Swordsman Kohaku
The Kohaku swordsman, scientific name Xiphophorus hellerii (Koi Kohaku breed), belongs to the Poeciliidae family. An artificially bred fish, not found in nature. The name indicates the similarity of body color with the same name breed of ornamental carp Koi Kohaku.
The body color is dominated by white and red or orange colors, alternating with each other. The classic coloration is a red head, a white middle of the body and a red tail. This flourishing was the reason for the appearance of another colloquial name for this breed – Swordsman Santa Claus.
Sexual dimorphism is clearly expressed. Males have a characteristic “sword” in the form of elongated lower rays of the caudal fin.
Brief information:
- The volume of the aquarium – from 100 liters.
- Temperature – 16-28°C
- Value pH — 7.0–8.0
- Water hardness – soft to high (10-30 dGH)
- Substrate type – any
- Lighting – moderate or bright
- Brackish water is permissible in a salt concentration of up to 15 g per 1 liter
- Water movement – light or moderate
- The size of the fish is 7–10 cm.
- Food – any food
- Temperament – peaceful
- Content alone, in pairs or in a group
Maintenance and care
A comfortable environment for long-term keeping and breeding is achieved in a spacious aquarium from 100-150 liters. This volume will be quite enough for a dozen fish, subject to regular maintenance and uninterrupted operation of the equipment, primarily the filtration system. The design is arbitrary, selected at the discretion of the aquarist or based on the needs of other fish species.
The swordtail Kohaku prefers water of medium hardness at neutral pH values. Permissible content in a brackish environment. Successfully tolerate a wide range of temperatures. They can stay in unheated aquariums for a long time, provided that they are located in residential premises.
Food. Undemanding to the diet. The daily diet can consist of popular dry food in the form of flakes, pellets, etc. Live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia and other invertebrates are a good addition.
behavior and compatibility. An active mobile fish that will swim throughout the volume of the aquarium. There are no intraspecific conflicts. Males compete for the attention of females, but the rivalry is demonstrative and rarely ends in skirmishes.
Compatible with many other freshwater peace-loving fish of comparable size. It is worth avoiding being in the same aquarium of different breeds of Swordtails and Pecilia in order to avoid the appearance of hybrid offspring. Crossbreeding can also occur with closely related Mollies.
