Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
Xiphophorus hellerii reaches 10-14 cm (male with sword). The male has a sword-like extension on the caudal fin. The female is larger and without sword. Wild coloration is olive green with a red lateral stripe. Cultivated varieties are very diverse (red, green, black, marbled). It is an active, peaceful fish, but males can be territorial with each other. It lives in groups. It sometimes jumps.
Recommended parameters
| Parameter | Recommended range |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 24–28 |
| pH | 7–8 |
| GH | 10–20 |
| KH | 5–15 |
| NO₃ | ≤ 20 |
| PO₄ | ≤ 0.5 |
Care
Care notes
A tank of at least 100 L for a group. Water should be hard (GH 10-20), alkaline (pH 7.0-8.0), temperature 24-28°C. Good filtration. Plants to hide fry. Omnivorous: flakes, pellets, vegetables, artemia. Prolific. Compatible with other hard water fish (molly, platies). Avoid aggressive species. Males may fight, provide a ratio of 2-3 females per male.