How To Tell The Difference Between Female Platies & Swordtails?

[jailawes]

Hello,

Can any1 tell me how to tell the difference between female platies and female swordtails?

Thanks

 

[Annastasia]

Female Platies tend to have a 'fatter' looking stomach, while Swordies tend to be a bit more slender and longer.

For example:
Platy:

Swordtail:

(Images from Google)

The difference is pretty subtle, but if you keep looking at pictures and them in real life, you'll soon be able to tell. Though it can be a little iffy if you get into Variatus Platies and Swordtails, because they look very similar.

 

[jailawes]

Thanks, another question. Is it possible to breed a male platy and a female swordtail and vice-versa? because they come from the same family don't they?

 

[Annastasia]

Yes, Swordtails and Platies can interbreed, as they both come from the genus Xiphophorus. A lot of them have already been hyrbidised though, to get certain colors/finnage. But yes, they will interbreed, quite readily too.

 

[jailawes]

Thanks again!

So when mixing platies and swordtails, would i still have to be careful of how many males i put in? for example i was thinking of about 1 male swordtail to 3 females, and the same for the platies. would the 2 males fight or should it be ok?

 

[Annastasia]

So you are trying to interbreed them? Be aware, it's not the best thing. Sometimes you'll get strange looking fish, and often you will get males with stumpy, or very short swords. I wouldn't recommend you do it, personally, but that's just me. And yes, the ratio still does apply. The males might be okay. What size tank do you have? And if you DO do it, plant the tank up, and give them lots of hiding places.

 

[jailawes]

I have 3 tanks, and the 2 larger ones (28G & 18G) were the ones i was thinking about putting them in. I wasn't planning to interbreed them. But i was curious if they did, i'm going to have platies and swordtails in different tanks.

Thanks for all your help!

 

[Annastasia]

Oh, sorry, I misunderstood!

I'd put the Swordies in the larger one, since they grow bigger.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Be careful about putting male swordies in with female platies. Swordtail fry are bigger than platy fry and when it comes to birthing time the platy may encounter difficulties.

 

[NoRp]

let me just ask this may have been asked a million times before but
platys and swordtails cna breed
guppies and mollies can breed
but platys and guppies cant
swords and mollies cant
if thats correct where do the Halfbeak's lie or cant that i wouldnt think they could with them being so far apart but then again i thought platys and mollies could.
is there any other commonish types of live bearers not just another varity from one of the above.?

 

[Annastasia]

Halfbeaks come from the family Hemirhamphidae, while the others all come from the family Poecilidae. Since they aren't even in the same family, let alone the same genus, it's not possible for them to breed with any of the common Livebearers you mentioned.

It depends what you consider 'commonish'. Endlers are fairly common, in most places, and can breed with Guppies. They can also breed with Mollies, but this is very rarely, if ever, seen. Some kinds of Goodeidaes are becoming more common too, especially Ameca splendens and Xenotoca eiseni. Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis and Heterandria formosa are both sold under that name) are becoming slightly more common too. None of these come close to being as common as your Swordies, Mollies, Platies, and Guppies though, except possibly Endlers.

 

[eskcarr]

Female Platies tend to have a 'fatter' looking stomach, while Swordies tend to be a bit more slender and longer.

For example:
Platy:

Swordtail:

(Images from Google)

The difference is pretty subtle, but if you keep looking at pictures and them in real life, you'll soon be able to tell. Though it can be a little iffy if you get into Variatus Platies and Swordtails, because they look very similar.

WOW those are both beatiful fish!!!. but how can you tell witch is witch!!!!

 

[Taiidan]

let me just ask this may have been asked a million times before but
platys and swordtails cna breed
guppies and mollies can breed
but platys and guppies cant
swords and mollies cant
if thats correct where do the Halfbeak's lie or cant that i wouldnt think they could with them being so far apart but then again i thought platys and mollies could.
is there any other commonish types of live bearers not just another varity from one of the above.?

guppies and mollies that will be intresting to see the fry when they r oldenoth

 

[OldMan47]

Guppies and mollies have been bred and do produce viable fry. I am not a fan of them but it can be done.
There are very few livebearers that you will find in the LFS because the less common livebearers do not have the selling appeal of the guppies, platies, mollies and swords. There are lots of other very nice wild type livebearers, including the group called goodeids and lots of platy, molly, limias and swordtail wild types that are almost never seen in the local shops. I would say they are never seen except that there is an exception to every rule. In the case of my local fish shops, there may be a few goodeids, or Heterandria formosa or even wild type swordtails in the shops in the next few months because it is time for me to share some of my fish with the non-specialist fish keepers.
If you join your local club and attend the club auctions and similar functions, you will soon find that less common fish are available locally. Those fish are often in excellent condition and can be easily made comfortable in your tank because they came from water that is quite similar to your own. If you take the time to consider the fish's needs and try to adapt your tank to their needs, you may well find yourself with a surplus of "rare" fish that you would like to share with other fish keepers who have similar interests. In my case, I have fish that are "extinct in the wild" and "endangered or threatened" species. These are delightful fish that are easy to keep and breed but have the distinct disadvantage of coming from an environment that is being destroyed by human actions. I find a certain satisfaction in helping these very nice fish species survive by giving them my artificial environment where they can thrive. I am not a beginner fish keeper so I have some confidence when I take in one of these needy species and give them a home to breed and expand in.