Swordtail fish is a very popular species of aquarium fish because of their unique appearance and temperament. The hardy nature of Swordtail makes it an excellent choice for any aquarist, beginner, or veteran. In addition, they are easy to take care of because they can adapt to a wide range of environments. But are swordtail fish easy to breed?
Yes, breeding swordtails is extremely easy. Swordtails are livebearers which means they give birth to live fry instead of eggs. When two swordtails of mixed sexes are kept together, they are likely to spawn without any trouble. You don’t have to intervene in their breeding process, and taking care of the mother and the fry is easier than you think.
However, there are certain things you need to keep in mind. It might be easy to breed your swordtail, but they still need proper care. To take care of a swordtail is easy. That is why they are most aquarists’ first choice. But, even the hardiest fish need extra care when they are breeding. The same goes for swordtails. You need to take care of basic things like water parameters, tank mates, tank space, diet, and when your swordtail is breeding.
How Difficult Are Swordtails To Breed?
Livebearers might be the easiest fish species to take care of when it comes to breeding. This is because swordtails are also livebearers, which means they give birth to fully-formed offspring rather than eggs. This is the major reason why breeding a swordtail is not difficult at all.
If you have a male swordtail and a female swordtail together in the same tank, they are likely to spawn without you having to do anything. They breed readily, without any mediation from the owners.
Similarly, they are small species, with males measuring about 6 inches and females an inch longer. For this reason, you do not need a large tank for the pair, which makes your job a lot easier.
Moreover, female swordtails can keep sperm cells inside their pouch and fertilize on their own. Since swordtails do not need external help to breed, it is easier for them as well as for you.
Breeding Process In Brief
Swordtails are quick and effective breeders. However, if you are not watching over their behavior, you could miss it. The process usually starts when the male swordtails start chasing the female around the tank.
The male will then approach the female and quickly touch her underside, near the anal fin, with his gonopodium. The sperms get transferred, and the mating is completed.
The female, when pregnant, develops a huge belly with a dark spot near her anal fin. The gestation period lasts up to 28 days. After that, small, fully developed fry are born. This is a basic concept of the breeding process of the swordtail fish.
Things You Need To Take Care Of During Breeding Process
Even though swordtails do not require external initiation for mating and breeding is also an easy task. There are a few things that you could do to make this easier for your fish. Like in all other cases, breeding for fish is also a delicate stage in their life. Taking care of certain things can do wonders to release the stress of breeding for your fish.
Few things you need to take care of during the breeding process to make it easier are:
Maintaining Water Parameter
Swordtails are freshwater fish that flourish in fast-flowing waters. However, in aquariums, medium-hard water(12-35 GH), which is slightly alkaline(7.2) with temperatures ranging from 75-79°F, is best suited for your fish.
To facilitate the breeding process, you can gradually raise your tank’s temperature up to 80°F and keep the tank water clean and fresh. This will set the right mood for your fish. Then, when ready, your fish will spawn.
Maintaining proper water parameters and keeping the ph and hardness in check to reduce the stress of females as well because this process can be very hectic to your female swordtail.
Male-Female Ratio
Swordtails are effective breeders. Male swordtails will try to mate time and again, and they have a habit of showing slight aggression during the process. Your male can be seen chasing your female around the tank, and some even try to nip the female’s fins. Such activities can tire your female swordtail.
For this reason, you have to check the male-female ratio. If you have only one female in a tank with your male, your female will be tired and stressed due to constant harassment. Therefore, for better success at breeding and to save you female from the possible abuse, you have to place more female in your tank than male.
The number of males and females in the ratio of 1:3 is highly recommended. This will reduce the chance of your female getting stressed because your male will have options.
Hiding Places
Like I’ve mentioned before, breeding can be very hectic for your female fish due to the aggressive behavior of the male. In addition, your male swordtail will tire your female trying to mate with them multiple times.
Therefore, to protect your female from nagging, you should place proper hiding spots in tanks so that they can hide from the males.
Similarly, hiding spots are extremely important for the protection of pregnant swordtails and their babies. Swordtails are otherwise very active swimmers. But, when pregnant, they become reluctant and inactive. In addition, the added weight and stress ask for a break from the day-to-day activities.
Pregnant females will be inactive and stay at one corner and limit their movement. They become fairly aggressive when someone bothers them, so they tend to distance themselves from other tank mates. For this reason, placing proper hiding spots is crucial.
Tank Requirements
For the breeding process to go effectively, your tank must be clean and contain freshwater. Swordtail flourish in freshwater and healthy aquariums will keep your fish healthy too. Thus, you should maintain a healthy aquarium for healthy breeding.
