Surprise Appearance: Platy or Swordtail Fry?

As mentioned in another thread, I'm just getting back into the hobby and am repopulating a tank that's had a couple of inhabitants for years. As I enjoy livebearers, I've added a few mollies, standard pet store orange swordtails and Dwarf Coral Platys, males and females of each. After a week or so, several molly fry showed up, and a few days later, these little guys made their appearance. It's been a couple of weeks, and they're all braving open spaces so they appear to be safe from being food. Any thoughts if they are swordtails or platys? I'm guessing swordtails for absolutely no reason at all. . . .

Thanks for the help!

 

As mentioned in another thread, I'm just getting back into the hobby and am repopulating a tank that's had a couple of inhabitants for years. As I enjoy livebearers, I've added a few mollies, standard pet store orange swordtails and Dwarf Coral Platys, males and females of each. After a week or so, several molly fry showed up, and a few days later, these little guys made their appearance. It's been a couple of weeks, and they're all braving open spaces so they appear to be safe from being food. Any thoughts if they are swordtails or platys? I'm guessing swordtails for absolutely no reason at all. . . .

Thanks for the help!

It’s very difficult to tell until they actually develop their “swordtail.”(or don’t.) The extreme color differences however, make it seem like those fry are different species. So whatever color your swordtails are(orange or more white) should determine which are which.

 

It’s very difficult to tell until they actually develop their “swordtail.”(or don’t.) The extreme color differences however, make it seem like those fry are different species. So whatever color your swordtails are(orange or more white) should determine which are which.

I agree on the color patterns, though both the swordtails and the platys are orange, if not deep orange. Really surprised by the yellowish fry. . . .

 

I agree on the color patterns, though both the swordtails and the platys are orange, if not deep orange. Really surprised by the yellowish fry. . . .

How recently did you buy them exactly? They could have already been pregnant when you bought them.

 

How recently did you buy them exactly? They could have already been pregnant when you bought them.

Within five or six weeks, so they were indeed pregnant when I got them. A surprise bonus! Just don't know what they are. The molly fry were easy to ID. . ..

 

I would say from the body shape that they are Platys. Swords would be more elongate by this time.

 

Look like platys to me

 

Thanks! Will be fun to watch them grow.

 

The bodyshape tells that they're platies... No doubts!