Sex-Changing Fish

* “Fish Changes Its Sex to Suit the Occasion, Scientists Say” (Nov. 13) reminded me of a similar experience I had as a teen-ager while raising live-bearing tropical fish.

I had segregated one large green swordtail so as to scoop out the 100 babies she had (yes, I counted them!) among the heavy seaweed, for these fish do eat their young if they spot them. Since these fish only needed to be impregnated once for several subsequent deliveries, I left her alone in a large bowl, to await the next brood. But she surprised me by becoming a male swordtail, complete with colorful sword and male genitalia. I placed her/him back in the aquarium with the others and “she” remained a “he” (much larger than the other male swords) for as long as I had her/him.

I later learned it was not unusual with certain breeds of tropical fish. It was a great hobby!

BERNADINE BURLIN

Arcadia