Cross Breeding

I plan on getting some swordtails (1M/3F) for my 75g. I wanted to see if I could get a female platy also but first I wanted to know, how likey is it that the male swordtail will mate and impregnate the platy?

 

I think it is possible as ive read somewhere that some swordtails are hybrids of platies and swordtails(correct me if I'm wrong)

 

I don't think they're hybrids to begin with. They can hybridize but they aren't already crossed

 

Actually, the many color strains of Swords and Platies are ALL from hybridization done in the 1930s and 40s. They can and will cross, but most of the strains around have been line bred until they are fairly close to one or the other parent species. There were actually multiple species of Swordtail involved in developing some hybrid lines.

Male swords will pursue the largest females, so unless the Platy is bigger than the female swords, he's likely to ignore her. Isolated with her as the only available female, he's more likely to try and mate with her.

 

Well that's actually very interesting info. Thanks for that knowledge! You should host a class haha

I'll just keep him with his female swords. I don't want to create any unnecessary hybridization going on.