Swordtails: everything you need to know about keeping and food
The Swordtail belongs to the family of livebearing toothcarps. It originates from Central America and has long been one of the most popular aquarium fish.
In the following, we will explain what you need to consider when keeping Swordtails in the aquarium and what food is suitable for these attractive ornamental fish.
Swordtail Profile
- Scientific Name: Xiphophorus helleri
- Origin: Central America
- Size: 10 - 16 cm (4 - 6.3 inches)
- Lifespan: 3 - 5 years
- Minimum Aquarium Size: 160 liters (42 gallons)
- Recommended Water Temperature: 20 - 28 °C (68 - 82 °F)
- Diet: Omnivorous
Characteristics of Swordtails
Swordtails have an elongated body and a pointed head. Male individuals are equipped with a straight, elongated extension on the lower part of their tail fin. This extension, known as the sword, makes up about one-third of their body length and gives Swordtails their name.
Female Swordtails lack the sword. Apart from that, two types of males can be distinguished. Early-maturing males develop the sword on their tail fin at a very early stage, but it remains relatively small. Late-maturing males, on the other hand, initially resemble female fish as their sword starts to grow later. However, it becomes larger over time.
Female Swordtails can reach a length of around 16 centimeters (6.3 inches), while male individuals without the sword grow to about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) long. However, cultivated forms of Swordtails usually reach a length of only about 10 or 12 centimeters (4 - 4.7 inches).
The natural forms of Swordtails have a greenish, metallic shimmering color. They also have a clearly visible brown to black or red longitudinal stripe that starts at the eyes and extends over their entire body. Occasionally, wild-type Swordtails can also exhibit a bluish or yellowish coloration.
Apart from that, there are now numerous cultivated forms available in different colors such as red, neon, gold, and even albinos.
Lifespan of Swordtails
Under good housing conditions, Swordtails can live up to five years with some luck. However, the average lifespan of these attractive aquarium inhabitants usually ranges from three to four years.
Origin of Swordtails
Swordtails originate from Central America, with their distribution ranging from Mexico to Honduras and Guatemala. However, Swordtails can now be found in many other countries worldwide as they have been introduced by humans.
Thus, there are now wild populations in North America, Australia, Africa, and even some smaller populations in Europe, although limited to warm waters in specific regions.
In the wild, Swordtails inhabit fast-flowing waters with abundant plant growth.
Swordtail Care
Swordtails are highly popular in the field of aquaristics, and they are usually easy to care for. However, there are a few things to consider in order to meet the needs of the fish and avoid problems.
It is important to provide Swordtails with a sufficiently large aquarium. The water tank should have a capacity of at least 160 liters (42 gallons) and a length of 100 centimeters (39 inches). If multiple male individuals are to be kept in the same aquarium, a capacity of at least 300 liters (79 gallons) is required.
The water temperature in the aquarium should be maintained between 20 and 28 °C (68 - 82 °F), and the pH level should be between 7 and 8.
Setting up an Aquarium for Swordtails
Swordtails prefer a densely planted aquarium. This serves as a retreat especially for female individuals when they are excessively harassed by their male tankmates. In addition, the vegetation provides shelter for the fry, as adult Swordtails may see them as prey.
Swordtail Tankmates
Male Swordtails can be highly aggressive towards each other. Therefore, in smaller aquariums, only one male should be kept with several females. In sufficiently large aquariums, multiple males can be kept together, but females should still outnumber them.
In general, Swordtails coexist well with other fish species. Bottom-dwelling fish that inhabit the lower part of the aquarium are suitable tankmates for Swordtails. Additionally, various other livebearing toothcarp species can be considered, but they should not grow too large.
It is important to note that Swordtails are highly active, and tankmates that are too passive may not thrive in their presence.
Breeding Swordtails
Swordtails are livebearers. The courtship behavior of the males is highly noticeable. After fertilization, it takes about four weeks for the female Swordtail to give birth to up to 200 fully developed fry.
Swordtails are known for being highly predatory towards their own fry. Therefore, it can be beneficial to house pregnant females in a separate tank to increase the survival chances of the fry.
Swordtail Diseases
Like other aquarium inhabitants, Swordtails can become ill. Common diseases among livebearing toothcarps include infectious dropsy, fish tuberculosis, fungal infections, mouth and fin rot, velvet disease, and ich.
The risk of health issues is generally higher in poor housing conditions and when the fish are subjected to stress in the aquarium.
AQUARIS Flakes
Swordtail Feeding
Swordtails are omnivorous and exhibit dietary flexibility. In their natural habitat, they feed on water plants, small crustaceans, worms, and insects.
Feeding in the aquarium can be done with a good-quality dry food, which is usually readily accepted. Additionally, the diet of Swordtails can be supplemented with live or frozen food from time to time.
Aquaris Fish Food for Swordtails
A balanced diet with high-quality flake food is crucial for the health and well-being of Swordtails. In the Aquaris product range, you will find suitable products that ensure the proper nutrition of your fish.
The carefully selected ingredients and well-formulated recipes make Aquaris fish food easily digestible and provide all the necessary nutrients for your Swordtails. Moreover, its good digestibility helps prevent excessive water pollution in the aquarium.
Leave your comment