attention of amateurs. It is for this reason that on the basis of the “wild” swordtail, a natural variation of the fish, about 40-50 species were bred, which differ in the color of the scales, fins or tail, body shape and eye color.

We present to your attention the most common types of fish.

A very interesting species, which radically differs from the "usual" variations of the fish in the absence of a "sword", elongated edges of the tail and fins. It is also worth paying attention to the blotches of black, which many associate with the color of the tiger shark.
Pineapple Swordtail Tuxedo. This variation combines three colors at once: red, black and, as the name suggests, pineapple. The species does not differ from the original form in body structure, only the color scheme was changed during the creation of the variety. A gold variant of the swordsman that only has a small line of black on the underside of the "blade". Marigold has the same body structure as the original fish.
A truly beautiful view that captivates at first sight. The fish has a flatter forehead compared to other variations, and the fin process departs at an angle close to 45 °.

This species has two variations - red marble and neon marble, in which the main color of the fish changes, the blotches remain black.
The body of the fish is painted matte black in such a way that you can see every scale on the body of the swordtail. Various variations of the black swordsman differ in the color of the fins and tail, as well as the pigmentation of the eyes.
This species is interesting in that in addition to the general color, the pigmentation of the eyes has also been changed. Before us is a frighteningly beautiful fish, the body of which is painted in different shades of yellow, and the abdomen is painted white.
Swordsman Koi Kohaku. The red and white swordtail resembles a small goldfish in shape and volume of fins. It is worth noting that this species suggests variations with pigmented red eyes, high fins or a lyre-shaped tail. Perhaps the most common type that can be found in literally every pet store.

Matte red with black stripes on opposite sides of the tail, the swordtail looks great in any aquarium. Thanks to this species, the swordsman gained his popularity.

After you have acquired the desired variation of the swordsman and bring it home with joy to introduce you to other fish in the aquarium, you should think about acceptable conditions for keeping and caring for the effectiveness of the swordsman, life expectancy and desire to breed.

The swordsman does not require special conditions that can hit your pocket or take a lot of time.

Important! The high water temperature in the aquarium leads to a limiting decrease in the amount of oxygen dissolved in it, therefore, the higher the water temperature, the longer the aeration process (oxygen injection) should take.

temperature in the aquarium. The optimum water temperature is 24–26 °C, however, the fish feels great even at lower temperatures (about 19–21 °C).

In winter, the temperature can drop to 16 degrees, but in such conditions the fish will not breed. Both too low and too high water temperatures adversely affect the general condition.

Therefore, when the temperature rises to 28-30 ° C, it is worth cooling the water by adding some fresh water, or, if the aquarium is small, put sheets of wet paper around the perimeter on the outer glass to help reduce the temperature.

Water requirements:

hardness - 8–25°;
acidity - 7–8.

Important! The easiest way to check the acidity of water is with litmus paper, which can be purchased at any pharmacy.

If you have insufficient water filtration or a large number of "inhabitants", then about a third of the water in the aquarium should be replaced weekly.
However, if the aquarium is large in volume and a good cleaning system is installed on it, then the replacement can be carried out once a month, this will not affect the fish in any way.

Now let's talk about aeration. An air blower, even the smallest one, should always be present, as you will not be able to accurately calculate the required volume of water per fish. With a strong increase in temperature in the summer, the fish will simply begin to swim near the surface from a lack of oxygen.

Also, do not forget that almost all aeration systems are equipped with a filter, which during the operation of the unit will purify the water. Therefore, it is better to play it safe once again and install an aeration system than to lose a large number of pets.

Important! The aquarium should always be covered with glass, as swordtails love to jump out of the water.

How and what to feed the fish

The swordsman is unpretentious in terms of nutrition. To maintain a healthy appearance and the necessary physical activity, any dry food that is sold in paper packs (daphnia, cyclops, hamarus, etc.) is enough for him.

If possible, diversify your diet with live food, which should be “served” in specially equipped feeders with a sieve funnel.
We recommend that you purchase fine dry food that your fish can easily swallow in one go. It is advisable to buy not only pure daphnia or hamarus, but also any vitamin mixes or mixtures that have a positive effect on the growth and development of the swordsman.

It is better to feed swordtails three times a day, but if you notice that during the second feeding the fish are reluctant to consume food, then you can only feed in the morning or evening.

A hungry fish is very mobile and at the sight of you will immediately swim up to the feeder. Therefore, after short observations, it is possible to draw up an optimal feeding schedule.

