Blood red Swordtail

Blood Red Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri) are a popular and vibrant freshwater fish, known for their striking red coloration and graceful appearance. Here’s a basic guide to help you care for them:

1. Tank Size

• Minimum: 20 gallons (75 liters) for a small group.
• Recommended: Larger tanks are always better. A 30-gallon (113-liter) tank or more gives them plenty of space to swim and thrive.

2. Water Parameters

• Temperature: 72-78°F (22-26°C).
• pH: 7.0 to 8.0 (neutral to slightly alkaline).
• Hardness: 10–20 dGH (moderately hard to hard water).
• Ammonia/Nitrite: Should always be 0 ppm.
• Nitrate: Keep under 20 ppm, with regular water changes.

3. Water Changes

• Do 25-30% water changes weekly to maintain water quality and avoid buildup of toxins.

4. Tank Setup

• Substrate: Fine gravel or sand is good.
• Plants: Swordtails appreciate plants for hiding, resting, and foraging. Java fern, Anubias, and Amazon swords are excellent choices.
• Decor: Rocks, driftwood, and some open swimming space for them to explore.

5. Feeding

• Diet: Blood Red Swordtails are omnivores, so feed them a varied diet of high-quality flakes, pellets, frozen or live foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms. Offer veggies like blanched spinach or zucchini too.
• Feeding Frequency: Feed them 2-3 times a day in small amounts. Make sure they eat everything within 2-3 minutes to prevent water pollution.

6. Tank Mates

• Swordtails are generally peaceful but can be a bit territorial, especially during breeding. They do well with:
  • Other peaceful community fish like neon tetras, guppies, corydoras, and mollies.
  • Avoid fin-nipping species like barbs or aggressive fish.

7. Breeding

• Swordtails are livebearers, meaning they give birth to live young. You can encourage breeding by maintaining stable water conditions and keeping a ratio of 1 male to 2-3 females.
  • Females are larger, and males have the distinctive sword-like tail.
  • If you don’t want to end up with baby swordtails, you’ll need to separate the males and females or provide cover for the babies (like dense plants or a breeding box).

8. Health

• Swordtails are generally hardy, but they are susceptible to common freshwater fish diseases like Ich or fin rot. Keep an eye on their behavior and appearance—if they’re rubbing against objects, acting lethargic, or showing abnormal spots, consider quarantine and treatment.

9. Lifespan

• They usually live for 3-5 years with proper care.

If you're just starting out, Blood Red Swordtails can be a great choice—they’re hardy and fairly easy to care for.