Sword fry sexing

[franky]

My female gave birth to around 30 fry about 3 weeks ago, their getting bigger and eating well but how long will it be before I can tell what sex they are and how long before they get their full coloring?

Plus if you have any other hints and tips for raising swords that would be great as these are my first!!!

 

[guppymonkey]

Swordtails can take some time to develop their tails. I have bought what I thought were female swordtails at the pet store but turned out to be late developing males. Sometimes they can be completely full grown and still look like females but then slowly develop the swordtail. I haven't raised swordtails but I have raised other livebearers and it usually takes a month or two for the sexes to become apparent. Probably should be the same with swordtails.

 

[HeatherSweetness]

Actually,swords take a bit longer to grow the tails. From my experience it takes anywhere from 3-4 months to be sure if they are m/f. And even then some of the biggest females switch to males. I had that happen a few weeks ago,I had a pair in my ten gallon,which I was sure was a male/female pair...Overnight the huge female turned into a HUGE male. The little male in there with 'it' still doesn't get that it's a boy now. They swim together and eat together,he tries to mate. lol So touching and yet disturbing.