Water Conditions- Temp. 70-78, Water changes, require plants to hide, keep in 20+ gallon tank
    Behavior- Peaceful community fish, shy
    Breeding- 10-40 Young approx. every 30 days
    Size- 5 inches

    This is a hardy swordtail, and when well fed in a consistent environment they like, they can be quite prolific. The fun with these
    guys is to see how large you can get them with lots of live foods, particularly various types of worms (Blackworms, earthworms, etc.)
    Being a larger fish, they require at least a 20 gallon tank, which would be large enough for 2-3 adult pairs. To get them as large as
    possible grow them out in a tanks no smaller than 30 gallons with few tankmates.

    They require some aeration generated water movement and plants. They will swim out in front routinely, but become very shy when
    startled. Water changes, as with all swordtails that originally lived in streams, are essential of at least 10% weekly. Because they are
    bigger fish, and eat more, keeping the bottom clean of debris must be done on a regular basis.

    Because of their inherently shy nature the breeders here do best in a dim to moderately lit tank, but the young are grown out in fully lit
    tanks moderately planted with Java fern and anubias. Water temperature is generally kept at 72-76 degrees.

    Females when about to drop become very large and cannot be kept in a breeder. A separate, covered, filtered tank of 5 or 10 gallons,
    heavily planted with Java moss should be provided for the gravid female, like all swordtails, she will generally have her young between
    sunup and noon, and should be removed as soon as the babies are discovered.

    It was from this line that the female was born that started the high fin line, but there has not been a high fin “sport” born since that one
    fish about 4 years ago.