i have a male & female swordtail in my tank....she is at least double the size of the male. is this normal? they were bought at the same time & were the same age when i got them.
swordtails
- Thread starter maigen
- Start date
Livebearer females are usually a bit bigger than the males. Pretty normal. The males invest energy in developing flashy sex traits--swords, long tails in guppies, extra finnage in many fancy mollies--while the females invest energy in being bigger bodied, so they can have more babies, and increase the odds of staying healthy during pregnancy.
Male Guppies and Mollies tend to be so wrapped up in mating that they don't eat as much either. This does not see as true for swords, but my male is smaller than my female....
My male s tiny compared to my females. They were seperated for about a month though, and the smaller female has grown a sword and is, as far as I can tell, become a male herself. This new male has been trying to mate with my big female for awhile now.
Does anyone know if when a female reverts to a male if s/he is fertile?
Does anyone know if when a female reverts to a male if s/he is fertile?
tricksterpup
It's SPRING!!! BUNNIE RABBITS
Yes, This is very normal. Most live bearers the females are always double the size of the male. Except for sailfin mollies where I have seen some huge males. But every other live bearer the female is the large fish. So what OG has stated is a 100% correct.
jim
jim
bozco,
There are two stages of male development in swordtails, early and late, early males have not yet grown their sword. Therefore your female was just a young male. THis is according to "The Natural Aquarium Handbook" by Ines Schuermann
There are two stages of male development in swordtails, early and late, early males have not yet grown their sword. Therefore your female was just a young male. THis is according to "The Natural Aquarium Handbook" by Ines Schuermann