The GB Pant University of Agriculture and Technology (GBPUAT) College of Fisheries has succeeded in breeding ornamental aquarium fish for the first time in Uttarakhand. About 20 days ago, two males and eight females of the sword tail (Xiphophorus helleri), brought to the university for research from south India. Research scientist Dr Avdhesh Kumar informed that the aquaculture department of the college, in the first stage one male and four females were made to breed in conducive conditions as a result of which the female fishes gave birth to 31 fry within a week of mating.
In the next stage, research will be conducted on increasing the birth rate of this fish, decreasing its mortality rate and making its colour darker and shining. Kumar said that the swordtail — named so because males develop a sword like appendange near the tail fin as they mature — has various varities with different colours and patterns. This fish is native to America and has also been brought to Australia and countries in Africa and Asia.
He further informed that a swordtail fish attains maturity in 12 months but begins mating at three months. The species which is a livebearer- delivering fry in stead of roe. A female gives birth to about 50 live young ones about twice a year. At this rate, in five years there can be about 500 young swordtails. The research scientist said, “A pair of swordtails can be sold for upto Rs 100 and by breeding it, farmers can augment their income. In addition to providing adult male and female swordtails to farmers for business, the GBPUAT will also provide training to the farmers,” he added.