F42 Red Swordtail

Key Characteristics of the Red Swordtail:

• Size:

  • Males typically grow to about 2.5 to 3 inches (6–7.5 cm).
  • Females are larger, reaching 3 to 4 inches (7.5–10 cm), but do not have the elongated tail fin like the males.

• Coloration:

  • The most distinct feature of the Red Swordtail is the bright red or orange-red body coloration, particularly in males.
  • The males have a long "sword" tail, which is an extension of the lower part of the tail fin, giving them their unique and attractive appearance. Females lack the swordtail but still sport a lovely mix of colors, often with shades of red, orange, or greenish hues.

• Behavior:

  • Peaceful and Social: Swordtails are peaceful, active, and social fish, making them ideal for community tanks. They are best kept in schools of 3 or more and do well with other peaceful species.
  • Males can be a little territorial, especially if kept in a small tank with several other males, but they generally get along with each other in larger tanks or when there are plenty of females.

• Lifespan: They can live around 3 to 5 years in optimal conditions.

Care Requirements:

• Tank Size:

  • A 20-gallon tank (75 liters) is the minimum recommended size for a small group of Swordtails. They are active swimmers, so having adequate space will allow them to thrive.

• Water Conditions:

  • Temperature: They prefer water temperatures between 72°F and 82°F (22°C to 28°C).
  • pH: Swordtails thrive in slightly alkaline water with a pH range of 7.0 to 8.0.
  • Hardness: They prefer moderately hard to hard water (10–25 dGH).
  • Filtration: Swordtails are hardy and adaptable, but they do well in well-filtered tanks with clean water. Regular water changes are important for maintaining healthy water quality.

• Tank Setup:

  • Swordtails love planted tanks with plenty of open swimming space. You can add gravel or sand substrate along with some live plants such as Java Fern or Anubias. These plants also provide hiding spots for young fry (baby fish).
  • Adding rocks or driftwood for extra hiding places and creating some structure in the tank can also help reduce stress.

• Diet:

  • Omnivorous: Swordtails are not picky eaters and will eat a wide variety of foods.
  • Offer them a balanced diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, live or frozen foods (such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms), and vegetables (like blanched spinach, peas, or zucchini).
  • It’s important to offer both plant-based and protein-based foods to keep them healthy and vibrant.

Breeding:

• Livebearers: Swordtails, like other livebearers (such as guppies and platies), give birth to free-swimming fry instead of laying eggs.
  • Mating: Males are often more colorful, and their swordtail is a distinguishing feature they use to attract females. Mating can happen frequently, and the male will chase the female, attempting to fertilize her.
  • Gestation: After mating, the female will carry the fertilized eggs in her body for about 3 to 4 weeks before giving birth to live fry. The fry are usually born fully formed and able to swim immediately.
  • Fry Care: Since Swordtail fry can be eaten by their parents or other fish, it’s a good idea to have a breeding tank or use a breeding box to protect them. The young fish grow quickly, so the fry can be moved into the main tank once they are large enough to avoid predation.

Tankmates:

Red Swordtails are generally peaceful and can be kept with a variety of community fish. They do well with species that are similarly peaceful and not too aggressive.

• Good Tankmates:
  • Other livebearers like guppies, platies, or mollies.
  • Corydoras catfish (peaceful bottom-dwellers).
  • Neon Tetras or other small schooling fish.
  • Angelfish, although care should be taken with smaller tankmates like shrimp or snails, as angelfish may prey on them.
• Avoid:
  • Aggressive fish such as cichlids (except for some peaceful species like dwarf cichlids) or large barbs that could stress out or harm the Swordtails.
  • Very small or slow-moving fish that might get outcompeted for food.