could you please explain the difference between a platy and a swordtail? I have 2 MM Platy, but now see that the swordtails look the same to me. I see that a male swordtail has the "swordtail - like" back fin, but what about the female?
Platy or Swordtail?
- Thread starter HeatherW
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Aces11
Aquarium Advice FINatic
The males have the sword extension on their tail fin but I'm not sure about the females. I think they may be bigger than platys but that's the only difference I know of between the two.
djtypykuhl
Aquarium Advice Activist
swordtails and platies are from the same genus, so they can cross-breed.
main differances:
-platy has bigger color variety
-swordtails are born bigger and more developed
-only male swords actually have the "sword"
-swordtails are slightly bigger than platies
-female swords are bigger than male swords, but platies are about the same size each gender
-swordtails are more sensitive (in my experiences, anyway)
-swordtails are also slightly less active than platies (again, my experience)
-swordtails take slightly longer to birth than platies, but i think it's worth the wait
actually, most of this is just personal experience, but it should give you a good idea about what to work with.
main differances:
-platy has bigger color variety
-swordtails are born bigger and more developed
-only male swords actually have the "sword"
-swordtails are slightly bigger than platies
-female swords are bigger than male swords, but platies are about the same size each gender
-swordtails are more sensitive (in my experiences, anyway)
-swordtails are also slightly less active than platies (again, my experience)
-swordtails take slightly longer to birth than platies, but i think it's worth the wait
actually, most of this is just personal experience, but it should give you a good idea about what to work with.
