Awesome Freshwater Algae Eaters in Aquariums: Green Swordtail

AwesomeFreshwater Algae Eaters in Aquariums: Green Swordtail The Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii is very popular. It is but one of the prettiest aquariam fish and incredibly robust. In the wild, it has an olive green body with sometimes brilliant and yellow along the sides and red speckles on its fins. With this particular coloration, it's most often known as the Green Swordtail or the Red Swordtail. However, to the fantastic colors that make it so highly prized now, it has been bred in captivity.

Photo copyright from thejump.net 

Awesome Freshwater Algae Eaters in Aquariums: Green Swordtail


The Swordtail comes in many various colours with all the males being easily identified by their signature sword like tail. The Swordtail is an incredibly hardy fish that could adjust to a wide selection of water conditions. They are livebearers which means that the baby fish come free swimming out. Please have a look at the breeding livebearers page to learn more, if you're considering breeding them.

It's often considered to be named for the "sword" shaped expansion of its tail fin, but the Swordtail was actually named for the sword like look of the male's anal fin. As the male fish matures, this specialized anal fin develops. The middle rays of the anal fin are modified into a narrow copulatory organ.

Feeding

In the wild, swordtails feed on a variety of invertebrates, insects, plant matter and alga, and are omnivores. This diet ought to be replicated as strongly as possible in the home aquarium and can be accomplished through feeding a number of foods. The principal portion in their diet should contain a higher quality flake food, also it will be nutritional supplements with live or frozen foods and blanched vegetables.

Habitat: Distribution

The Green Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii was described by Heckel in 1848. They may be seen in North and Central America, where they range from the Atlantic slopes of southern Mexico (Rio Nantla, Veracruz) to northwestern Honduras. They are introduced to, and become established in, a number of countries in southern Africa and along the eastern shore of Australia.

Swordtail Character / Behaviour

The swordtail is a litte fish that is tough. When there are larger fish in the tank, they are able to take good care of themselves. The males may become aggressive.

Sexing

The male is also more slender and has a "sword" formed anal fin called a gonopodium. The female has a fan shaped anal fin, is rounder of body, and certainly will have a spawning patch at breeding time.

There is an occasional tendency to get a female Swordtail to change sex and develop a "sword" on her tail, especially when old or changed by parasites. She might even attempt courtship with a different female, though many the time they may be infertile.

Maintenance

Pick of décor isn't especially crucial though it has a tendency to look best in a heavily-planted set-up using a substrate that is dark. Wild types also needs to suit an aquarium ordered to resemble a running stream with water-worn rocks and little boulders.

The inclusion of some floating plants as well as driftwood roots or branches to diffuse the light going into the tank also looks appreciated and adds a more natural feel. Filtration does not need to be especially powerful though it can appear to value a level of water movement.

Breeding

Like most other live bearers, swordtails will normally breed by themselves without any intervention from their owners. That is a common joke that to get swordtails to breed, just add water – and this isn’t far from the truth.

Behaviour and Compatibility

In confined spaces groups of males are inclined to form dominance hierarchies and might invest a significant percentage of time maintaining their individual locations.

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