How the hell did my swordtail just give birth to 5 fry??

kald

I got a swordtail about 5 months ago. It's a female. There are no other male livebearers in the tank besides one male platy that has never (to my knowledge) "attacked" her.

Is it hybridised with the platy? Or did it get inseminated in the pet store all those months ago?

Thanks.

kald

I also wanted to add that the size difference between my female swordtail and male platy is massive; the platy is only about an inch long, and the swordtail is about 4 inches (big!). The platy never goes near the swordtail and is usually busy chasing other platy females.

Is this sperm storage from 5 months ago??

Oldman47

It could well be the result of stored sperm packets.

biokid101

maybe shes been getting pregnant all the time but u werent aware of it and she either ate the babies or aborted them. and u just became aware of it now. its possible

kelly528

Aren't Swordtails a type of platy?

Oldman47

Swordtails and platies are in the same family, the Xiphophorus. They are neither one a type of the other, they are different species.

Jack Middleton

they're from the same genus but are different species.

They could have hybridized or she could have stored sperm packets as mentioned above, they can then make themselves pregnant again up to 6 months later