Can i have some help please

[Peter2]

I want to breed some swordtails but i don't know how to tell if it's a boy swordtail or a girl swordtail. Can someone please help me.

[Lotus]

Male swordtails have the sword on their tail, females don't. You should aim for two females to each male you have.

[Peter2]

thanks so much you've helped me alot. And is that the only way to tell if its a boy or girl.

[charls]

No there is another way. Under every male livebearer(swordtail) there is a small "fin" used for breeding. This "fin" is visable early on in life. Although it is difficult to reconize unless you have seen it before. Here is a site with a good picture. The "fin" is the one horizontal to the body underneath the body-tail. Kinda inbetween. Hope i helped!

Green Swordtail, Xiphophorus hellerii Picture

[Peter2]

Thanks so much you have helped me alot

[FishGeek]

Also with Swordtails if you have all females one will change into a male and grow a sword. But once they are male they cant go back.

[Peter2]

wow that is cool doe's that mean that males can change into a female?

[Peter2]

And if anyone has good tips to breed swordtails can you please tell me. Also how hard is it to breed swordtails?

[Lotus]

There's a FAQ on livebearer breeding here: Livebearers FAQ

Swordtails don't actually change sex, they just appear to. The dominant male in the tank prevents other males from growing their tail (I don't know if that's through hormonnes or behaviour). Some will show no sword, some will show a much shorter sword. The dominant male is the one with the longest sword. If the dominant male is removed, other males' swords will grow. The no-sword males are usually ones that have grown up in the tank. If you look at the fish, you will see a gonopodium on males with no swords.

[FishGeek]

Aaaa I knew it was something along those lines Lotus. Thanks for the correction.