Livebearer; harder to keep and breed than the common platy. It crosses with other Xiphophorus such as the platy, so keep it apart from relatives, and keep each population (tail-spot form) pure.
One male to three females.
Planted 60 L tank with hard, alkaline water and floating cover.
Cool water change and good diet.
About 20-50 young per brood after 24-30 days gestation.
Feed crushed flake and baby brine shrimp.
One breeding tank for the swordtail platy, drawn to scale from the breeding guide.
Water: 18–25 °C · pH 7.2–8.2 · hard water
A plan from the breeding guide and an adult size of 5 cm. Tank shape is a standard 2 : 1 : 1.2 box, at least 6 adult lengths long. Check each step in the guide above.
A 120 cm rack for breeding the swordtail platy in numbers.
In total: 3 tanks, about 300 L of water. A litre of water weighs about 1 kg, so check that the floor and rack can take the weight.
Sizes are worked out from the breeding tank in the guide. Tanks fit a standard 120 cm rack when they can; bigger tanks go on their own stands.
Adult males have a gonopodium, a short sword and, when fully developed, a bold tiger pattern; young males look very like females and even show a 'pregnancy spot', so sex only grown fish.
Typical for livebearers
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Fry are born ready to swim. Thick plants or a breeding box keep them safe from adults.
Feed crushed flake, baby brine shrimp or microworms 3–5 times a day.
Males start to show color and a pointed anal fin. Separate them if you want to control lines.
Most livebearers are grown and can breed at about 3 months.
A general guide for this breeding type. Days change with temperature and species.
A dark 'gravid spot' grows behind the belly. Gestation is usually about 4 weeks.
Set up a virtual breeding tank and see what would likely happen.
An educational estimate from the breeding rules, not a promise.