New Fish!

[guppymommy]

I went into my lfs looking for occupants for my new 10g tank. I was planning on getting more mollies, but I saw these and couldn't resist!

This is a male, right?

Is this a female or male?

This is a female, right?

According to the store, these are swordtails . . . but I'm not sure what kind. I'll have to do some research unless someone here can tell me. I've never had swordtails before (I have guppy, platy, and molly) but I look forward to these! They seem to have had their fins nipped or something, but they'll heal won't they?

This is the new tank. It now holds these three fish, a female platy, and the two molly females I have.

And that's a piece of green posterboard behind the tank, not algae.

 

[tank212]

Nice. Bottom two are females not positive about the top one. Think top is a male tho.

 

[guppymommy]

I did a bit of research and discovered that the top one is most likely a black high fin lyretail swordtail. Unfortunately, this means he can't reproduce naturally(as his gonopodium is elongated and won't function properly, according to my research). Bummer! Oh well, he's still nice to look at.

 

[Annastasia]

Lyretails do tend to have issues reproducing, but not ALL of them do. Some can still breed. Your guy doesn't look too bad, I've seen much longer.

Either way, very nice new fish!

 

[snowyangel]

Nice swords, I think they are very beautiful. I once owned this gorgeous metallic blue and black female, she grew to about 4inches. Here's a picture of her: http/smg.photobucket.com/albums/v158/sno...t=swordtail.jpg

 

[guppymommy]

4 inches? Wow! She was a beauty!

Question about the tails . . . do I need to treat them with something or just keep the water clean for them to heal?

 

[hot_hazza3]

Wow she is!!!

 

[Rafael Dilone]

4 inches? Wow! She was a beauty!

Question about the tails . . . do I need to treat them with something or just keep the water clean for them to heal?

Well you can use Vitamin Supplements. I use Vita-chem. That is how I keep my fish in top health and also feeding very good foods should make their fins grow fast and pretty

 

[sylvia]

The very last female's fins don't look too good though - she could have the beginnings of finrot. If the fins don't start growing back (particularly on that female), first lower your water temp. (very gradualy) so that it's at 76 deg F (assuming it's higher at the moment) and then treat with an anti-finrot & fungus med. as she could develop columnaris.

Lovely fish - all of them but I especialy like the first female. The big female sword snowyangel posted is huge!

 

[PaulEbs]

I went into my lfs looking for occupants for my new 10g tank. I was planning on getting more mollies, but I saw these and couldn't resist!

This is a male, right?

Is this a female or male?

This is a female, right?

According to the store, these are swordtails . . . but I'm not sure what kind. I'll have to do some research unless someone here can tell me. I've never had swordtails before (I have guppy, platy, and molly) but I look forward to these! They seem to have had their fins nipped or something, but they'll heal won't they?

This is the new tank. It now holds these three fish, a female platy, and the two molly females I have.

And that's a piece of green posterboard behind the tank, not algae.

Don't mean to be rude, but do you have a filter + heater in that tank? It just doesn't look like it...

Plus, that tank would look beautiful with some sand / pea shingle, some bits of rock or bogwood and some real plants tied down... Go for the natural look!!

 

[guppymommy]

It has a filter (that's what the black tubing in the back goes to. I just slipped the green poster board between the filter and the tank wall so it looked a bit nicer.

I don't have a heater in the tank, but as I live in AZ, I have more trouble keeping the temperature down! It hovers between 82 and 84 so I think they'll be alright.

Thanks for the suggestion, but I've never had a tank with sand or anything. I find these few rocks on the bottom make cleaning easiser as I can see where the waste is. I have some snails in there to help with any algae that might form and have added some elodia from one of my other tanks. That's the only live plant I have in any of my tanks.

 

[guppymommy]

Lyretails do tend to have issues reproducing, but not ALL of them do. Some can still breed. Your guy doesn't look too bad, I've seen much longer.

Either way, very nice new fish!

So he may be able to reproduce?

I haven't even seem him try at this point . . . does that mean he knows he can't or does he just not like the females I have?

 

[madmom]

He may just not be in the mood. I got a pair of swords on the 16'th and the male just swam around ignoring the females. Just this week he's like a different fish. He does a little hoochie koochie dance in front of ANY female fish Sword, platy, guppy, makes no difference and tries to mate with them all. Give him some time he may just be getting used to his new home. Maybe he will be able to mate. I wish you luck with him he is a beautiful fish.

 

[guppymommy]

Is it just my wishful thinking or has there been some improvement in their tails?

Before . . .

Now . . .

Before . . .

Now . . .

 

[snowyangel]

Very nice healing, yes their tails do look improved.

Yes my female got to 4inches and was quite the bully which is why she's in my 55gallon dwarf cichlid tank. Shame i had to sell her with the tank. She was beautiful.