red velvet sword or not?

[ErikaS]

Hi,

We bought a very beautiful orange-red fish, at the store they had them identefied as red velvet swords. I have done some research on these fish, the only problem is that the pictures I have seen look nothing like the fish we bought. The swords I have seen have a long sword shaped Caudal fin extension. The ones we have do not. The fins on their tails are the same lenght on top and bottom, and the extend outward in a ( shape, with the middle being shorter. This is the best I can do in describing them. They are very beautifull fish, very graceful, and colorfull. I hope this is enough information so that you can help me figure out what fish I have.

Thank you.

 

[Captain Hook]

I have one of these fish as well that does not have a "sword" on its tail. I believe that means it is a female.

 

[dwayne]

Does it have a gonopodium (SP??), that's the best way to tell a male livebearer... if it has one, then you don't have a swordtail. If it doesn't have one, then it's a female swordtail...

The bottom red line points to a male livebearer's gonopodium, the top red line points to a female's fin that is always in the place of a gonopodium... Picture's a bit fuzzy, but you can get the general idea from it - the gonopodium is definately more like a 'stick' whereas the female's fin is definately just that - a fin.

~Tara

 

[Emaan]

extend outward in a ( shape, with the middle being shorter

This sounds to me like the lyre fin mollies. I have 2 of them and 1 sword tail (female) The lyre fin mollies have the ( with points on each end and a groove in the middle. I hope this helps. I'm sorry but I don't know how to add a pic like Tara did.

Emaan

Lyre fin mollies

 

[ErikaS]

Still a little confused.

I am posting a picture so you can see what I mean. I hope it is a good picture so you can help me recognize what fish I have.

Thanks again.

 

[ErikaS]

here is the picture

I am trying to post the picture again.

 

[ErikaS]

Finally, the picture is here.

So I finally did my homework and the picture is in. so here it is.

I appreciate any help.

Thank you.

 

[Captain Hook]

Awesome looking fish! It has a double tail but not sure if it's male or female.

 

[Emaan]

This is a better pic of a lyre tail fin molly (I borrowed it from ****************) , I think that is what you have. The pics that I have seen of the red velvet sword look nothing like your fish. Your fish appears to be male, from the looks of the gonopodium and not an anal fin.

http://www.****************/images_01/dalmatian_lyretail_molly_w270.jpg


Emaan

(It looks like I figured outhow to make the pic come up in the post instead of a link )

 

[English Lion]

All juvenile sword tails look like females. The males only develop the tail as they grow older. I have sword tails breeding like rabbits in my tank.

Also females have been known to become males due to certain bacterial infections!