Swordtail Fish - Characteristics, habits, and breeding instructions from A to Z

Swordtail fish (Xiphophorus hellerii), a national aquarium fish, has a sharp sword-like tail, colorful, easy to raise, gentle, and cheap.

Swordtail fish (scientific name Xiphophorus hellerii), is a very popular ornamental fish because it is cheap, has an impressive appearance with a long, sharp sword-like tail, many bright colors, is gentle, easy to raise, easy to breed, suitable for even inexperienced fish farmers.

If you want to find more information about swordtail fish from origin, appearance, habits to care and price, please refer to the content in the article below of nice fish !

Swordtail fish information :

Where do Swordtail fish come from?

Swordtail fish are native to North and Central America.

Swordtail fish has the scientific name Xiphophorus hellerii, an ornamental fish originating from North America and Central America, specifically some countries such as Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Veracruz,...

This fish species was first described by scientist Albert Günther in 1866, the name "hellerii" was named after "Karl Bartholomaeus Heller", an Austrian naturalist who discovered and collected this fish specimen during an expedition in Central America.

In the 19th century, swordtails were introduced to Europe, then spread to Asia, Africa and some other countries. Because of their high adaptability, when this fish escaped into the wild, it was considered an invasive species in some countries.

Swordtail fish appearance and how to distinguish male and female fish

Swordtail fish with a tail pointed like a sword.

Let's learn in detail about the appearance of swordtail fish and how to distinguish between male and female species of this fish.

General characteristics of swordtail fish appearance

Swordtail fish is an ornamental fish with a very distinctive appearance with a long, pointed tail like a sword. Let's learn more about the physical characteristics of this fish species.

• Body : Slender, long, slightly flattened at the sides.
• Size : Average 8 - 12 cm. Male fish will be longer than female fish.
• Head : Small, round eyes, mouth slanted upwards, suitable for eating floating food.
• Male fish have "Sword" : In mature male fish, the lower lobe of the caudal fin will be long, sharp, and thin like a sword, this is also what attracts female fish during reproduction.
• Wild fish color : Metallic olive green, silvery white belly, often with red or orange horizontal stripes running along the body.
• Hybrid fish colors : Many different colors such as red, yellow, orange, white, black, striped, tuxedo, turquoise,...
• Dorsal fin : Can be short or tall pointed, darker in color than the body.
• Pectoral fins : Small, almost transparent.

Distinguishing between male and female swordtail fish

Female and male swordtail fish.

Male and female swordtail fish have the following differences:

Swordtail fish behavior

Swordtail fish prefer to live in small groups.

Swordtail fish not only have a special appearance but also have more interesting habits than other ornamental fish. Let's learn more details below:

Gentle personality, like to live in groups

Swordtail fish have a rather gentle personality, they can live with many other fish species without conflict. They also often live in groups, it is best to keep 1 male and 2-3 females together to reduce conflicts because male fish are often highly territorial, like to chase each other to gain territory or compete for females.

Lives on the surface and middle layers

Swordtail fish are only active in the mid and surface waters, they are very strong swimmers, active, like clean water, lots of aquatic plants and gentle currents.

Is an omnivorous fish

Swordtail fish are omnivorous, they can eat algae, moss, larvae, insects, worms, pellets, boiled vegetables,... So you need to control the amount of food well to avoid obesity.

Is a fish that gives birth to live young.

Swordtail fish are also livebearers like guppies , they reproduce very strongly.

• Female fish are pregnant for 25 - 40 days, leaving 20 - 80 fish at a time or more than 100 fish, depending on breeding conditions and individual.
• The mother fish does not know how to take care of the fry. After giving birth, it can eat its own fry, so you need to separate the mother fish to protect the fry.
• Balance the male and female fish in a ratio of 1 male to 3 females for easier mating.
• Female fish have the ability to store sperm and can lay eggs many times after mating only once.

Highly adaptable

Swordfish are an ornamental fish that are highly adaptable to many different conditions and habitats. When released into the wild, they can reproduce and grow rapidly and become a harmful invasive species.

Detailed guide to raising Swordtail fish for beginners

Swordtail fish are docile and can be kept together in an aquarium.

Swordtail fish are quite easy to raise, omnivorous and do not require much technique. However, to help the fish thrive and live the longest, you should follow the instructions below.

