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Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
Family: Poeciliidae
📍 Mexico & Guatemala
The Swordtail is named for the dramatically elongated lower caudal fin lobe of males, which can equal or exceed body length and is used in courtship displays. Available in numerous cultivated colour forms including red, orange, green, and black, it is a hardy and active community fish. Males can become aggressive toward each other, so limit the ratio of males per tank or keep a single dominant male.
Keeping this species
- diet
- Omnivore – flake food, spirulina, brine shrimp, bloodworms
- breeding
- Prolific livebearer
- lifespan
- 3–5 years
- max size
- 14 cm including sword (10 cm body)
- tank size
- 20 gallons minimum
- temperament
- Peaceful toward other species; males aggressive toward male conspecifics
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Tips from the community 💡
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Water it likes
- ph
- 7.0–8.3
- ammonia
- 0 ppm
- nitrate
- <20 ppm
- hardness
- 12–30 dGH
- temperature
- 64–82°F (18–28°C)
Natural Habitat Temperature
72°F — 79°F seasonal range · (Jan low, Apr high)