Important! During feeding, pour as much food as the fish will eat in 10-15 minutes. Remove leftovers immediately.

It is worth remembering that if the fish is constantly full, which cannot be in natural conditions, it will stop actively moving, will begin to hang at the bottom or near plants.
Therefore, it is worth giving such an amount of food that pets always remain slightly hungry. This condition will not harm their body, and additional activity in search of food will amuse you and fill the aquarium with life.

The difference between a female and a male

The swordtail is a mysterious fish, since the male and female, as a rule, can be distinguished by the tail process, however, in certain situations, the fish changes sex without any problems, growing or shedding the “blade” and replacing the genitals.

There are two signs by which a male can be distinguished from a female: the caudal process and the anal fin. The male always "with him" has a large tail growth, which can reach the length of the body. Although females grow similar "blades", they are many times smaller. The female most often does not grow a "sword", so it is not difficult to distinguish her from the male.

As for the anal fin, in the male it is elongated into a tube, and in the female it is rounded. This structure is not accidental, since the male uses the fin to fertilize the female.

However, all arguments related to gender are sometimes meaningless, since fish, being surrounded by a large number of "relatives", can change sex at will.
This feature causes great problems for both sellers and aquarists, since you, buying, for example, three females and one male, in the end you can get three males and one female.

Males, as a rule, protect their territory and compete with each other, therefore, after such metamorphoses, a calm aquarium life can be interrupted by "gladiator competitions" that will interfere with all the "residents".

For this reason, we recommend buying either a large “flock” at once, which will number about ten individuals, or take only a pair.
However, even this option does not exclude the fact that all fish can become males or females.

Did you know? The female, which after metamorphosis has become a male, at the genetic level, lays the material that affects the number of females. As a result, up to 90% of "girls" are born.

Reproduction of swordtails

As mentioned above, the swordsman is an unpretentious fish, with regard to reproduction.

Before moving on to the conditions under which the fish will happily breed, it is worth clarifying some details.
Firstly, the swordtail is a viviparous fish, therefore, you will not see any eggs on glass or stones. In some cases (large aquarium) you may not notice that the fish has already given birth, which makes the process of raising fry a little more difficult.

Secondly, many rather friendly fish, even when they are full, are not averse to feasting on the “live food” that swims around them. It is for this reason that you should not keep a pregnant female in a common aquarium before giving birth.

Breeding swordtails at home is easy even for novice aquarists, but in order for everything to go “like clockwork”, follow our instructions exactly.
Swordtails are ready for reproduction already at 7–8 months of life, however, optimal conditions must be created for reproduction, which we will discuss later.

Let's start with water. Increased water temperature (26–28 ° C) and hardness of about 12 ° can push for reproduction. The water in the aquarium should be fresh, clean, without turbidity or a lot of waste.

Nutrition. A variety of foods will stimulate the breeding process, which must necessarily include live food and various herbal supplements (especially if there is little living vegetation in the aquarium).

Important! A female fertilized once does not require repeated fertilization for further reproduction of offspring.

As soon as you notice that the female's belly began to grow, immediately take arrangement of the spawning ground.
For this, a three-liter jar with a wide neck or a small aquarium up to 5 liters is quite suitable. A good option is a goblet-shaped single aquarium, which is often bought for goldfish. Next, we fill the vessel with settled clean water (in no case take distilled water) and move a small amount of small-leaved vegetation there.

In extreme cases, you can buy plastic algae with the same parameters or put a mesh washcloth on the bottom, which will serve as a shelter for fry in the first hours of life.
At the final stage, a pregnant female without a male is transplanted into the spawning ground and fed with live food until delivery. Immediately after the fry appear, the female must be moved to a common aquarium.

Important! To get more males, the temperature in the spawning ground should be reduced to 20–22° C, to get more females - raise to 30° FROM.

You are happy to look at the fry that have just been born, and you think that the most difficult thing is over, but this is not at all the case. Small fish are very vulnerable, they need to be properly fed and monitor the temperature and aeration in the spawning ground.

Feed. The initial food for fry can be presented as a store-bought version, as well as the usual dry crushed egg yolk.

However, it is worth remembering that store-bought fry food will not pollute the water as much as “homemade”, so monitor the condition of the water after each feeding and remove leftovers in time.
Although it is possible to use crushed live food to feed the fry, we strongly do not recommend doing this in the first weeks of life, since pathogenic organisms can enter the water along with the food, which will cause the death of the fry.

