A wild swordtail species that deserves more attention to the eye of the public is the socalled pygmy swordtail or dwarf swordtail (Xiphophorus pygmaeus). This is one of the smaller swordtail species. Besides this species, there are also xiphophorus continens and Xiphophorus multilineatus that belong to the smaller swordtails.
The pygmy swordtail has 3 different kinds of male phenotypes. One is the gold version, the other one is the blue vesrion (it's not blue but brown nuances but they're called blue) with a translucent tail and the third phenotype is blue with a golden (or yellow) tail. It's remarkable that most males don't really show a sword but a lower number do. And those who do have a sword can not be compared with a regular swordtail's sword when it comes to length. A minor number of bottom finrays are slightly elongated. Females know only one phenotype and that will be blue.
Also this species won't chase nor eat their fry. But the number of fry each batch is also much lower than with an average swordtail female.
Above: Female pygmy swordtail
Below: Male pygmy swordtail (golden)
Below: A couple of pygmy swordtails
Above: A bunch of them
Below: A blue male
Overhere a video of pygmy swordtails combined with yellow top sword endlers and chocolate mollies (brown colored mollies)
The pygmy swordtail has 3 different kinds of male phenotypes. One is the gold version, the other one is the blue vesrion (it's not blue but brown nuances but they're called blue) with a translucent tail and the third phenotype is blue with a golden (or yellow) tail. It's remarkable that most males don't really show a sword but a lower number do. And those who do have a sword can not be compared with a regular swordtail's sword when it comes to length. A minor number of bottom finrays are slightly elongated. Females know only one phenotype and that will be blue.
Also this species won't chase nor eat their fry. But the number of fry each batch is also much lower than with an average swordtail female.
Above: Female pygmy swordtail
Below: Male pygmy swordtail (golden)
Below: A couple of pygmy swordtails
Above: A bunch of them
Below: A blue male
Overhere a video of pygmy swordtails combined with yellow top sword endlers and chocolate mollies (brown colored mollies)
