Platies and swordtails can mate. They have similar temperaments and come from the same family. You have to make sure you’ve provided them with the needed support to facilitate their mating.
Looking for fish that are both great tank mates and partners? Platies and Swordtails are an excellent option.
This article will guide you on everything you need to know about the Platies and Swordtails. It discusses the mating process, from the criteria required for the process to information about pregnancy terms.
Do Platies and Swordtails Mate?
Swordtails and platies are closely connected; they’re both members of the Xiphophorus family. Their “biological closeness” makes them ready to interbreed, generating fertile hybrids.
A female swordtail may interbreed with a male member of the platy family of fishes; therefore, merging these two groups in one aquarium is one method for attaining diversity.
When purchasing a pure male swordtail from a fish shop, confirm with the proprietor that it’s actually purebred.
Almost all swordtails and platies found in the market today are crossbreeds. They’re a crossbreed of green swordtail, the moonfish or Mickey Mouse platy, and variegated platy.
Swordtails and platies are tough fish that have found their way into the hearts and tanks of enthusiasts due to their vibrant colors and energetic personality. In many respects, they’re incredibly similar.
The reason might be that they’re native to Central America’s mild waters.
Breeding compatibility exists across species in the same family.
In other words, platies and swordtails have lots of commonalities despite their distinct appearances. For instance, they’re both livebearers, freshwater fish, and members of the Xiphophorus.
Moreover, they have the same temperament; therefore, they may coexist in the same tank.
Both are also easy to care for and don’t have dietary preferences.
How To Breed Swordtail And Platies?
Human involvement should aid the mating process by bringing the two species together in a single breeding tank.
It may take some time, but having the appropriate circumstances may speed up the process.
In the wild, fish breed with their own type since there’s no reason not to, given the availability of suitable mates.
On the other hand, breeding will occur spontaneously in captivity if multiple males and females of the same species are housed in the same tank.
It’s believed that mating of different species always results in weak and sickly fry.
There are criteria to follow when breeding swordtails with platies:
Quality of the Water
You should make sure your tank’s temperature range from 74 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The pH levels range from 6 to 7.5.
Ammonia and nitrites should be kept to a minimum of 0 ppm, while nitrates should be kept to a maximum of 40 ppm.
Gender Ratio
The typical partnership is male platy and two to three female swordtails, expecting that the developing fry will primarily resemble the platy.
Breeding tanks are often small and restricted; therefore, you should place only one male.
The presence of additional males especially if they’re dominant will elicit violent behavior.
Choose adults with the significant characteristics you desire in your fry.
Diet
Food is essential for livebearers since adults require a lot of protein to produce healthy fry. You have to make sure to regularly feed them. Include a decent range of live food, frozen food, and fish flakes to help enhance their immune system and vigor.
Type of Breeding Tank
One of the many commonalities between both swordtails and platies is that they lack parental instincts. They’re unconcerned about their offspring.
They don’t identify their own fry as relatives, instead, they regard them as food. When the fry is born, the adults should be removed.
That’s why you need a breeding tank and a breeding cage.
The breeding tank is required for isolation and monitoring the mating process.
Most breeding tanks are relatively small. It might be a 5-gallon or 10-gallon tank with filtration and live plants. A substrate is not required.
The breeding cage, on the other hand, is used to increase the number of fry produced every brood.
For this reason, you can utilize a breeding cage purchased from any fish pet store. Make sure it isn’t too tiny, or your fish may become anxious.
Just stay away from anything that might injure, entangle, or cut your fish. Remember, the purpose of the breeding cage is to save your fry rather than to harm them.
How Long Does It Take Platies to Breed?
Platy fish may reproduce at four months.
This species is a livebearer, which means the mother gives birth to free-swimming offspring.
The gestational period lasts 28 days. If your female platy is coupled with a male in a communal tank, she can potentially give birth every four weeks.
How Do You Know When Platies Are Mating?
Female platy goes through internal fertilization. This might explain why men continually chase females to deposit their sperm within them.
Perhaps the chase happens because male platies have great sexual drive as well. The pursuit gets so intense that it usually escalates into hostility.
The female platies, on the other hand, present a calm and docile demeanor. The female may also playfully poke the male.
How Long Are Platies Pregnant For?
There are both physical and behavioral signs that your female platy is pregnant.
Physical Changes
Your female’s abdomen will enlarge as the young develop in her body. When nearing the end of her pregnancy, her abdomen may take on a “square” form, and her cloaca may become dilated.
Examine the female’s belly for the presence of a gravid spot, which is a black area near the anal fin. This patch, which will increase and darken as the fry mature, signals that they are developing.
Behavioral Changes
When the female becomes pregnant, she may follow her partner around the tank. This behavior may reverse when she approaches the time to bear her offspring, with the male pursuing her excessively.
Too much chasing may stress the female and cause the delivery to be delayed or prevented.
The female may also seek refuge in a safe area of the aquarium away from other fish. This might signify that she wants to feel comfortable and have a place to give birth to her children.
It’s essential that you remove the female from the community tank and place her in the breeding tank if you detect these behaviors.
To Wrap Up!
By and large, Platies and Swordtails are great tank mates. They can interbreed without harm to the fry. still, you have to provide them with the right conditions to facilitate the process of mating.
Additionally, you have to ensure you laid out the appropriate settings to protect their fry as both species don’t have parental instincts. You don’t want your fry to be their snack.