I’ve been keeping fish for quite a while now, and adding a swordtail to my collection was on my checklist.
After educating myself on these species, I purchased two swordtails for my aquarium a couple of months ago, and trust me, they’re a treat to watch.
What’s Included In Swordtail Fish Tank Diet?
The swordtail is an omnivorous fish. Typical swordtail fish food in the wild includes crustaceans, insects, plants, and worms.
The swordtail tank diet includes fish flakes and freeze-dried or commercially available live foods.
I’d suggest feeding adult swordtails once or twice a day. However, fry or newborn swordtails require more frequent feedings, up to 5-6 times per day.
Swordtail Fish Care
If you’re getting this exotic fish for your aquarium, study the requirements carefully.
Aquarium Conditions
Since swordtails are large tropical fish, they should be kept in a 10 gallon tank. (This size is preferable for two swordtails)
Likewise, a larger tank size is apt for more swordtails.
N.B. Maintain a minimum ratio of one male to two or more females. It helps reduce potential aggression and stress in the tank.
Breed
The species is livebearing: Males swordtails use their gonopodium to fertilize females. The female, in turn, fertilizes, produces, and incubates eggs internally. It can also store sperms for later use.
To encourage breeding, keep stable water conditions and simulate seasonal changes by ensuring minor water changes periodically.
The optimal tank temperature for breeding swordtails is 22°C to 26°C (74°F to 78°F).
Best Plants For a Swordtail
Swordtails are active swimmers and explorers. For these reasons, I’m adding specific plants to the tank:
Anubias: They are hardy, easy to care for, and provide excellent area coverage.
Amazon Sword: As the name suggests, this plant is an optimal match for swordtails. It provides a sea-like, natural environment.
Vallisneria: Vallisneria provides a vertical cover that looks attractive to onlookers. These floating plants also provide ample space for a fry to hide.
Suitable Tank Mates For Swordtail
According to my knowledge, the compatible tank mates for swordtail fishes are:
Mollies: Mollies like to reside in similar environments as swordtail fishes. Relatively speaking, both species prefer warm waters and free movement.
Guppies: These species are smaller but friendly. They make a great combination with swordtails.
Tank Mates To Avoid
Some fish do not befriend swordtails like:
Cichlids: Most cichlids are aggressive towards swordtails.
Angelfish: Although angelfish is a peaceful creature, it may nip at the swordtail’s flowing fins, causing stress and injury.
Avoid housing the swordtail with bigger fish.
Purchase a separate tank for your aquatic pets if you have a tank full of aggressors. My pet swordtail swims with dojo loaches, bristlenose, pleco, and a ruby shark.
What is the Size of Swordtail?
The Swordtail is a medium-sized fish.
Compared to the male, the female swordtail is larger and measures approx. 6.3 inches in length. While the male has a longer tail, it grows up to 5.5 inches long.
The size of the female swordtail impacts its reproduction process. Larger females tend to give birth to more fry.
Where Does The Swordtail Fish Live In The Wild?
The Swordtail (Xiphophous hellerii) is a small freshwater fish native to Central and North America.
The species’ range stretches from Mexico to Northwestern Honduras.
Wild swordtails survive in swift-running rivers and streams with plentiful vegetation. These species also inhabit ditches, ponds, and warm springs.
Why Is It Called a Swordtail?
The lower tail lobe of a male Swordtail looks like a pointed sword. Hence, it’s named Swordtail.
Swordtail Variations
Over 50 different species of swordtail are present in the fish kingdom. Below are some varieties that you need to know about:
Black Lyretail
Golden Comet
Marble
Lemon
Green Swordtail
Neon Wagtail
Many people prefer the Green Swordtail in the US. Unlike larger fish, these creatures prefer to enjoy their swim in aquariums and fish tanks. Their size reach up to 14 cm long.
Bring This Aquatic Pet Home Now!
In my opinion (as an owner), these aquatic pets are a must-have for home aquariums. Consider getting them for a new fish tank.
To befriend these creatures, provide them with the required diet, environment, and care.
