Pineapple Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) Care Guide
The Pineapple Swordtail is a golden-yellow captive strain of Xiphophorus hellerii, a hardy Central American livebearer of the family Poeciliidae.
Overview
The Pineapple Swordtail is a golden-yellow captive colour strain of the green swordtail, Xiphophorus hellerii, a livebearing fish of the family Poeciliidae. Wikipedia notes that captive breeding of this species has produced black, red and other patterned variants. Males bear the elongated lower caudal-fin lobe (the sword); FishBase records males to 14 cm and females to 16 cm total length.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poeciliidae
- Genus: Xiphophorus
- Scientific name: Xiphophorus hellerii (Pineapple strain)
- Authority: Heckel, 1848
Habitat
The wild green swordtail is native to Central America, from Veracruz in Mexico to northwestern Honduras. FishBase describes its habitat as rapidly flowing streams and rivers, warm springs, weedy canals and ponds with heavy vegetation, in fresh to brackish water.
Tank requirements
- Minimum tank volume: 100 L (26 gal)
- Temperature: 22-28 °C (72-82 °F)
- pH: 7.0-8.5
- GH: 10-25 °dGH
- Lifespan: 3-5 years
- Cover: planted areas with open swimming space
Diet
Xiphophorus hellerii is an omnivore. FishBase records a diet of worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter, and Wikipedia notes plants, small crustaceans, insects and annelid worms. A varied diet including vegetable matter suits it well in captivity.
Compatibility
The species is a generally peaceful mid-water swimmer suited to community tanks with other livebearers and calm species. Males can be territorial toward one another, so keeping more females than males reduces harassment.
Breeding
The green swordtail is a livebearer and one of the easier aquarium fish to breed when both sexes are present. Wikipedia notes that sexual maturity is reached at around three months of age and that fertilisation is internal with live birth.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List: Least Concern (assessed 2018), per FishBase for the wild species.