Swordtails are another very popular tropical
livebearing fish, ideal for the community aquarium. They
are colourful, peaceful, easy to care for and simple to breed.
Mainly native to eastern Mexico, wild Swordtails
are usually olive-green with several red stripes along their
bodies. Mature males are a brighter green and develop
a long extension to their tail fin (the "sword").
Like their close relatives the Platies, Swordtails
have been selectively bred for many decades. This has
resulted in a wide range of very attractive fish of various
colours and fin shapes, all of them excellent aquarium fish.
Male Swordtails can grow to 7-8cm, and the
females to 9-12cm, but they usually remain a bit smaller. They
will eat most standard fish foods and will also pick at green
algae growing in the aquarium. While not particularly
fussy about water conditions, they prefer neutral or alkaline
water of moderate hardness rather than soft acidic water.
Swordtails can comfortably tolerate temperatures
around 18-20 C, but prefer temperatures in the mid 20's.
Like most livebearers, Swordtails are easy
to breed. From a single mating a female can give birth
a number of times, large females may give birth to 50-100
fry. The gestation period varies from 4-6 weeks depending
on water temperature. When born the fry are fully developed
and can be easily raised on commercial fish foods, starting
with fry foods such as Super Baby Min and Fry Bites. The
fry need to be isolated in a small aquarium or in a breeding
trap, otherwise most will be eaten by any other fish present,
including their mother.
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