Swordfish are one of the most popular aquarium fish species. These fish received such an unusual name because of the elongated lower rays on the caudal fin, resembling a sword. Distinguishing the sex of swordsmen is problematic, but possible.
Instructions
Step 1
Look at the tail fin. Males, as a rule, have a “sword” on their tail, i.e. the lower ray is significantly elongated, in females the rays are shorter.
Step 2
Note the shape of the fin at the end of the abdomen; this is the so-called anal fin. In males, it is elongated into a tube of an unusual shape - gonopodia. With the help of this tube, the male fertilizes the eggs in the female's abdomen. In females, the anal fin has a rounded shape.
Step 3
The result of crossing with various forms of platies was swordsmen of the most varied colors - green, gold, black, red. Do not try to tell the sex of these fish by color. The fact is that both females and males of swordsmen are colored the same.
Step 4
Take a close look at the fish. The female, ready to bring fry, has a noticeable dark spot at the end of the abdomen, and the abdomen itself becomes large and round. By the way, swordtails belong to viviparous fish, and their females can throw fry even when kept separately, without males. It is enough for the male to inseminate the female only once, and she will bring fry two or three times a year. So be prepared for constant breeding.
Step 5
If you are serious about breeding swordfish, you should know that sex formation in these fish occurs in two stages. At the age of about four months, the first medium-sized males form among the fish. After some time, some of the females can also turn into males, which is surprising, among them there may be females who have already spawned. These males tend to be much larger.
Step 6
To avoid the weird phenomenon of sex redefinition, keep your fish properly. Since sexual redefinition, although it is considered characteristic of viviparous, in most cases occurs precisely because of the unfavorable conditions of the aquarium.
