The Fish Guide

Guide of Tropical Aquarium Fish

Livebearer Hybrids

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A hybrid is the result of two various species mating.

In the fish world this mainly occurs among the live-bearing species. The reason for this appears to be that they lack the reserve of their fellow egg-layers. Observation of the guppy, for instance, will soon convince the onlooker that it is strongly endowed with the sex instinct. If a male is unlucky sufficient to find himself in a tank with out females of his own species, it is fairly likely that he will endeavour to mate with an additional, even an egg-layer. It is not feasible for any species of fish to cross indiscriminately, as they’ve to be closely related for fertilisation to take effect. The much more distant the relationship is, the much more unlikely the fertilisation. Nevertheless, if a cross should happen between distantly related fish, the resulting fry are nearly certainly to be defective and will, in all probability, die rapidly. This is Nature’s way of ensuring that only the very best survive to carry on the species.

The very best recognized hybrids are most likely crosses between Platypoecilus maculatus and Xiphophorus hellerii (platy and swordtail), which result in such interesting fish as the black spangled – a stunning fish) usually black but reflecting a blue-green sheen; and also the calico – a fish most likely produced by crossing a black spangled with a hybrid red swordtail.

Aquarists wishing to indulge in this kind of breeding should be careful to make certain that only virgin females are utilized. As previously mentioned, one fertilisation can result in much more than one brood of fry, so unless virgin females are utilized the outcomes should be uncertain.

Fish intended for hybridization should be segregated very early, even prior to they show sex indications, and kept in separate jars. When the sexes are recognized, the females can then be put into an aquarium to be selected for breeding as needed.

Swordtail (Xiphophorus Hellerii)

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The swordtail is a great showy aquarium fish which is always lively and offers a continuous source of interest for its owners.

Originally the colouring was of a greenish hue, with a metallic green tail spike along with a distinct red line along the centre of the body, but by careful breeding and hybridising numerous colour variations are now accessible.

The red selection, obtained by hybridising with a red platy, has a deep orange body and long tail spike varying from orange to yellow, bordered with a thin black line.

Coloration in the green selection is especially pleasing, the green hue getting lighter as it approaches the underside of the body and also the red lateral marking being further enhanced by the addition of a yellowish band above it.

Albino swords are generally of a lightish colour and also the sword-like tail fin is also of a lighter hue than with other varieties, and like all true albinos the eyes are pink.

Sexing is simple for in addition to the gonopodium only the males have a long extension to their tails. This species has a tendency to bully, so for the sake of peace it is greatest to have only one sizeable male in the aquarium. They’re great jumpers, so don’t leave the aquarium uncovered otherwise they’re likely to be discovered on the floor next morning.

They’re fond of algae, and it is advisable to have some accessible even if it means scraping it off the glass of an additional tank.

Care should be taken not to chill the Ash as this frequently has a lasting effect with this species. Breeding temperature is 80° F. The number of young per female is in the region of 100 to 150, providing the female is big.

Swordtails prefer slightly alkaline water.

Platypaecilus Maculatus

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This is a specie that combines all that’s desirable in a great aquarium fish it is peaceful, effortlessly bred, and could be obtained in such a wide selection of colour that it is almost unbelievable. In addition to these qualifications, the platy has supplied a most interesting selection of hybrids.

This fish is also referred to as “moonfish” simply because of the dark crescent-shaped marking on the base of the tail of early importations.

The males grow to about 1.5 inch and females 2 inch. Use natural vegetation during breeding instead of the breeding trap, as the platys a lot prefer it. They can, nevertheless, be bred in the trap, but the use of a trap doesn’t give the very best outcomes. Platys breed indiscriminately-they have no preference for colour, a red selection is fairly likely to mate with a wagtail, with the result that the fry are nondescript.

Care should be taken to maintain pure strains separate, or a minimum of the sexes in various tanks to ensure that undesirable crosses can’t take place. Any crosses or hybridising should be under the strict control of their owner. When mating select only the very best specimens.

They’re rather fond of algae, so you should let them have a supply of it.

