Sunrise swordtails
Xiphophorus helleri (Xiphophorous means "bearing a sword")
Livebearer
Poeciliidae
Poeciliinae
10 gallons
Top, middle
Easy, good for beginners.
Peaceful, good community fish, although they will sometimes eat fry (their own and from other fish).
With other peaceful fish. Some have reported aggression toward other males when kept in large numbers. It may be wise to limit the number of males in a single tank.
3 - 5 years
Up to 5 inches (13 cm)
Covered tank, likes lots of plants with some open space.
Freshwater, like other livebearers, they like a bit of salt, but it is not necessary.
7 - 8
9° - 15° dH
72° - 82° F (21° - 28°C)
Prefers live food, but other diets are accepted. A vegetable component is important. They like flakes, frozen, freeze-dried and live foods such as brine shrimp.
Males have long sword tail, females do not.
Up to 200 fry are produced every 4-6 weeks.
Central America
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