Marigold Painted Swordtail

This color morph of the wild type Xiphophorus helleri comes from stock originally found in Central America by Heckel in 1848. A member of the Livebearer family, the Swordtail has very obvious differences between the males and females. The male will have a tubular anal fin, also called the gonopodium. More obvious, the tail will have a long “sword” extension along the bottom edge. This sword can almost equal the body length of the fish. Females will have a standard rounded tail fin and anal fin. The Swordtails prefer open water with cover along the edges of the tank. Males are sometime intolerant of other males, so they should be kept as a pair, or better yet, as a trio, one male and two females. It is not unusual to see the male dart backward in front of the females and other males as a courtship display or a threatening gesture. Females will develop a darken spot behind the stomach as the babies mature and will give birth to up to 80 babies. The babies will need a lot of plant cover to survive, as the parents may decide to eat them. It is best to remove the female to a breeding trap or tank and remove her after giving birth, usually in the early morning. The Swordtails are herbivores, so be sure to include a plant-based food in their diet. They will eat most all prepared aquarium foods. Generally peaceful, Swordtails can be kept with most small to medium community fish. The Marigold Painted Swordtail has a solid dark orange/red body and fins. This color makes the scales less distinct, giving the fish a “crushed velvet” look.

Approximate arrival size for Marigold Painted Swordtail: 1.5 to 3 inches.