Strange platy/swordtail behavior

D

dcdayton

AC Members
Aug 23, 2008
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Hey everyone,

I've finally set my 20L tank up again and I'm kind of rusty on a few things.

I have one female swordtail, one male platy, 4 neon tetra, and 1 (small) bumblebee catfish.

The tank has only been up for a few days but I have been doing NUMEROUS water changes to keep the nitrites low.

The other fish seem fine but the platy and swordtail occasionally pick a corner of the tank and swim from the top to the bottom and back up over and over again.

I seem to remember this being a bad thing but I cannot remember why.

Thanks for the help!
 
The Platy is probably trying to mate with the ST.
 
I do belive that these 2 can cross breed so it is a possibility. I just cant reember where i read it lol
 
Keep up on the water changes. Are you using a liquid test kit?

Sounds somewhat like normal play to me, unless the ammonia and nitrites are way high. If it has only been set up a short time, I don't see how they can be unless you are extremely overfeeding.
 
definitely not overfeeding. I've been feeding a bit sparingly since the tank is new. Haven't seen this going on constantly, just for a few minutes at a time on occasion so I'll just assume its normal play :)
 
It sounds very normal to me. Both platies and swordtails are members of the xiphophorus group of fish and they can definitely cross breed. Most of the fancy colored swords that exist resulted from just such a cross.
 
jm1212 said:
platy X swordtail = viratus.
Click to expand...

I keep seeing this. It isn't correct. X. variatus, the Variatus platy, is a valid species in its own right and is not a cross between the swordtail and platy, although its body shape is indeed somewhere between the two, which is possibly where the idea comes from.

A cross between a platy and swordtail is scientifically referred to as Xiphophorus maculatus x helleri. They may appear similar to swordtails, or to platys, or anywhere in between. Indeed, most aquarium swordtails and platys are in fact hybrids, which is why most swordtails are so small (platy genes) and male platys so aggressive (swordtail genes).

Unless the platy genes are very dilute, the males will generally have a sword of sorts - unlike the Variatus platy, which doesn't.
 
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