Swordtail  (Xiphophorus helleri)

General Info:  Swordtails are popular fish that are active, hardy and fit into a wide variety of community tanks.  Male swordtails have the lower portion of their caudal fin extended into a "sword".  There are many color varieties.

Tankmates:  They are very lively and often chase other fish but will not harm them. At worst they will frighten any small, shy fish. When kept in groups of three or more they will chase each other and leave the other fish alone. Males are sometimes quarrelsome among themselves. Therefore it is best to have more females than males  Mix them with other active fish of similar size.  Some good tankmates may include mollies, moons, other swordtails, tetras, rasboras, silver dollars, corydoras catfish, plecostomus catfish, gouramis, kribensis cichlids.
Here are some of our community tanks they they may fit into:   (Community #2, Community #3, Community #4, Community #5)

Housing:  Give them plenty of swimming room and some bushy plants for hiding.  We recommend a tank of 15 gallons or more.  The addition of  some aquarium salt (on tablespoon per 5 gallon) is advisable but not required.   They like warm temperatures.  Maintain a temperature of 74-80 degrees. These fish are prolific jumpers and require a tight fitting cover. 

Feeding:  Swordtails and other livebearers should be fed small frequent feedings.  Feed flakes, brine shrimp, bloodworms, and small pellets (Tetra Bits)  They are omnivores and  some greens in their diet is important. Some greens in their diet is important.  A spirulina based flake food will provide greens.  Some live brine will be appreciated.

Longevity:  Average 2 years.

Breeding:  Swordtails are easy to breed.  They are livebearers.  Males have a spiked gonopidium fin, and the caudal fin in adults extends into a "sword".
 
Natural Range:  Swordtails are native to Central America from Southern Mexico to Guatemala.  All swordtails we sell are domestically bred, and many of the swordtails you see at our store are locally bred.

Longevity: 2 years.  

Swordtail varieties you may see at Elmer's Aquarium.   There are many color varieties and fin shapes of swordtails.  Here are some varieties we have sold over the past year:
  Albino Sword
  Black Sword
  Gold Wag Sword
  Green Sword
  Hi Fin Sword
  Lyretail Hi Fin Sword
  Marigold Sword
  Pineapple Sword
  Red Velvet Sword

If you like Swordtails we stock this book:
Swordtails by Dr Herbert Axelrod and Dr. Myron Gordon
RE-616   #410365