Just awoke to a pleasant suprise this morining. After months of disappointment with my group of Blood-red Red-eyed Sailfin Swordtails (BRSS), I finally have fry. I lost one adult male and an adult female. My wife and I just pulled 80 live fry from one female. The rest have dissappointed still births or no fry after showing signs of being preg. I have a few females that have very male like traits (Asian bred), they've produced nothing - I suspect they were hormoned. I can't wait to grow these out, and see if any are sailfin. The father is the fish I'm using for my Avatar. He's my biggest fish, well muscled, I grew him out in a high current tank. He's near 5inches (He was the smallest and youngest looking fish out of my goup, but had the best fins so I gave him a tank of his own.

Happy to hear your success. I certainly relate to the problems you have had. Several years ago I had the same problems with my veilmollies but, That has changed. Now I am getting more fry hardier fish and more of the characteristic of what I want. So I certainly understand the strugle. I recently got some Black Berlins to work on developing a blue swordtail. No males with my females in the couple months I have had them. But I keep getting fry and they are really healthy. They are growing really big & fast. I am suprised how well they are doing. Your personal conditions and feedings will make a difference. We must all find what works best for us.
gerard

Congrats on the fry! I've had no luck with my albino blood red sail fins either. I've had them most of them probably at least a year and the only babies I've ever gotten out of them were 2 definitely not blood red. In fact, one was black. I'm glad to hear someone is having success!

So far so good on fry.No losses yet. Out of my adult females. Only the one has produced. I think these fish had been hormoned. I remember my wild swords use to poduce fry regularly. I just wound up killing them, unlike my mollies, back when I use to keep nothing but livebearers

Wow, nice drop! The 'sailfin' swordtails are reputed to have fertility issues, which is why many are outcrossed to regular fin albino fish. You could try introducing normal albino females. Good luck!

Black Knight,

I suggest that you keep some of the "Super Sailfin" which you raise to use as breeders. I guarantee that they'll be more fertile and "Normal" than your originals if they are direct imports and not raised by a breeder in the U.S. or similar.

Darrell E. Mefford

would be great if you show photos of male and female

I don't know how to post photos here, plus I don't have but one good photo of a "Super Sailfin" Blood Red Albino male which I had when I was still doing this.
Maybe someone else can post some? Also go into the Gallery, there are lots of good photos there.

Darrell E. Mefford

Wow I got some berlin blacks a couple months ago. I have had a drop of fry evey week since I have had them. ALL the fry are hi fin. Every color accept the red eyes and growing fast. This is the proof in the pudding I have never had a male swordtail with any of the females. They just keep dropping. Not a lot per drop but very hardgy
gerard94114@yahoo.com

You must let the forum help you out to post pictures here. Unlike most places, you can't just paste in an [ img] style file. It just doesn't work. Instead you follow along with the "wizard" and paste in the URL when it prompts you to do so.
I'm happy that you are having some success with those fish. As Mel said, they have a reputation for fertility issues.