Swordtail "Wagtail Red" - Xiphophorus helleri

The color form Wagtail Red of the swordtail is a particularly beautiful breeding variant of the robust and uncomplicated Central American swordtail Xiphophorus helleri. Wagtail swordtails have a red to red orange body and a characteristic black caudal fin, the males with a long black sword on the underside. Swordtails grow to about 12-15 inches long, the males like the females. What distinguishes male swordtails from females is not only their characteristic sword, but also their sexual appendage, the gonopodium.

Wagtail Red Swordtails are an ideal aquarium fish for beginners. The Wagtail Red Swordtail Xiphophorus helleri is found in nature in dense plant growth in the riparian zone of rivers with a fairly fast current. The Wagtail Swordtail likes rather neutral to slightly alkaline water in the aquarium with a pH value in the range of 7 to 8.5. The total hardness (GH) should be between 10 and 30 °dGH, the aquarium temperature between 22 and 28 °C. These beautiful, lively ornamental fish need an aquarium with an edge length from 100 cm upwards. Please pay attention to a dense cover, Wagtail swordtails like to jump once in a while. Dense plant groups ensure that the fry find protection and that underdogs can escape.

Wagtail swordtails are like all forms of Xiphophorus helleri group fish, which need a shoal of at least 10 conspecifics. You can mix here different color forms and fin forms calmly to a multicolored group, should be conscious however that in the offspring then likewise a multicolored mix will occur. For pure color breeding please pay attention to pure groups.

The Wagtail swordtail belongs to the live-bearing toothcarps, which means that the females release about 20-150 live fry per litter. Female Wagtail Swordtails are able to store the male's semen for a long time after mating, for this reason baby fish can be born for several weeks even in female-only groups. Wagtail swordtails eat their offspring, so for successful breeding the aquarium should be very well planted. If there are many hiding places, significantly more fry will come through.

Swordtails are closely related to the Platys, which are very popular in aquaristics, and they can produce fertile hybrids with them again - you should therefore refrain from socializing them. With other peaceful aquarium fish, on the other hand, keeping them together works very well. Also the socialization of swordtails with dwarf shrimps can work, provided that the aquarium is very well planted and you choose a well reproducing or larger species like Neocaridina or like Amano shrimps. Rather peaceful dwarf crayfish can also be kept well with Xiphophorus helleri. Large crayfish species, on the other hand, are not so well suited for socialization; they may nip the males in the long fins or prey on and eat the fish.

The surface oriented Wagtail Red Swordtail Xiphophorus helleri likes to eat longer floating flake food and granulated food with animal as well as vegetable components, as it belongs to the omnivores. In addition, the beautiful aquarium fish like high-quality Frozen food and also Live food such as daphnia or white, black and red mosquito larvae. Nutrient-rich worms such as grindal, shiner worms or enchytraea are also good to feed. Wagtail swordtails also like to nibble on over-broiled spinach or nettles, and they will also eat algae coverings.

Our food recommendation: The fragrant NatureHolic Guppyfeed was tailor-made for the needs of guppies and other viviparous fish in the aquarium. In addition to high-quality animal ingredients, it also contains vegetable components that benefit guppies & co. The soft granules protect the sensitive mouth of the viviparous from injuries caused by hard food grains and provide the fish with a natural feeding experience.

Our plant recommendation: For planting, use NatureHolic InVitros. These are free of snails, planarians and other unwanted co-inhabitants. Also free of algae spores, bacteria and fungi.

Expert Tip: We recommend for fish keeping the NatureHolic 3 Phase Liquid. The care set offers the best all-round protection for your animals. It ensures optimal conditions for successful breeding and keeping.