Swordtail fish are small, colorful freshwater fish that people have been breeding for hundreds of years in captivity. These fish are native to North and Central America. However, we can find them all over the globe. They usually survive three to five years, but they can live up to eight with reasonable care. Because of their size and color, swordtail fish are famous among aquarists, but do you know what family swordtail fish belong to?
Swordtail fish are a family of fish that belong to the Poeciliidae family. These fish are livebearers, which means that instead of laying eggs, they give live birth. They usually have 50-100 offspring at a time, and the size of the babies varies by species.
This article will look at the swordtail fish family and some recommendations for keeping them happy at home.
Swordtail Fish: Description And Classification
One of the largest livebearer species is the swordtail fish, which is a mid-dweller. They can reach a length of 5 inches (12 cm).
Their tail sword is approximately 20 cm (8 inches) long, and their body is roughly the size of an adult human finger. Female swordtails are about an inch and a half longer than male swordtails, but they lack the male swordtail’s long, lengthened tail.
Swordtails have a five-year lifespan in the wild, although they can live up to ten years in captivity. Make sure you prepare ahead before getting swordtails into your home because they develop swiftly for the first two years and mature in the fifth.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Actinopterygii
- Order: Cyprinodontiformes
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Xiphophorus
- Here’s a tabulated description of swordtail fish:
| Experience Level | Beginner – Easy to care for, hardy fish, easy to breed, and are undemanding. |
| Appearance | Small and elongated, males have a sword-like tail extension and an anal fin.
Females lack those and have rounded tails. |
| Adult Size | Male Swordtail Adult Size: 5.5″ Female Swordtail Adult Size: 6″ (an inch longer than males) |
| Water Condition | Hard, Alkaline water(12-30dGH)
Freshwater |
| Water Temperature Range | 65-80 Degree Fahrenheit |
| Temperament | Social, Hardy, Community Fish |
| Tank Region | Usually found dwelling along the mid and top section of the tank |
| Tank Size | At least 15-gallon (45L) or larger |
| Food | Omnivorous (Algae, Bloodworms, Baby shrimps, etc.) |
| Lifespan | 3-5 years |
Which Family Do Swordtail Fish Belong To?
Swordtail fish are present throughout the planet, from Northern America to Mexico, Central America, and Asia. The majority of swordtail fish live in freshwater and are comparable to most tropical fish. However, they have special requirements for life in an aquarium, which you must meet for them to grow.
Swordtail fish belong to the Poeciliidae family, and the most common swordtail is Xiphophorus helleri. They are roughly five inches long and live in captivity for three to five years. In the Poecilia family alone, there are around 17 different swordtail species.
Fish that are livebearers and have tooth-craps belong to the Poecilia family. Instead of laying eggs, swordtail fish reproduce by giving birth to their offspring. The majority of this family’s fish are non-aggressive and enjoy slow-moving freshwater. Other fish in this family include the guppy, molly, platy, and others.
Characters Of The Poeciliidae Family
The Poeciliidae family is known for giving birth to live young, as the common name suggests. A single soft-rayed dorsal fin and no lateral line are other family features. The anal fin of male poeciliids has developed into a gonopodium structure, which is used to deliver sperm bundles to female fish. Poeciliidae is typically small, measuring less than 100 mm in length, with the female being significantly more significant than the male.
The Poeciliidae family is found throughout the Americas, from the upper Mississippi Valley to Central America and Argentina. This family has up to 300 species, many of which are popular among aquarists. However, these fish prefer warm water habitats and are primarily restricted to the central North Island’s thermal zones.
Where Can You Find Swordtail Fish in the Wild?
We can find swordtails in various aquatic biomes, such as lakes, rivers, creeks, and ponds. On the other hand, some forms are only found in certain types of water, such as spring-fed streams or soft acidic waters.
In the wild, they can be found in Mexico, Central America, and northern South America. Their natural habitats vary by species, including slow-moving rivers, quiet estuaries, and small coastal streams. Some types, however, can only be found in specific water settings, such as spring-fed streams or soft acidic waters.
They are found in the wild in tropical and subtropical regions with at least some humidity. We can find them around ponds, streams, or slow-moving rivers with abundant greenery and soft water. On the other hand, others prefer quiet pools with shallow water and plenty of plants for hiding places.
How To Take Care Of Swordtails At Home?
