white swordsman
The white swordtail, scientific name Xiphophorus hellerii (White breed), belongs to the Poeciliidae family. It is a continuation of the Koi Swordtail variety, in which red and black colors were removed (suppressed) from the color during selection. As a result, the fish acquired a monochromatic light milky-white shade, translucent in places.
It is quite rare, because it is sometimes difficult for non-professional breeders to keep a clean line. Sometimes the offspring of the White Swordfish may show signs of previous generations, and the fish themselves can interbreed with other breeds and even closely related species (Pecilia, Mollies), which inevitably leads to hybridization.
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
An easy-to-keep species due to its ability to adapt to various habitat conditions. First of all, we are talking about the hydrochemical composition of water. Swordtails are highly adaptable to a wide range of pH and GH values, including brackish environments. They can withstand relatively low temperatures down to 16°C, so a species aquarium can do without a heating system.
Maintenance consists of standard procedures such as weekly replacement of part of the water with fresh water, which is usually combined with the removal of organic waste (feed residues, excrement), and regular maintenance of equipment.
They live mainly in the upper and middle layers of water. They are very active and tend to jump out of the aquarium. Given this feature, it is advisable to provide a cover or place clusters of floating plants that can become a natural obstacle to jumping.
Food. The choice of possible foods for feeding the Swordsmen is quite large. They will happily accept most dry foods (flakes, pellets) as well as frozen and live foods such as brine shrimp, bloodworms, daphnia, mosquito larvae, etc.
behavior and compatibility. Peaceful, can successfully coexist with many other fish species of comparable size and temperament. As noted above, you should be careful when choosing aquarium neighbors from among closely related species, as well as other breeds of swordtails.
