Swordtail – features, types and rules for keeping fish

Aquarium enthusiasts consider swordtails to be among the most popular species of freshwater fish. Their vivid hues and unique, sword-like tail render them an impressive complement to any tank. These fish are a fantastic option for both novice and expert fish keepers because they are not only stunning to look at but also reasonably simple to care for.

Swordtails come in a variety of forms, each with its own distinct hues and patterns. There is a type of swordtail to fit the taste of any aquarist, from the traditional red to the more exotic lyretail. These fish are well-known for being gregarious and energetic; they frequently swim around the tank and engage in conversation with other fish.

Understanding swordtails’ basic needs is essential to keeping them happy and healthy. They flourish in clean, well-kept aquariums with lots of swimming room and a healthy diet. Additionally, swordtails are well-known for having a calm disposition, which makes them the perfect companion for a variety of other freshwater fish. Swordtails can add years of beauty and life to your aquarium with proper care.

Habitat and lifestyle

North America (Mexico) and Central America (Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Panama) comprise the original habitat. The species can be found in both stagnant water bodies (ponds, lakes, and swamps) and mountain rivers with swift currents. The fish seeks out food in the form of insects, phytoplankton, and other marine plants and prefers to remain close to areas with abundant aquatic vegetation. spends the majority of its time gathering food from the water’s surface in the upper layers.

In the 20th century’s second half. This species has spread to other continents as a result of its increasing popularity as aquarium fish worldwide. The swordtail is currently found in the waters of Europe, the USA, Africa, and India. The fish is a good adapter to changing environments, occasionally driving out native species in the area.

Swordtails live their lives in school. Typically, there are multiple females for every male. Real fights are arranged by men amongst themselves in order to claim ownership of a harem of females. Often, rivalry ends in death. While they can transform into males by changing their genitalia, females do not fight at all.

Appearance

The fish’s body is compressed on the sides and elongated and sleek. When the tail is removed, the body length is between 10 and 12 cm. As is common with fish that inhabit waters with strong currents, the stigma is pointed.

The species’ name comes from the long, sword-shaped tail, which is one of its distinguishing characteristics. The "sword" can extend up to 80% of the length of the body. Furthermore, women do not possess a "sword"; only men do.

To gather food from the water’s surface, the mouth is opened wide. Simultaneously, the eyes are situated roughly in the middle of the head, which is uncommon for surface fish species and illustrates the swordtail’s adaptability—it can shift its orientation and search for food in the middle or even lower layers, if needed.

Swordtails are silvery, yellow-green, or olive in the wild, with hints of orange, brown, and red. Varieties that are artificially bred can be nearly any color.

A noticeable sexual dimorphism exists. Males have a sort of "sword" on their tail and are smaller than females. Generally speaking, females are paler and lighter in color than males. Females have a fan-shaped, wider anal fin.

The female’s body is rounded and widened, while the male’s is slender and elongated. Males may become brighter during the spawning season.

Swordtails are not fussy about their living conditions, but you should still make every effort to provide them with as much comfort as you can, as this will improve their well-being and length of life.

Aquarium

Typically, an aquarium holds multiple females and one male. You will require a tank that holds at least 50 liters for this. If you have more people (this applies mainly to men), you will require a larger aquarium. Males require more room to move around because they fight a lot among themselves. A lid needs to be placed on the aquarium to prevent the fish from being able to escape.

Water requirements

The swordtail requires clean, oxygenated water, so an aerator and filter are essential. It’s best to generate a small current.

20 to 26°C is the ideal water temperature. It is not necessary to experiment because the fish can withstand temperature drops below 18°C quite well, but it is stressful for them. Furthermore, variations in maintenance conditions may cause distinct responses from various species or populations. 2 to 25 dH and pH between 7-8.

Since swordtails react negatively to fresh water, this is an important aspect of maintenance. The reason for this is unclear, but water is added no more frequently than every two weeks. Swordtails choose their neighbors carefully because of this. Adding salt to the aquarium at a rate of one gram per liter of water is also crucial. In this instance, it is important to consider how resistant other fish species are to salinity. Fish need salt to ward off parasites, fungi, and potential illnesses.

Soil

The dirt is chosen as part of the décor because the swordsman ignores it. Sand and small or medium-sized pebbles can be used. The swordsmen’s color and the soil’s color should contrast. Planting underwater plants in the ground is also advised because they might appeal to fish.

Vegetation and decor

Swordsmen are a vital part of the plants they live among in their natural habitat. Fish will be stressed out in the absence of plants. In this instance, it is important to consider the fish’s high activity level, which calls for a lot of open space. It is preferable to put plants along the aquarium’s walls and in its corners. It is advised to place multiple snags on the bottom to provide the fish with a place to rest and hide.

Lighting

This species prefers ponds with good lighting, but the illumination should be diffuse rather than intense. Here, the size of the aquarium and the quantity of plants are also crucial factors to take into account.

Feeding

This fish is omnivorous, meaning it can eat nearly anything:

More foods high in protein should be provided to young people. Feeding ratio for adult swordtails is 50/50 plant and protein. They have a tendency to overeat, so you should plan a fasting day once every seven to ten days.

