Female Swordtail?

[SwordtailLover]

Hello all!

I recently purchased two tuxedo swordtails at my LFS, and the man said he had given me a male and female (based off of the tails). So, looking at the female, she is in fact without a tail, but she seems to chase him around more than he does chase her. She nibbles at his sword, and also goes for his mouth sometimes, which I'm hoping is just a fishy like kiss. (lol)

But in all of the reading that I have done, I thought that the male usually chases the female; making me wonder if she in fact may be a she who just hasn't had her tail grown in just yet.

I had read somewhere that it can take up to a year for the tails to grow, differentiating the males from females that way. I could be wrong, and any info on the subject would be quite helpful! Thank you!

Here is actually a picture of the female and male swordtails that I have.

 

[TheSims3Dude]

Hi! I also have 3 swordtails, 2 females and 1 male, I noticed that the male is alot smaller then my females, my females are quite bigger than him in size. He also didn't grow his "tail" until about a 9-10 months after he was born, so yes, it did take quite some time. I'm not very good with fish help, lol but that's what I noticed with my swordtails Anyways, good luck!

 

[SwordtailLover]

Thank you! The "female in question" is actually smaller than the male. He's about Three inches long including his tail, and she is about two inches long. I really hope I didn't get two males : (

 

[Jdubz]

I thought i got a male and female but the tail on the 'female' haddent grown so i have 2 males that are always bickering and chasing eachother around the tank.

Jake

 

[SwordtailLover]

That's what I'm hoping to avoid. They don't seem to get along well. I told my girlfriend that she was that mean female fish and she got a little mad, but it's a good metaphor. Always chasing me around and biting my tail, and I pray that she's not a he.

 

[TheSims3Dude]

It looks like it is a female, I forgot since it's been a while, but the gonopodium on the males (which only males have) grow faster, even before they have the tail on them, your "female" does not have one of those, she has a normal anal fin, I could be wrong but I'm not sure, just my guesses anyways So I think that it could be a female still
Cheers!

 

[Truck]

i think that one you think is male is an under developed female, as the gonopodium looks elongated

 

[OldMan47]

I am sorry to say this but it may be that you have two males SwordtailLover. I have a group of wild type Xiphophorus helleri that had a late developing male and he looked almost exactly like your "female" about 2 weeks before his gender became obvious.

 

[SwordtailLover]

I really hope that is not the case. I'll take him back to the store if it is, and return with two new female contestants. lol. The pictures that I had seen of female tuxedos, the tail was a different color. As in the black did not continue to the tail, and it was, in fact, an orange tail instead. I'm not sure if you can identify the gender by color make up or not, but hopefully someone can second this before I return him/her to the store? I'll give it a week or so, but I just feel so dang awful for the male that is in the tank with her/him. She/he is constantly chasing him and bothering him. Having only a 10 gallon, I know this is definitely not enough space for two males.

Thanks so much for the replies, you've all been so helpful and nice here : )