Swordtail Fish Breeding Methods and Precautions Explained
Swordtail fish are ovoviviparous fish. Swordtail fish have very strong reproductive capacity. At 6-8 months of age, they enter sexual maturity. The male fish begins to chase the female fish, mating with her using the gonopodium to complete internal fertilization. The fertilized eggs hatch into fry inside the female fish's body and are then expelled.
Swordtail fish are easy to breed and require no special management. When breeding, select broodstock over 5 cm, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1 or 2:1. Lay more soft-leaved aquatic plants on the bottom of the tank and feed plenty of live bait. After the female fish becomes pregnant, her abdomen begins to swell and dark gravid spots appear. At this point, the male fish should be removed. The first litter typically produces 20-30 fry, and later litters can reach over 200 fry. Within 3 months after birth, the fry must not experience too much variation in water temperature; it is best to keep it at around 24°C.
When the water temperature is 20-28°C, swordtail fish give birth once every 5-8 weeks. The suitable water hardness for breeding is 6-9 degrees. pH 7-7.2.