Most likely the most outstanding selection of platy is the wagtail. This is one of the newest kinds to reach the aquarist. It was developed by Dr. Myron Gordon by crossing a wild comet platy with the domesticated golden platy. At initial all of the fins had been black and also the body was coloured a dull golden-grey in the original breeding, but now in addition to the black fins a much better body colouring, red and gold, is fairly typical.

The young don’t develop the complete black fin coloration until approximately six weeks after they’re born, but it is discernible in streaks as soon as they’re born.

The red platy is a really stunning colour of dark orange with a tinge of brown adding richness. In young fish the colour isn’t so deep, but it improves, like great wine, with age.

Regrettably, this species isn’t too hardy, and whilst they thrive in one aquarium they might degenerate if they’re moved into an additional. There appears to be no explanation for this.The golden platy is actually a deep yellow in colour with a translucent high quality that makes the fish seem frail. They’ve red dorsals along with a black crescent at the tail root.

The blue selection covers a wide range of shades, even green.

Keep in mind when breeding that they don’t respect the colour of a feasible mate and will ‘colour mix’ readily.

Platy Variatus (Platypaecilus Variatus)

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This species was initial collected and utilized for aquaria in the early 1930s, and has been a firm favourite ever since. It should not be confused with the P. maculatus.

The male isn’t smaller than the female. Both, when fully grown, attain a length of approximately 2 inch. It is in the colouring that the main distinction occurs. Females generally have a dull brownish green body with a dark zigzag line along the sides, and only the male boasts the gorgeous variegated colours which can combine yellow, blue, red, and green on one fish.

Breeding is simple, but it is not so simple to obtain a big proportion of excellently coloured males per brood. In an average hatching of, say, 30, only ten will probably be males, of which maybe only 3 will probably be well coloured, and in any case it’ll be eight to ten months prior to any real colour begins to show.

When selecting pairs for breeding, you should never select a little male-the bigger and brighter coloured, the much better. Females should be selected by their body colour-the deeper the much better.

Young are born four to five weeks after fertilisation, and with a fully grown female should number between sixty and eighty. Instead of the breeding trap, fine-leafed plants with some floating duckweed or riccia will make certain much better outcomes. Shallow water about 6 inch deep is advisable to ensure that fry can reach the surface effortlessly.

Given lots of room and ample great food, the young should grow to 1 inch in about twelve weeks.

It is interesting to note that up to eight broods could be the result of one fertilisation. These broods are born approximately once a month, but the water temperature has a bearing on the period. If the temperature is below 75° F, the intervening period will probably be longer.

Platys prefer slightly acid water, about pH 6.8.

Merry Widow (Phallichthys Amates)

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Simply because of the thin black line edging the dorsal fin, which is comparable to that of a mourning card, this delightful small fish has been given the well-liked name of merry widow.

Females, like the guppies, are twice as big as the males, but lack the subtle beauty of the dorsal fin. This fin, which is generally carried proudly erect, is marked with two arcs parallel to the outside edge. Both arcs are dark but the inner one is slightly lighter.

Other markings are narrow, dark vertical lines along the body, which is a shade of olive green, along with a short black line that passes via the eye. Their gill covers reflect an iridescent blue-green, and this colour may also be detected on the body when caught by the light.

An additional outstanding feature of the merry widow is the long gonopodium. The latin generic name of Phallichthys means fish with phallus or gonopodium.

Usually a lively fish, the merry widow could be relied upon for constant animation of the aquarium.

Breeding is fairly effortlessly accomplished at a temperature of 78° F.

Giant Sailfin Molly (Poecilia Velifera)

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As might be expected from the well-liked name of this fish, the big dorsal fin is its most prominent characteristic. It has a general body colour of brilliant blue-green, peppered with sparkling spots. The belly and throat are golden to yellow. The magnificent dorsal of the male is green-blue with a purple sheen and it is marked most attractively with blue, red, brown and orange patterning. The female isn’t so brilliantly coloured and has a smaller dorsal fin.

Great aquarium specimens can attain a length of about 4 inch.

The young are about 0.5 inch at birth and can number up to 100 in a single brood. They develop fairly rapidly, but the full beauty of the dorsal might take up to 12 months to develop.

When breeding keep in mind that the parents are likely to devour the fry, so offer adequate protection with plants, or a breeding trap.