{"product_id":"red-swordtail-xiphophorus-hellerii","title":"Red Swordtail | Xiphophorus hellerii","description":"\u003ch2\u003eDescription\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eBold, active and hardy, the Red Swordtail is a community classic — mature males trail a long, colourful 'sword' from the lower tail. Peaceful and quick to breed, they are as easy to keep as they are eye-catching, growing to around 14 cm including the sword.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eNatural Habitat\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eXiphophorus hellerii is native to the fast and slow freshwaters of Central America, from Mexico to Honduras, thriving in warm, hard, well-vegetated streams and rivers. The bright red form is line-bred, but it keeps the wild swordtail's love of warm, harder, slightly alkaline water and moving current.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAppearance\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA robust, torpedo-shaped livebearer. The male's lower tail extends into a long 'sword', while females are larger-bodied and swordless. The red strain is a rich, even red over the whole body. Colour and the length of the sword improve in mature, well-fed males in good conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eTemperament and Compatibility\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003ePeaceful and lively, swordtails make excellent community fish, though dominant males can be a little feisty with one another. Keeping one male with several females, or a group with more females than males, keeps the peace. They mix well with other livebearers and calm community species.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eFeeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAn easy-going omnivore. Offer a quality flake as a staple, supplemented with frozen and live foods such as daphnia, brine shrimp and bloodworm, plus vegetable or algae-based food, as swordtails graze on aufwuchs in nature. A varied diet keeps colour and vigour high.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eCare Requirements\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eProvide a minimum of around 80 L, with 100 L or larger better for a group of these active swimmers. Keep temperature at 22–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.2 and GH hard, around 12–30 — they genuinely prefer harder, alkaline water. Provide open swimming space, some planting and a secure lid, as swordtails are keen jumpers. Fully plant safe.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eBreeding\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSwordtails are prolific livebearers that breed with no encouragement, dropping broods of free-swimming fry every few weeks. Provide dense planting or floating cover so fry can escape hungry adults. Interestingly, dominant females can sometimes change sex and develop male features.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSpecies Information\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003ctable\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eScientific Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXiphophorus hellerii\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCommon Name\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRed Swordtail\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOrigin\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCentral America, Mexico to Honduras (captive-bred strain)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eAround 14 cm including sword (females to ~12 cm)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eLifespan\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3–5 years\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTemperament\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePeaceful (community)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDifficulty\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eBeginner\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMinimum Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e80 L\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRecommended Tank Size\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100 L or larger\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDiet\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOmnivore: flake, frozen and live foods, vegetable and algae-based food\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWater Temperature\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22–28 °C\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003epH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.0–8.2\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGH Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard, around 12–30 dGH\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSalinity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable (freshwater)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eSuitable For\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHard-water community and planted aquariums\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eReef Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNot applicable\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlant Safe\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eYes\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e \u003c\/table\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSuitable Tank Mates\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eSuitable tank mates include platies, mollies, guppies, peaceful tetras and rasboras, corydoras, peaceful catfish and other calm community fish that enjoy harder water.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAvoid Keeping With\u003c\/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eAvoid keeping with fin-nippers, large or aggressive cichlids, and any fish big enough to eat a swordtail. Avoid very soft, acidic water.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Nick's Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","offers":[{"title":"Small (1-5cm)","offer_id":55232790757667,"sku":null,"price":6.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Medium (5-10cm)","offer_id":55232790790435,"sku":"BA8827","price":9.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Large (10-15cm)","offer_id":55232790823203,"sku":null,"price":14.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0972\/7236\/5347\/files\/Red_Swordtail_8237a4c9-921e-4adf-b7a1-7739a330464f.jpg?v=1781698030","url":"https:\/\/nicksaquariumoceanariumterrarium.com.au\/products\/red-swordtail-xiphophorus-hellerii","provider":"Nicks Aquarium Oceanarium Terrarium","version":"1.0","type":"link"}