Fish are fed in little portions two or three times a day. They are more likely to gather food in the upper water layers than in the middle. Food must be removed separately from them as they do not raise it from the bottom, which keeps the water from turning sour.

Reproduction

This species bears fruit in a unique organ rather than spawning. Fry are born fully formed and capable of supporting themselves from the very first moments of life. This type of reproduction is called ovoviviparous. A female can be identified from a male by its anal fin (gonopodium) and xiphoid process.

Through the anus, the male places the gonopodium—a tube with a groove for seminal fluid—into the female’s abdominal cavity. Reproduction doesn’t require the creation of any unique circumstances. Spawning happens on its own multiple times a year.

A 35–40 day pregnancy lasts. Numerous factors, including age, light level, nutrition, and water temperature, can affect the gestation period. The abdomen of a pregnant woman is rounder and larger. There is a birthmark in the anal region. Twenty to one hundred fry can be born at a time to a female.

Since the adults will eat the fry, the offspring must be moved to another aquarium in order to survive. With no maternal instinct at all, even the female can begin to feed on her own offspring. The female does not come into contact with the fry because they are carried away by the current in their natural habitat.

A newborn’s length is 5-7 mm. They can consume brine shrimp nauplii, infusoria, cyclops, and tubifex worms. They can also eat food that has been dry-fried.

They develop swiftly. They can already be fed like adults since they have nearly caught up to their parents in the third month. Around six months of life is when sexual maturity is reached.

Popular aquarium fish, swordtails are distinguished by their vivid colors and unusual tail shape. This article examines the various varieties of swordtails, emphasizing their distinctive traits and variances. It also offers vital advice on how to take care of these fish, including what kind of food, water parameters, and social dynamics are best for them, which makes it simpler for aquarists to provide a happy, healthy home for them.

Varieties

The swordtail has many subspecies, all of which can have quite different looks.

Natural species

Let’s start by examining the species that exist in the wild:

• Montezuma"s swordtail (Xiphophorus montezumae)

Endemic, found in the states of Nuevo Leon and Cuahuilla in northeastern Mexico. named after the controversial former Aztec emperor. The length of the body is no more than 5 cm.

The color is silvery-blue with a hint of green and yellow. The xiphoid process can be 1.5–2 times longer than the body’s length. Though it is relatively simple to raise this species, its ugly appearance makes it unpopular.

• Dwarf swordtail (Xiphophorus pygmaeus)

Found in Mexico and Central America’s swift rivers and streams.

No part of the body is longer than 4 cm. Males are silvery-blue in color, while females are pale beige. The sides are striped in brown or black.

Inhabits small, moderately paced bodies of water in Central America.

Its fins and body are yellow. The body’s lower regions are blue-silver in color. The length of the body is no more than 5 cm. The border of the xiphoid process is black.

• Chiapas swordtail (Xiphophorus alvarezi)

Found exclusively in Chiapas, Mexico. favors swift-moving mountain streams and rivers.

The length of the body is 9 cm (the xiphoid process extends to 15–17 cm). The body is mostly orange, with hints of blue and green. Compared to men, females are distinctly paler. Male xiphoid processes are bordered in black and have a vivid green hue.

• Tender swordtail or Cortes swordtail (Xiphophorus cortezi)

Resides in Central America and Mexico. prefers clean, freshwater bodies of water. Its peculiar coloring is a combination of white, black, green, and yellow hues in patterns. There are yellow and black dots all over the fins.

Compared to females, males are more colorful and have brighter coloring. The xiphoid process makes up only 30% of the total length of the body. Males grow to 5–6 cm, while females grow to 7-8 cm.

• Birchman"s swordtail (Xiphophorus birchmanni)

Only exists in Mexico’s Panuco River. has a vivid, striking appearance.

The body color with transverse black stripes can be blue, pink, purple, or blue. Male fins are bright yellow, while female fins are pale pink. There are a lot of tiny black dots all over them. The process of xiphoid is hardly perceptible.

• La Malinche swordtail (Xiphophorus malinche)

Inhabits only the Panuco River as well. named in honor of La Malinche, an Indian slave who served as Hernan Cortes’ secretary during the conquest. The length of the body is 5–6 cm.

It has a somewhat pale appearance. While females are nearly entirely blue or silver with yellow fins, males have a brilliant yellow back with black longitudinal stripes. The length of the xiphoid process is 1-2 cm.

Resides in Guatemala and Honduras in Central America. reaches a height of 4-5 cm.

The body is yellow-green in color, with three distinct red longitudinal stripes. The xiphoid process has a black border and is roughly the length of the body.

• Swordtail "Short Sword" (Xiphophorus continens)

Only exists in Mexico’s Panuco River. No part of the body is longer than 4 cm.

The Greek word conto, which means "short," is where the Latin name originates. The fish has a short sword that is barely noticeable; it is only a few millimeters long.

• Panucan Swordtail (Xiphophorus nigrensis)

Found in the Panuco River only in one location. The dwarf swordtail is its closest relative.

