Swordtail

Swordtail is a live-bearer fish. It is found in Central America from the Atlantic slopes of southern Mexico to Guatemala. It grows as long as 3.9-4.7 inches or 10-12 cms. Its scientific name is Xiphophorus hellerii. It is a readily available fish that adds brightness to your aquarium. It is an extremely popular fish. The following account provides you more information regarding this fish.

Diet

Swordtail is an omnivore. It usually feeds on every kind of live, fresh and flake diet. Feed it daily on a good quality of flake food to maintain a good balance. It likes to eat blood worms or brine shrimp (live or frozen).

Breeding

With the attaining of maturity, the male’s anal fin develops into a structure for reproduction called the Gonopodium. It is easy to be moved in any direction and it stores the sperm in packs called spermatophores. When the sperm is inserted into the female’s body; it fertilizers her eggs and the rest is stored in the oviduct walls to be used later. Yolk that the eggs contain is rich enough and helps in development of the young. Pregnancy in light colored females can be identified with the marking of the growing dark body in front of the anal fin. The young ones are quite large at birth and develop at an advanced rate. They swim immediately which protects them from their enemies as well as their parents. The growth rate of the fry is rapid. They greedily eat fine flake food. A female Swordtail has an occasional tendency to change sex and develop a ‘sword’ on her tail, especially when she is affected by parasites or is old. Such fish are infertile most of the time.

Physical description

Body of male Swordtail is an elongated one. It was named Swordfish which is given according to this organ rather than as a part of the caudal fin. Body of female is bigger than that of male and she is more robust. She does not possess any sword and gonopodium.

There are some color variations like olive green with lateral stripe of red or brown color and speckles on dorsal and at times caudal fins. Its captive breeding has brought up several colour varieties including red and black and plenty of body patterns.

Tank Set Up

For Swordtail fish, the tank should be of 1 m length. It should hold 200 liters of water. Provide ample space for swimming and plant plenty of aquarium and floating plants. Ensure a strong water stream in the aquarium as this fish is originally from streaming waters. There should be good filteration system and tank bottom should be cleaned regularly. It prefers hard water. Keep one male among three females. Do not keep more than one male in the same tank. Essential temperature is 18 degree C to 27 degree C. Keep pH from 6.8 to 7.8 and hardness of water 12-30 dH.

Social Behavior

Swordtail is considered as a good community fish. Though at times, this fish eats fry of its own as well as that of other fish. Sporadically, this fish becomes a bully; this is seen especially in case of older males.

Swordtail is a fish that is easy to take care of and breed. It is a lively fish and likes to swim in schools that are loosely grouped. Though it is taken to be a good community fish still there are several different behavior patterns and temperaments. This fish does best in a well planted tank. Thus, provide your pet fish with everything it requires and keep it for a long time in your aquarium.