Temperature. The spawning grounds are not allowed to drop below 20 °C. The optimum water temperature will be in the range of 22-28 ° C.

If you follow all the rules, then the fry will grow up quickly, and by the end of the first month of life they can be transplanted into a common aquarium.
This is where we end our discussion of the topic of breeding swordtails and move on to the rules of "neighborhood" in a common aquarium.

Did you know? Scientists from MacEwan University in Canada have proven that fish remember the feeding place for 12 days.

Compatibility with other fish

The swordsman is a peace-loving fish, for the compatibility of which with other fish you can give her a big plus.

Despite the peacefulness, in sedentary "neighbors" the swordsmen can damage the fins. These include "veil" fish. Also, swordtails will not give life to very small fish, like neon, which will constantly suffer from attacks by males. Above, we wrote that males divide the territory and constantly conflict with each other. Eventually, the weaker male will die from lack of food or wounds.

To prevent this from happening, there must be a place in the aquarium where the fish can hide (a house, dense vegetation, a sink), and there must be two males.

That is, the male must be either one or three or more. In this case, the number of females should be appropriate.
Using my experience, I can say that the swordsman gets along well with zebrafish, velifera, mollies and platy. As for small neons, the swordsmen are afraid to attack a large flock, so the neighborhood is possible only if there are a lot of neons.

disease resistance

Another plus is disease resistance.

Immediately after purchase, swordtails are quarantined in the same three-liter jar for a week to determine if they are healthy or require treatment.

Sometimes swordtails are affected by fungal diseases that appear as white "fluff". It appears both on the scales and on the tail and fins. The problem is solved quite simply. You should dip a sick fish in salt water or a very weak manganese solution.

Important! If you are new to aquarium keeping, then it is better to use a salt solution, as the wrong manganese solution can kill the fish.

This concludes our discussion of a beautiful aquarium fish that has won many hearts. Use our instructions to maintain the necessary conditions, as most diseases affect weakened individuals that suffer from hypothermia or poor food quality.

Watch the underwater world for at least 30 minutes every day in order to identify the problem in time and solve it in the shortest possible time.

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Swordsmen can be safely called the old-timers of aquariums not only for beginners, but also for experienced aquarists. This breed is rightfully considered the most common and sought after among all exotic domestic fish, and there are a number of reasons for this: swordtails are unpretentious to the conditions of detention, they are distinguished by their mobility and lively, cheerful, but peaceful disposition. Another significant advantage of this species is the huge variety of colors, shapes and types of fish. In addition to the home aquarium, many species of swordsmen live in natural reservoirs. We will consider the whole variety of this type of fish later in the article.

Natural types of fish

Swordtails belong to the Paciliev family, they are freshwater fish. The name was given due to a special outgrowth on the caudal fin, which is shaped like a sword. Nature has awarded only males with such decoration. All species of swordtails live up to 4–5 years, during which time they grow up to 4–7 cm (not counting the length of the “sword”), under natural conditions, fish can reach 12–13 cm.

It is worth noting that swordtails living in the wild are distinguished by less bright colors, which for the most part appeared due to selection and artificial breeding. Next, consider the main natural types of fish.

Alvarez

The Latin name is Xiphophorus alvarezi, often the species is called the blue swordsman. The habitat is the fast-flowing rivers of Mexico and Guatemala. Under natural conditions, they live for two years, grow up to 6–7.5 cm (females are larger than males). The main distinguishing feature is the presence of two or three longitudinal stripes on the body, painted in red and blue shades. If you look closely, it becomes clear that the stripes are formed from merging small dots.

The basic color of the body may vary, a spotted color is possible, there are individuals with a green or red sword. They are distinguished by a peaceful disposition, suitable for keeping a small group of a pair of males and several females. For feeding it is best to use live food.

Important!When keeping any species of swordsmen, the aquarium should be closed. Active and curious fish, especially males, can often jump out of the tank.

clemencia

Clemencia's swordtail (Xiphophorus clemenciae) lives in the waters of the Sarabia River, Mexico. It grows up to 4-5 cm, the main color of the body is silver-blue, the main difference is in the red-orange stripe along the body. A black stripe runs along the bottom of the abdomen, which passes into the caudal fin, framing the sword.

In males, the xiphoid process is colored yellow or lemon. This species is not common in the home aquarium, as it is difficult to cross and is characterized by low fertility.

