The swordtail is a tropical fish of the genus Lycaenidae in the family Medaka. It is found in river basins in Mexico, Guatemala and other places. Mild and lively, it can be polycultured with small fish. The lower lobes of the tail fin of the male have a longsword-like extension. It is closely related to the crescent fish (Platy) and is widely used in genetic and medical research. The swordtail was originally green with a red stripe on each side of the body, but many varieties of flowers have been bred.
Swordtail fish is also known as swordfish and green sword. Swordtail fish in the water temperature of 20-25 °C, weak acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline water can grow and reproduce normally, the most suitable growth water temperature is 22-24 °C, omnivorous, mild personality, easy to polyculture with other tropical fish. Swordtail fish is sexually mature at 6 to 8 months of age, breeding once every 4 to 5 weeks, producing 20 to 30 fry each time, and the water quality suitable for breeding is pH 7-7.2 and hardness 6 to 9 degrees. The physiological development of the swordtail fish has a sexual reversal phenomenon, and the fish that complete the sexual transformation have male habits and functions, and the reproductive method is similar to that of peacock fish.
Swordtail fish and moonlight fish hybrid, after artificial continuous selection and breeding, you can get different varieties of red sword, yellow sword, Mandarin duck sword and other different colors, the tail fin has a single sword, there are also double swords (the upper and lower ends of the tail fin are extended). Hybridized breeds, such as red swords, grow fast, have strong physiques, are easy to raise, and have more ornamental value.
The body is spindle-shaped. Strong and easy to feed, whether it is weak acidic water or weak alkaline water can adapt. Strong cold resistance. Grow well in the water temperature of 20 degrees, suitable for feeding water temperature of 24 to 26 degrees, it is like jumping after being frightened, the bouncing force is very strong, for safety reasons, it is best to add a cover plate at the top of the aquarium. Swordtail fish has a strong adaptability, in the water temperature of 20-25 ° C, weak acidic, neutral or slightly alkaline water, can grow and reproduce, the most suitable for growing water temperature of 24 ° C, can also withstand low temperature of 16-18 ° C. Omnivorous, all kinds of bait are eaten. Although they have "swords", they are not belligerent, on the contrary, they are gentle and kind, and never bully the weak or different kinds. Easy to polyculture with other tropical fish!
Swordfish are sexually mature at 6 to 8 months of age, and the male and female fish are easily recognizable, the female is slightly hypertrophied than the male except for the swordtail; the male fish has more pointed fins, and the anterior part of the fin evolves into a sperm ojade. Mature broodstock breed every 4 to 5 weeks during the moderate temperature period, 20 to 30 litters each time, nearly 100 fish, suitable for breeding water hardness of 6 to 9 degrees, pH 7 to 7.2.
The swordtail is small in size, with a pointed head, a pointed snout, a large mouth, and a slightly protruding jaw. The dorsal fin starts above the base of the fin, the fin starts below the start of the dorsal fin, the end of the pectoral fin reaches the base of the ventral fin, the end of the ventral fin exceeds the base of the fin, and the caudal fin is larger. The male and female fish have a large difference in body shape, the female fish have a large abdomen, especially when pregnant with eggs, while the male fish has a slender and lateral flattened body shape, and the bottom 5 to 6 fins of the tail fin are combined and extended backwards, taking the form of a sword. Dorsal fin 12 to 15, fin 8, pectoral fin 5 to 6, ventral fin 6 to 7. Due to long-term artificial selection and cross breeding, the body shape and body color of the swordtail fish are greatly varied, constituting the diversity of species. There are many variations of body color, such as dark red, light red, orange, white belly, all white, green and black markings. There are types of eyeballs such as red and dark eyes.
Adults can reach up to 10 cm in length, olive color throughout, the edges of the scales are brown, and there is a dark red stripe in the middle of the sides, from the back of the gills to the tail, with light blue trims above and below the stripes. The lower end of the tail fin of the male is elongated like a sword, its length exceeds the length of the body, the tail of the sword is green or orange, the edge is black, and there are red spots on the dorsal fin. Females are inferior in color to males and have no sword tail.