raising swordtail fry on the aquarium

Given good water quality, sufficient feed and the correct temperature range, it won't be long before your 5 swordtails turn into 55. Often without the fishkeeper noticing, a female swordtail will become pregnant and gestate anything from 2 to 200 fry. As the name livebearer suggests the young are born live and free swimming. Without intervention in the aquarium these newborn will rapidly become live food for the other occupants or fall foul of the filtration system.