Likewise, other creatures of the tank should also be taken care of. Pregnant females are likely to act abnormally. So, it is better to choose their mates accordingly. The same goes for fry. They are small and can be mistaken as food. Hene, only selective fish, should be kept in the aquarium to protect both mother and her fry. Or, better yet, make a separate breeding tank for the pregnant swordtail.
Is It Easy To Take Care Of Pregnant Swordtails?
Pregnancy is a delicate time for every organism, which includes fish too. Fish are already delicate creatures. Pregnancy makes them more vulnerable. Hence, you have to take proper care of your pregnant swordtail. The good thing is, it is extremely easy to take care of a pregnant swordtail fish.
To take care of your pregnant swordtail, you just have to take care of certain things in your tank. If such requirements are met, your female will have no trouble breeding. This will also reduce the chances of abortion .i.e. birth of dead fry.
There is no hard and fast rule to take care of your swordtail. You just have to take care of their diet, breeding space, and other tank requirements. However, a pregnant swordtail care guide is given in below.
How To Take Care Of Pregnant Swordtails?
Your swordtail will be pregnant for roughly 28 days. During that time, you must take care of her primitive necessities.
Firstly, she needs a good diet to sustain herself and the fry growing inside of her. So provide her with an adequate diet that contains both proteins and fibers. However, be careful not to overfeed her. You should provide your pregnant swordtail tiny portion of meal 3-4 times a day. More food will get wasted, contaminating your aquarium.
Secondly, provide your swordtail with enough tank space. The labor will be harder than the pregnancy. In addition, overcrowded tanks can stress your female, which can lead to problems during the birthing.
It is even better if you prepare a separate breeding tank for your swordtail to avoid any complications. If you keep your pregnant fish in a separate tank at the time of breeding, she can go into labor without any stress, and the fry is also safer.
Likewise, maintaining the quality of water is another important aspect. Check the temperature, pH, and hardness as required. Keep fresh water with lots of aquatic plants for good hiding spots, which will ease your pregnant swordtail, and they can give birth happily.
Is It Easy To Take Care Of Fry?
A single female swordtail can give birth to 80-100 babies in a single birthing. Your female may give birth again in 4-6 weeks after the first birth because of their ability to keep hold of the sperm.
Taking care of the fry can be a risky job if you do not give proper attention. Swordtails and other livebearers are likely to eat their babies. Therefore, you have to be careful when it comes to taking care of the fry.
How To Take Care Of Fry?
Since there is a high chance that the mother will prey upon their fry as soon as the birthing takes place, you must take precautionary measures to save your fry.
Firstly, let your swordtails give birth in a separate breeding tank so that you can save them from other fish in the tank.
Secondly, since the female can try and eat her fry, keep the female separated from the fry immediately after the delivery.
If you cannot provide your fish with a separate breeding tank, make sure you have placed enough hiding space for your fry to escape from their parents and other tank mates.
Swordtail fry needs a proper diet to survive. They like brine shrimp and other live meat. Provide them with as much protein as you can. Proteins will help them grow. Choose your fish diet carefully and try not to overfeed them as they can get infected. You need to provide small chunks of food as they are small and cannot take large flakes. It is equally important to feed them vegetable supplements.
Provide with small pieces of food that they can consume 3-4 times a day for their proper development.
FAQs
What Age Can Swordtail Breed?
Swordtails reach the age of breeding after they are 3 months old. If you have a male and a female swordtail of age, they are likely to spawn voluntarily and produce babies.
Swordtails can breed multiple times. In addition, female swordtails can give birth to babies even in the absence of a male because of their ability to store sperm. So, don’t be surprised if your female swordtails appear to be pregnant even when you have separated them.
Thus, if you do not want your fish to breed, you should probably separate the male and the female.
Can Different Species Of Swordtails Breed?
There are about 17 known species of swordtails. And yes, it is possible to breed two different species of swordtail.
A prime example can be X. helleri, otherwise known as green swordtails. Inbreeding helleri with other species has resulted in hybrid swordtails like Assorted swordtails, Hi Fin Lyretail swordtails, etc., that vary in appearance.
Can Swordtails Breed With Different Species?
Swordtails can only crossbreed with fish with biological proximity, i.e., closely related to each other.
Although there are other livebearer fish like guppies and mollies belonging to the same family, Poeciliidae, they cannot be crossbred as they belong to a different genus; Poecilia.
Yellow Swordtails and Southern Mountain Swordtail are prime examples of hybrids speciation, with their ancestors being a platy species and a swordtail species.
Conclusion
Breeding your swordtail is not a pain in your neck if you take care of certain things/ swordtails are hardy fish that can adjust in a wide variety of environments. However, pregnancy and birthing can be delicate phases, and they need extra care.
Similarly, you must take additional precautions to your fish fry because they do not know what their world is like.
Swordtails grow into beautiful adults and are very easy to take care of. If you are interested in breeding fish, swordtails can be an amazing option.