Tank design suitable for raising swordtail fish

To give swordtail fish a comfortable space to grow, you need a tank with the following criteria:

• Size : 60 cm long, 60 liters volume for a group of 4 - 6 fish, 80 - 100 cm long tank with 100 - 150 liters volume if kept with other fish species.
• Filter : External filter or secondary filter with medium capacity of about 600 L/hour.
• Aeration : If there are no aquatic plants in the tank and the fish density is high, a mini aeration system is recommended.
• Tank base : Choose fine gravel and add a few large stones for decoration.
• Aquatic plants : Grow easy-to-grow plants such as algae, ferns, anemones,...
• LED lighting system : choose the type of light with natural light.

Ideal water parameters for swordtail fish

Water quality is always an important factor because it determines the growth and development of this fish species. Make sure the water in your tank is always stable with the following criteria:

• Temperature : 22 - 28 degrees Celsius.
• pH : 7.0 - 8.0
• Hardness : 10 - 25 dGH.
• Change water regularly : Change 20 - 30% of water every week to keep the environment stable.

What do swordtail fish eat?

Swordtails are omnivores, eating both plants and animals. Here are some foods that are suitable for them:

• Plant foods: Algae, seaweed, moss, boiled and chopped green vegetables.
• Live food: Mosquito larvae, mosquito larvae, small crustaceans, bloodworms, daphnia, water eggs,...
• Pelleted food: Floating or sinking pellets, food to help fish color, mixed ornamental fish food...

Note :

• Do not feed too many times a day, only feed 1 - 2 times with the right amount to eat in 2 - 3 minutes.
• Baby fish eat more than 3 - 4 times/day.
• Should diversify food, should not feed only one type.

What fish can swordtail fish be kept with?

Swordtail fish are quite docile and can be kept in an aquarium with many different species of fish, as long as they are similar in temperament and size.

Fish that can be kept with swordtail fish :

• Guppy - Guppy.
• Molly fish
• Neon tetra fish
• Mouse fish

Fish should not be kept with swordtail fish :

• Betta fish (Siamese fighting fish)
• Red Parrot Fish
• Flowerhorn Fish
• Fish are large, predatory, and other aggressive fish.

Prevention and treatment of diseases for swordtail fish

Swordtail fish are also susceptible to some common diseases in ornamental fish such as fungus, ulcers, dermatitis, parasites... Let's learn more details to know how to prevent and treat these diseases.

How much is a Swordtail fish?

Swordtail fish is a type of ornamental fish with a fairly cheap price, only from a few thousand to a few tens of thousands per fish, the price depends on appearance, color, age,... If you want to buy this fish, please refer to the following price list.

Some common swordtail fish species in Vietnam

Nowadays, through many crossbreeding and breeding processes, swordtail fish have many different variations. However, in the Vietnamese ornamental fish market, the following lines are popular:

Red Swordtail

A red swordtail fish.

This fish species originates mainly from Mexico and Honduras, this is the most popular swordtail fish in Vietnam, the fish body has a prominent red, orange-red color, with a long sword at the tail with additional black, blue-black stripes that are extremely eye-catching.

Red Swordfish

Swordfish.

A special variation of the swordtail fish with two long "swords" on the tail. The whole body is red, bright orange-red, creating a very special highlight in the aquarium.

Blue Swordtail Fish

Blue Swordtail Fish.

Swordtail fish has a gray, blue body with a beautiful, sparkling metallic light. The swordtail has a long, pointed, black-edged blue tail that creates an impressive highlight.

Koi Swordtail Fish

Koi Swordtail Fish with colorful colors.

A special color variation in the swordtail fish line, it stands out with a color mix of red, white, and orange like the color of Koi fish . They still have the characteristic sword-shaped tail and add to the gracefulness of this fish species.

Beautiful Swordtail Fish Pictures

Right below, we have compiled many beautiful, colorful swordtail fish images with different colors. Please take a look to see the richness and attraction of this fish species.

Black Swordtail Fish

Golden Swordtail Fish

Red Eye Swordtail

Swordtail snapper

Above, nicefish.net has shared with you the most detailed and complete information about swordtail fish . This is a popular ornamental fish, with an impressive appearance, colorful colors, easy to raise, easy to breed, suitable for raising in aquariums with many other fish species.

If you want to learn more about other beautiful aquarium fish from their origin, habits to care, visit our Blog section now!