Its larger size (up to 6-7 cm) and distinct black stripes on the sides of the body set the Panucan species apart.

• Nezahualcoyotl"s swordtail or mountain swordtail (Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotl)

Named for the fifteenth-century Aztec poet, philosopher, and emperor Nezaulcayotl. Another species that is unique to the Panuco River is endemic. reaches a 7–8 cm length.

The body is covered in many different sized black dots that can be azure, blue, pink, greenish-yellow, or white. The dots can occasionally form an ambiguous longitudinal line. At its longest, the xiphoid process is 80–100% the length of the body.

Artificial varieties of swordtail

Swordtails have been bred into several dozen different varieties.

Let’s look at the most common morphs:

Recognizable by its vivid orange body covered in black dots. Black is the xiphoid process.

Has an azure or blue tint to its black color. The xiphoid process has a yellow border and is black in color. Orange or yellow fins are present.

The body has tiger-like stripes and black spots on a red background.

The remainder of the body is white, with the head and front portion of the body being vivid orange.

The body’s back and tail are black with orange spots, the head and front portion are brilliant orange, and the middle portion is white with black spots.

The middle section and fins are white, while the head and back of the body are orange.

Absolutely red in color. The red dorsal fin is tall and shaped like a sail.

The abdomen is pale yellow, while the upper body is yellow-orange in color. The orange xiphoid process has a black border around it.

The tail is entirely black, and the body is reddish-orange in color.

The fish’s hue is similar to that of pineapple flesh. The body’s back, which includes the tail, is bright orange, while the front is pale yellow. The sides have dots in red stripes. In comparison to females, males are notably more elongated and narrower, and they have a larger dorsal fin.

The body’s lower portion is entirely black, while the upper portion is red. The fins and tail are either orange or red. A wide tail and dorsal fin that resemble a veil are two distinguishing characteristics.

A broad black stripe that starts in the middle of the body and ends close to the tail contrasts with the nearly entirely red body. The fins are orange-yellow.

The tail, fins, and upper portion of the body are all light orange. The body’s lower regions are red. The bottom of the xiphoid process has a black stripe and is orange in color.

Possesses a pearly body with a hint of purple close to the head. Fins, sword, and tail are all black.

Utterly radiant. features a number of xiphoid processes in its tail.

The body is a pale white color. Pale red coloration is seen around the gills and in the eyes. The tail’s upper portion is a soft yellow color.

The body is silvery-white over most of it. The head is red, as is the area of the back that surrounds it. There is a tiny orange or red patch close to the tail.

The body, tail, and fins are all bright orange or amber in color. The tail, which resembles a lyrebird and has two long processes, is a distinguishing feature.

The front portion of the body and the head are both vivid orange. Spots of orange, yellow, blue, white, and black cover the remainder of the body. Light blue fins are used.

The abdomen appears silvery, while the upper body is a vivid orange color. The body is adorned with shimmering dark orange stripes.

It may be orange, red, or yellow. The pattern near the tail is a distinguishing feature; its contours are similar to Mickey Mouse’s.

The sword-shaped process and dark orange body are complemented by a black tail. Its dorsal fin is raised, resembling a flag.

The fins and body are a vivid orange color. The fins are a defining characteristic; they are long and wide and resemble sails.

The head, front portion of the body, and part of the abdomen have a blue tint and are silvery in color. The body is vivid orange from the pectoral fins to the tail. Coal-black is the color of the tail, sword, and fins. Similar to a sail, the dorsal fin is broad and elevated.

The body has a bluish and yellowish-yellow tint, appearing silvery-green. The body has longitudinal red or brown stripes running along its sides.

All other body parts, including the tail and fins, are a brilliant orange color, with the lower body being black.

Entirely coated in a lemon hue. There is black around only the sword and a portion of the tail.

Feature	Details
Appearance	Swordtails have a long, sword-like tail and come in various colors like red, green, and black.
Types	Common types include the Green Swordtail, Red Swordtail, and Pineapple Swordtail.
Tank Size	A minimum of 20 gallons is recommended to provide enough swimming space.
Water Conditions	They thrive in water temperatures between 72-82°F with a pH of 7-8.
Diet	Omnivorous; they enjoy a mix of flakes, pellets, and live foods like brine shrimp.
Behavior	Swordtails are generally peaceful but can be territorial, especially males.
Compatibility	Good tank mates include mollies, guppies, and platies.
Breeding	They are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young, making breeding easy for beginners.

For aquarists of all skill levels, swordtails are an excellent option. Fish with vibrant colors and lively personalities add vibrancy to any aquarium, which is why many fish aficionados choose them.

There is a swordtail type for every taste, with a range of varieties to select from, such as the traditional red and the eye-catching green varieties. Because of their hardiness, they’re also reasonably low maintenance as long as you create the right conditions and keep the water clean.

Remember that maintaining healthy and happy swordtails requires regular health checks, the right diet, and the right tank size. You can benefit from the beauty and charm these fish bring to your aquarium for many years to come if you are aware of their needs and traits.

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