Swordtail

The swordtail is a hardy, livebearing freshwater fish in the family Poeciliidae, native to Central America from Mexico to Honduras. Wild fish are greenish with a lateral stripe, while males bear the distinctive elongated lower tail lobe or sword; decades of breeding have produced red, orange, black, and many other color varieties. It is an active, generally peaceful community fish, though males can be boisterous toward one another, so keeping more females than males reduces harassment. A planted tank with open swimming space, neutral to slightly hard water, and a secure lid suits this energetic jumper. It is an omnivore that accepts flakes, pellets, vegetables, and live or frozen foods and appreciates some vegetable matter. As a prolific livebearer, it readily produces free-swimming fry, and providing dense plants or cover helps young survive, making it an excellent beginner breeding fish.