Partly inspired by the beautiful fish posted on the International Xiphophorus Breeder website, I have spent the last several months trying to re-establish this marigold strain and to develop additional strains using platy-swordtail hybridization.
In my 2009 TFH article on Xiphophorus interspecies hybrids, I noted that the available marigold swordtails lacked the vibrant colors found in good quality marigold and sunset platies. At that time I had used hybridization to produce marigold swordtails with more intense coloration. Unfortunately, I did not maintain the strain.
This hybrid hifin male has almost no sword and the body more closely resembles that of a maculatus platy.
This hybrid hifin male has a short sword and the body more closely resembles that of a swordtail.
These two hybrid males are large bodied and have short swords.
A pair of hybrids. Approximately 15%-20% of the hybrid females are fertile, based upon the presence of eggs which are visible through the light colored abdomen.
A pair of "gold dust" wag swordtails. These fish may or may not express the Arnoldi factor, but regardless, the black pigmentation is very intense.
