All fish / Poeciliidae

Chiapas Swordtail

Xiphophorus alvarezi

Also known as alvarezi swordtail, alvarez's swordtail, alvarezi, chiapas sword, guatemala swordtail, クシフォフォルス・アルバレジィ, 阿尔瓦雷斯剑尾鱼

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A wild swordtail with an olive-green body, a red-brown zigzag stripe along the flank and, in males, a long sword on the lower edge of the tail edged in black. Keepers prize it as an unhybridised wild species that is livelier and more athletic than the familiar fancy swordtails.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

7 cm

Temperature

20 to 26 °C

pH

7 to 8.2

Smallest tank

120 litres

Keep as

One male with several females, or a larger group with more females than males

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and pellets, algae and vegetable matter, plus live or frozen bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

3 to 5 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Upper Grijalva and Usumacinta basins, Chiapas (Mexico) and Guatemala

Breeding

A livebearer: females give birth to batches of roughly 20 to 50 fully formed fry every four weeks or so after internal fertilisation. Breeding is easy in well-planted tanks, though adults may eat the fry unless dense cover or a separate rearing tank is provided.

Good to know

Males are active swimmers and can be quarrelsome with each other, so the tank needs plenty of length, a secure lid and clean, well-oxygenated water with some current. Keep it apart from other swordtails and platies so the wild line does not hybridise.