Viviparous Species
Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
Photo: Bastet78 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Key facts
- Temperature20–28 °C
- pH7–8
- Minimum tank100 l
- Adult size12 cm
- Difficulty★☆☆☆☆
- TemperamentPeaceful
- WaterFresh
Full profile
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Origin
- Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras
- Size
- 12 cm (males without the sword)
- Temperature
- 20 – 28°C
- pH
- 7.0 – 8.0
- GH
- 10 – 25 °dGH
- Difficulty
- ★☆☆☆☆
- Water type
- tropical freshwater
- Swimming level
- medium – high
- Behavior
- Pacific (males are somewhat aggressive toward each other)
- Minimum number of individuals
- 1 male and 3 females
- Minimum aquarium size
- 100 L
- Diet
- omnivore
- Reproduction
- viviparous; very prolific
Notes: The male has a sword-shaped extension on its tail. Active and a good jumper: a lid is essential. The red, black, and tuxedo varieties are bred in captivity.