Montezuma

Montezuma's swordtail (Xiphophorus montezumae) also comes from Mexico, is not a common species among aquarists, is expensive (sometimes the price for a pair reaches $100). It grows up to 4-8 cm, has a very spectacular appearance - thanks to the lush, bright, dorsal fin, the fish is often called the royal swordsman. The main color of the body varies from bright yellow to brown and lilac-silver, there are blotches of black.
The xiphoid process is very long, no less than the main body, decorated with a black stripe along the bottom. The fish is distinguished by shyness, clumsiness, therefore, when bred at home, it needs numerous shelters in the aquarium. It is best to keep a group of one male and several females.

pygmy

The Latin name of the species is Xiphophorus pygmaeus. The body length of the fish does not exceed 3–5 cm, which is why it is also called the pygmy swordtail. The natural habitat is the fast-flowing rivers of Central America and northeastern Mexico. Under favorable conditions, the pygmy can live up to 3-6 years. Unlike other species of the Pecilia family, in pygmies, females and males grow the same size, but outwardly they are very different in color: the females are painted in a nondescript gray tint, while the males are a rich yellow hue with a brown stripe along the body and a small xiphoid process on the caudal fin.

Important!Despite their modest size, pygmies are distinguished by a cocky and warlike disposition, therefore it is not recommended to keep them with other varieties of fish (including other swordtails).

Roundhead

The round-headed swordsman (Xiphophorus birchmanni) differs from its other relatives and actually does not justify the name of the species - the caudal fin in males does not have a xiphoid process. But both males and females of the round-headed swordsman are decorated with a chic fan dorsal fin. In girls, it is painted in a silvery-gray hue, like the whole body, in boys it has a lemon-yellow hue.
The fan-like fin looks even more impressive thanks to numerous black blotches. The name of the breed was due to the high forehead. Also, the fish are distinguished by a high body, marked with vertical stripes. In general, the species is distinguished by a peaceful and calm disposition, but in order to avoid fights and aggression between males, you need a large space and a predominant number of females.

Artificially bred forms - aquarium swordsmen

Thanks to crossbreeding with platy fish, more than 20 new species of swordtails have appeared for aquarium keeping. All new varieties are distinguished by a very unusual and brighter appearance compared to natural colors. Next, consider the most common colors.

Did you know?All swordtails are characterized by a unique ability: with a significant predominance of females in the population, some of them are able to actually turn into males. At the same time, the xiphoid process grows in the fish, they are capable of mating, but as a result of such a union, the majority of fry (up to 80%) will be female.

Green

The green or common swordsman (Xiphophorus helleri) is the ancestor of all other artificially bred breeds. This variety can be called the most common among aquarists because of the ease of maintenance and beautiful appearance. The back can be painted in blue, light blue or green, along the body along the center there is a dark blue stripe.
The xiphoid process in males is at least 1/2 of the body length, framed by black stripes along the top and bottom. The total length reaches 10-15 cm. Due to the fact that this species was most often used for breeding in the past, today it is quite rare in its pure form, and if such individuals come across, then the price for them is very high.

Red

The red swordtail (ruby swordtail, vampire) is the second most popular domestic species. The saturated scarlet color of the entire body (including fins and sword) was obtained as a result of repeated crossing with red platy. The breeders did not stop there, and today they have received many types of red swordsman with fins and xiphoid processes of various shapes. The red subspecies is easy to care for and breed at home.

The black

The black swordtail was obtained in the post-war years in the Soviet Union by crossing the green subspecies with black platies. The main shade of the body is black, rare green or yellow blotches are also possible. The fins are colorless, the xiphoid process in males can be green, yellow, black, white or colorless. This subspecies quickly manifests a negative reaction to a low oxygen content in the water and a high level of nitrates, therefore, for successful breeding at home, you need to carefully control the composition of the water.

Citric

This subspecies is considered a common albino of the green swordsman. The entire body of the fish, including the fins and xiphoid process, is painted in a lemon shade.
Very rarely, males have a black edging of the sword. Thanks to its beautiful and rich color, the fish has gained great popularity among aquarists, however, numerous difficulties often arise with its maintenance.

Important!This species is considered very weak, painful and unviable. It is difficult to keep and breed it, because among the fish there is a high mortality rate.

