Swordtail fish are called beginner fish because they are easy to maintain and precisely easy to breed. However, suppose you are looking for breeding a fish, then swordtail fish might be the best option. This is because swordtails are live-bearing fish and give birth to live fry, so you don’t have to look after the eggs too. So, when can you start breeding swordtail fish?
When a baby swordtail fish grows on to become an adult after two to three months of age, they gain sexual maturity. It would help if you considered a lot of things before your swordtails start breeding. There might be unforeseen complications if you produce your swordtails before they reach the proper size and age.
Although it is pretty easy to breed swordtail fish, how long it takes before your swordtails can start and the time it takes between one breeding cycle, and the other depends entirely on your pet’s reproductive cycle.
This article will learn the dos and don’ts of swordtail fish breeding, along with additional information on the time and other necessities of breeding. So, KEEP READING!
Swordtail Fish: Breeding Process
Like most fish, swordtails reproduce through sexual reproduction. Nonetheless, because they are livebearers, their reproduction process is slightly different.
A swordtail fish is ovoviviparous, which means it does not spawn or deposit eggs like most fish. However, Fry (baby swordtails) are born more developed than most fish since they are hatched while still inside their mother.
The male pursues and harasses the female during mating, who hides amid the aquarium’s plants and items. The male places his gonopodium near the female’s anal fin, releasing his sperm when she allows him to approach or is preoccupied. This action is quick and does not require any manual intervention. As a result, if you do not pay close attention, you may miss it.
After that, the sperm is kept in a female swordtail. Her gestation cycle could take up to 28 days from when she is fertilized to when she gives birth to her FFry. However, it might take up to thirty-two days if the labor is extended.
When Can You Start Breeding Swordtail Fish?
Swordtail fish do not need external initiation to mate and breed. Therefore, if you have a male and a female swordtail fish of maturity, they will readily mate and give birth to live FFry in no time.
Depending on the species, size, and age, swordtail fish reach sexual maturity anywhere from three months to a year. Swordtail fish that achieve sexual maturity in a year is a long-term investment in the aquarium hobby where the fish are used for breeding. As a result, you may begin breeding Molly fish once they reach maturity.
If you want to start producing swordtail fish as soon as possible, you’ll need to be dedicated to your tank maintenance routine from now on. Female swordtails, on the other hand, can spawn every two months after they achieve sexual maturity. As a result, if you plan ahead of time, it will be easier.
What Do Swordtail Fish Need To Breed Effectively?
Swordtails are usually laid-back fish that don’t require much care when it comes to breeding. However, there are a few elements that are necessary for practical breeding:
Separate Breeding Tank
If kept in a separate tank, swordtail fish can reproduce swiftly. However, because these fish only need to be together during mating, You must separate them during pregnancy and after the Fry is born. They prefer to breed in the tank where they were born. So, if you want to spawn more swordtail fish, you should use a variety of breeding tanks.
Plenty Tank Space
In a tank that is too small, swordtail fish will not breed. These fish require at least 30 gallons of water to live happily, although they can live in aquariums as large as 100 gallons.
Filtration
Swordtail fish require a powerful filter to keep the water quality high and the tank clean. Because these fish will not breed if they are agitated, keeping them in dirty water is a simple way to avoid breeding.
The more powerful your filtration system is, the more likely swordtail fish will reproduce successfully. Unfortunately, swordtail fish are also vulnerable to ammonia, nitrites, and high nitrate levels. As a result, you will require a good filter for a swordtail fish aquarium.
Appropriate Water Parameters
You can elevate the temperature of the water slightly higher, up to 81 degrees, to start the mating process. Similarly, the tank’s water must be fresh and free of contaminants. Toxins such as nitrites and ammonia can harm the fish’s health. This may have an impact on the breeding process.
Maintaining suitable parameters is akin to creating the ideal attitude and environment to begin the process of swordtail fish breeding.
Plenty Plants
Plants are necessary for the breeding habitat of swordtail fish because they like to create nests out of plant materials. As a result, you can use gravel that holds the plants together. Anacharis, Water sprite, and Cabomba are the most excellent swordtail fish plants for breeding.
A Sufficient Food Supply
When it comes to reproducing, swordtail fish require a steady supply of food. They are generally omnivorous, and during the breeding season, they consume a lot of food. Bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and tubifex worms are all favorites of swordtails.
Other Swordtails
If you want your swordtail to reproduce, make sure you stock your tank with plenty of other swordtails. Male swordtails require much different fish to produce, so that you will need at least six more female swordtails.
How To Breed Swordtail Fish?
Here are some to-the-point steps on how you can get your swordtail fish to breed.
Step 1: Select A Pair
It would help if you chose a fish with a variety of color patterns and fin sizes. For example, if both males and females are the same color and pattern, the offspring will also be the same color and pattern. On the other hand, your swordtail will have a novel and appealing pattern if you choose variant parents.
Step 2: Select The Breeding Tank
A single swordtail needs a 15-gallon of free tank space. Therefore, take a 15-20 gallon tank with a heater and a moderate filter into consideration. Because swordtail fry is small and quickly sucked up, use a mild filter.
Choose a tank where your male and female may readily mate and have lots of room to swim.
Step 3: Tank Set-Up
After you’ve chosen your tank, you’ll need to set it up with the correct substrate and decorations.
Swordtail fish can become cannibalistic and feed on their young. Add thick, heavy living plants like java moss, guppy grass, and others to protect your FFry from their parents.
Step 4: Remove Parents After Birth Of The Fry
Once you set up the tank, place your selected pair in it. They will readily mate, and the female will give birth 28 days after fertilization.
Swordtail babies are born with everything they need to survive and do not require parental care. They are born with the ability to swim and can care for themselves without the assistance of their parents. As a result, following the delivery, you can remove the female.
Then, take care of the FFry until they are juveniles to shift them to the main tank. If you are a serious breeder, repeat the process once the FFry gets sexually mature.
FAQs
How Fast Do Swordtails Multiply?
After parturition, a swordtail female can conceive. As a result, swordtail fish can become pregnant shortly after delivering her FFry. After being pregnant, a swordtail takes about 28 days to give birth to her Fry. Therefore, swordtail fish can give birth every 28-30 days, according to this figure.
Can Swordtails Breed With Guppies?
Swordtails and guppies are lovely fish; however, swordtails and guppies cannot breed due to their different genera. Guppy fish belong to the genus Poecilia, while swordtail fish belong to the genus Xiphophorus.
Do Swordtails Pair For Life?
Although it would be ideal, I regret to inform you that swordtail fish do not form lifelong bonds. Swordtails have large mating drives and are prolific breeders. As a result, they can breed with a variety of partners.
Conclusion
Finally, swordtail fish can reproduce at any age if they are healthy and active. Unfortunately, with age, swordtail fish become less prolific. However, if you meet their breeding requirements, you can still successfully breed them. As a result, they make excellent pets for people of all ages.
Hopefully, this article helped guide you through swordtail fish breeding and when to start breeding them.