So I went out and got the 2x Xiphophorus pygmaeus that were left, but they are males
Is anyone a member of any rare livebearer groups on fb or other that they would recommend as I'd love to get a some of females
Also - I had previously read (unsure if myth) about Xiphophorus being able to switch between male & female. Is this true, and if so, would it be reversible. i.e. could a male become female, or could a female that became male return to female?
Pygmy golden swordtail
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40L nano
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
- black ghost
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They can only change sex once. Swordtails (at least some species, not sure if pygmaeus is one of them) basically come in four types... strong and weak males, and strong and weak females. “Strong” means they have the full range of genetic sexual markers. These are obvious males and females that won’t change. “Weak” means they only have some of the markers.
Weak males can look like females, and develop a sword and gonopodium later in life.
Weak females can start off as fully functional females and develop the male characteristics later on, but these males are rarely “fully functional”.
That’s my take on it anyway. There’s been a humungous amount of study done on sex in quite a few Xiphophorus spp, that I haven’t read.
Weak males can look like females, and develop a sword and gonopodium later in life.
Weak females can start off as fully functional females and develop the male characteristics later on, but these males are rarely “fully functional”.
That’s my take on it anyway. There’s been a humungous amount of study done on sex in quite a few Xiphophorus spp, that I haven’t read.
- Gingerlove05
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From birth they all start female. As black ghost has mentioned they only change once and that is their defined sex from there on, some may develop later than others but once set they dont change. At least none i’ve seen change after
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Well the shop is offering to order in a couple of girls for £7 each... What do you think?
40L nano
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
- black ghost
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Best ratio is one male to at least three females. Equal numbers of each will probably lead to bullied women.
- plankton
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I concur with BG's observation.black ghost wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 17:01 pm Best ratio is one male to at least three females. Equal numbers of each will probably lead to bullied women.
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Hmmm..may need them to take the one male back.. that could get a bit costly
40L nano
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
- black ghost
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You’ll have a few hundred soon enough anyway...jammedfool wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 17:19 pm Hmmm..may need them to take the one male back.. that could get a bit costly
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Are you advocating getting just 2 and waiting for the babies haha? Or justifying getting 6?black ghost wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 17:43 pmYou’ll have a few hundred soon enough anyway...jammedfool wrote: ↑Mon Dec 14, 2020 17:19 pm Hmmm..may need them to take the one male back.. that could get a bit costly
The shop is saying 2 boys 3 girls would be ok.. but I trust your comments more
...I suppose I could separate off 1 boy if it gets too much?
40L nano
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
4x xiphophorus pygmaeus
Cherry shrimp
2x assassin snail
80L 'stairway'
4x Cherry Barb
10x X-ray tetra
4x Amano
1x Dwarf Neon Rainbow
20L Qtank
just java moss
- black ghost
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Depends what you want. More females means more fry, but even a big female will only drop about 20 a month. One m and 2 f’s might work...
Edit... I’d probably get 3 and keep one male. Or 2m,6f. I don’t like the idea of isolating fish. so I would stick to that 1:3+ ratio to be safe (I tend to go 1:6ish with livebearers, so none of the f’s are harassed by the m).
Edit... I’d probably get 3 and keep one male. Or 2m,6f. I don’t like the idea of isolating fish. so I would stick to that 1:3+ ratio to be safe (I tend to go 1:6ish with livebearers, so none of the f’s are harassed by the m).