Calico

To obtain a subspecies with such an extraordinary color, breeders crossed red and tiger swordtails. However, for many years, specialists cannot stabilize the selection process, because of all the fry born, only a few are obtained with the desired color. This species is easy to keep and breed, so aquarists are happy to replenish their aquariums with an attractive tricolor inhabitant. The main color of the body is silvery-white with red and black markings and patches.

Bulgarian white

This is an albino swordsman, but, despite this status, it has a high survival rate and strong immunity. The main color of the body is transparent, but the head, eyes and front of the body are painted in a scarlet hue. Such an unusual species was born due to crossing with the Russian swordsman. This subspecies is characterized by a peaceful, calm, friendly disposition, therefore it can be easily added to an aquarium with other non-aggressive residents.

Black and white (Hell's swordsman)

Another artificially bred home species of the swordsman with a very spectacular appearance. The body color is white, depending on the lighting, an amazing play of red and blue tints can appear. All fins of the fish are painted black. However, individuals with a black and white color are very rare and highly valued, because fish with red marks on the body are much more common. The xiphoid process in the male can vary greatly in size: from 5 mm to body length.

Cuban

A very common and most controversial subspecies of the swordtail. They are called Cuban only in Russian terminology, but Western experts call them red-black. The history of breeding this fish and the breeds used for this also remains a mystery.
The breed can be distinguished by the red color of the entire body, on which there are large black spots in the back and lower part of the body. Like most of his fellows, the Cuban is easily kept and breeds in captivity, has a peaceful and accommodating disposition.

Did you know?Of all the fish species, which number up to 30 thousand, viviparous species make up no more than 3%. However, it is the viviparous species that are the most common for home aquarium maintenance.

Rainbow

The ancestors of the variety were white Bulgarian swordsmen. The main body color of the fish is silvery-white-green, against this background there are several red-orange longitudinal stripes. The fins of the fish are also advantageously shaded with a terracotta shade. In an aquarium they grow up to a maximum of 8-10 cm, they are peaceful and calm, therefore they will become excellent neighbors in a multi-species aquarium.

pineapple

The progenitor of a swordsman with such a cheerful name is an ordinary green swordsman. This fish has a beautiful carrot-red shade of the whole body, the color is especially rich on the back, dorsal and caudal fins. The xiphoid process in males is decorated with black edging. The length of an adult individual does not exceed 8–10 cm. Due to the non-conflict nature, this species can be kept together with other medium-sized and peaceful fish. But it should be borne in mind that for one pair you will need at least 30 liters of water.

Mountain

Another beautiful subspecies of swordsmen with an equally beautiful name. The body of the fish is painted in a cream or orange-yellow hue, but in certain lighting it can play with different shades of pink and purple. The dorsal fin is very lush, fan-like. The whole body, together with the dorsal fin, is decorated with numerous black specks. The xiphoid process in males can be pink or whitish with two elegant black stripes along the bottom and top of the sword.

In conclusion, consider the red-speckled tiger subspecies. Thanks to the spectacular exterior, such a fish will be a worthy decoration of any aquarium. This subspecies appeared on the territory of the USSR in the middle of the last century. The main color of the body is terracotta-carrot, the ventral and dorsal fins are painted in a rich scarlet color. Throughout the body there are black spotted brindle spots with a special concentration of pigment (melanosis) in the tail.

Varieties according to the shape of the fins

Swordtails of different species continue to be crossed among themselves and with other breeds of fish, not only to obtain a new unique color. Another purpose of breeding work is to develop new forms of the caudal and dorsal fins. At the moment, the following main forms can be distinguished:

Flag. The main difference is a large, elongated dorsal fin, shaped like a flag. It is quite easy to get fish with this difference, since the gene responsible for the shape of the fin is dominant.
Lyrebird. It got its name due to the beautiful tail, the upper and lower arrows of which are elongated and resemble a musical instrument in shape. The dorsal and ventral fins are also decorated with similar arrows.
Forked. It is very similar to the previous species, but on the caudal fin there are not 2, but 3 or 4 arrows, which is why it resembles a cutlery.
Veil. Spectacular fish, in whose behavior importance, slowness, nobility can be traced, and all because of the long and magnificent fins, resembling a weightless veil.
Sailing. It is very similar to the flag fin in shape, but differs in even more impressive length.

Thus, among the swordtails, there are several dozen species suitable for keeping in a home aquarium. We have considered only the most spectacular and common variations. These fish do not lose popularity precisely because of the large number of their colors. And the simplicity of keeping, friendly character and interesting behavior make them the undisputed leaders among the aquarium inhabitants!

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