Here’s a list of requirements for swordtail fish to keep them healthy, happy, and thriving in your tank at home:
Tank Size
Swordtail fish are small fish that do not require a lot of room. However, because they are aggressive swimmers, it is best to give them plenty of room to swim. A 15-gallon tank is an excellent place to start. This equates to a 15-gallon tank for a single fish. If you want to have additional fish in the tank, you’ll need a tank that’s at least 30 gallons.
A tank with a minimum capacity of 30 gallons will provide ample space for your swordtail to swim around and explore. But, in the meantime, there will be plenty of room for more fish to flourish.
Maintaining Water Parameters
Maintenance of tank water is probably the most fundamental step in swordtail fish care. An imbalance in temperature, pH, and hardness can be problematic to fish health and susceptibility to dangerous diseases.
Well-conditioned tank water for swordtail fish looks like this:
- Water pH ranges from 7.0 to 8.4
- The hardness of the water: 12-30 DH
- Temperature: 65-80 degrees Fahrenheit (21-28 degrees Celsius)
Water Changes
It’s essential to change and filter your water regularly to avoid illness and infection, as well as to encourage breeding. In addition, it is critical to change your water regularly to preserve good water quality.
Changing 25% of the tank water once a month is an excellent place to start when it comes to water quality. Water change aids in eliminating nitrogenous contaminants, and decomposing waste material reduces water clouding, both of which are necessary for a healthy aquarium.
Tank Decorations
They can be found in the wild throughout North and Central America’s freshwater bodies, such as Belize, Guatemala, and Mexico. They’d be surrounded by tropical running water, lush foliage, and rocks and garbage, of course.
The most crucial things a swordtail fish requires are space and suitable hiding plants. Swordtails are also active, swimming about the plant’s mid and surface levels.
Similarly, plants provide safe havens for the fish. Artificial or natural plants can be used, but live plants help to maintain your aquarium healthy. Popular alternatives include Java fern, Anubis, and others. Distribute your plants throughout the aquarium, allowing enough room for them to swim.
Tank Mates
Swordtail fish are social and get along with practically all related species and a wide variety of others. However, because they are peaceful and kind, it is best to keep them with other passive fish.
Platies, Mollies, Guppies, Betta, Angelfish, Tetras, Dwarf Gouramis, Pearl Danios, Kuli Loaches, and many more species with similar temperaments would make excellent companions.
Food
You can feed your swordtail flake food or live foods like bloodworms, blackworms, daphnia, brine shrimp, and mosquito larvae, as well as mosquito larvae. Their frozen food tastes almost identical to their new diet, and You can also feed them frozen vitamins. Make sure to include some plant-based nutrients, such as algal wafers, because they enjoy herbivorous nutrients as well.
They’re small fish. Therefore a fair bit of food a couple of times a day would be sufficient.
FAQs
Do Swordtails Have Teeth?
The existence of fangs in Swordtails is a point of contention. So let me clear things up for you once and for all by stating unequivocally that swordtail fish do have teeth. Swordtail fish are members of the Poeciliidae family of live-bearing tooth carps, containing teeth in their upper and lower jaws.
Behavioral Characters Of Swordtail Fish
The most noticeable behavioral qualities of swordtail fish are their calm, kind, and gregarious natures. They are little tropical community fish that prefer to be in groups with other fish of the same species.
Even though they congregate in bunches, they never form a school or a shoal. They are instead friendly freshwater fish that can be a great addition to your freshwater community.
Can Swordtails Live With Other Fish Of The Same Family?
All livebearers can be found in tropical areas all over the world. On the other hand, other livebearers can make wonderful tank mates for your swordtail fish if they have the same temperament and requirements.
When you maintain swordtail fish with other livebearers, they will thrive. Even Platy Fish and Swordtail Fish can cross-breed. Every community tank environment is made possible through compatibility. And because livebearers are related, they will appreciate each other’s companionship.
Conclusion
To summarize, swordtail fish are an excellent addition to any household. They’re attractive and welcoming, and they complement the appearance of your tank. Furthermore, swordtail fish thrive in groups, so you can obtain multiples if you like. Swordtail fish, on the other hand, do not require much space. For them, small tanks are sufficient.
Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of which family swordtail fish belong to. Swordtails make excellent pets and are pretty easy to care for. So, if you’re looking for a fun new pet with many personalities, swordtail is the pet for you.