hi everyone, new to site…
Hi Tim (redfishbluefish), No harm done, and no hard feelings — seems like you just made the mistake of overlooking the message (texas_tears2000) I was replying to; I trust you’ve seen her message since. As a moderator (on another group) yourself, you’re probably aware that it would serve me (or this group) no purpose to shoot you down or get you bent out of shape.
Yes, this is one of the most active yahoo groups going, on aquarium- related subjects. As it appears you are learning, aquarium maintenance technology has advanced over the years and with it, easier and more dependable continuance of your aquarium inhabitants. It does sometimes seem a wonder that we were able to keep anything alive years ago (LOL), but then, fish were hardier back then for the most part — besides, those fish didn’t know anymore than we did . Many years back, cycling was unheard of; no one cycled their tanks yet there never seemed to be any problems stemming from that.
Yeah, I understand your reluctance about having fish shipped to you at this time of year. It was for that reason why I advised you to wait for warmer weather. Heat packs can be unreliable, especially in below freezing weather or if there’s a delay during shipping. Then too, when handling the shipment after its arrival at your nearest airport, the cargo handlers may not bring the plane’s load inside from the tarmac in a timely manner.
Koi Angels would be a good choice and while some recommendations may not subscribe housing them in as small of a tank as a 30 gallon, many Angelfish breeders use just that size for a breeding pair. The fry could not be raised with the parents, however, if this was your plan. Being somewhat newer, Koi Swordtails are increasingly gaining in popularity, even here in the Northeast and while their pattern is striking I can see why you prefer staying with the Pineapple strain; the male you have is exceedingly nice. Too bad about those Black Swordtails that died in your LFS’s tank. Perhaps he’ll get more in, in the future, when you would then have no problem placing them in one of your tanks.
Getting back to your main topic of interest, I hadn’t replied to it as I don’t consider myself a Swordtail expert, but while any certain strain’s characteristics should be confined to its original developments, you’ll find that these characteristics can vary over time as the variety is continued by various breeders. I mention this, as what you’re expecting to find in trying to obtain female Pineapple Swordtails may vary somewhat from the pattern you presently have.
In checking out your photo on this Group-Site as well as the same one you posted on the ALA (for those members unfamiliar with this abbreviation, its — American Livebearers Association) Site (which by the way has more definition on the ALA for some reason), from your male’s color pattern it appears as if this line may have come partially from Albino Pineapple Swords. As far as I can tell by your photos though, your male’s eyes are black; please state if they’re red, I can’t determine.
Now as for the other common names you question for this same strain, from what I’m aware, while Neon Swordtails are very similar to the Pineapple — even having the red saddle — some of their traits are closer to the original Green Swordtail in that their prominent longitudinal line is black — not red, as in yours. Their fins are shaded much more yellow, not orange-red as is yours. The sword on the Neon Swordtail is completely outlined in black, again unmistakenly including this part of the Green Swordtail’s traits. The Pineapple Swordtail’s sword is only partially outlined, but still much more so than the Candy.
The Candy Swordtail, again being very similar, has no red along the top, nor are its dorsal or caudal fins solid orange-red but instead heavily speckled orange-red over yellowish fins. Whereas your fish’s secondary horizontal lines are blackish, the Candy Swordtail’s secondary lines are also red as is its primary/prominent heavy horizontal line. Its sword is not as well outlined (in black) as either the Pineapple or the Neon Swords.
As all three strains are quite close in appearance, it seems evident that they may well have been derived from one original line, although I can’t say which strain was developed from which other strain, if that were the case, or if they each were developed as separate varieties from an original strain. As far as I’m aware, they are not synonyms though; your strain is Pineapple.
As I stated above, even your Pineapple Swordtail strain may vary from breeder to breeder — and that includes possible stightly different strains from various fish farms. You may even be disappointed by some, although there may be strains out there in the hobby that have even more intense red coloring in them; that remains unseen. If you’re unable to find any suitable Pineapple Swordtail females, I’d suggest obtaining Albino Swordtails and adding your male’s genes to their offspring. If you find them in a tank at your LFS accompanied by Albino males, remember that these females can carry several succeeding batches of fry with one mating (from an Albino male) so you’ll have to wait until the females are free of Albino fry to expect any fry from your Pineapple - Albino matings. Still, this should not prevent you from housing them all in the same aquarium — except for the Black Swordtails, which you’ll have to house separately to prevent fertilization by them.
Most of these offspring will show the your male Pineapple Swordtail’s traits. If he has any Albino genes in his background, you may expect some (probably 25%) Albino offspring. Otherwise, the females’ Albino traits will be hidden, possibly to be expressed in future generations depending upon the arrangement of subsequent generations’ matings. This may be the best way to raise your strain of Pineapple Swordtails in the absence of females of this same strain, and be relatively assured the offspring will resemble your male. Ray
Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society
