All fish / Poeciliidae

Yellow swordtail

Xiphophorus clemenciae

Also known as yellow swordtail, clemencia's swordtail, clemenciae swordtail, x. clemenciae, clemencia swordtail, 黄剑尾鱼

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A small wild swordtail with a silvery body, a dark lateral stripe and a yellow-edged sword on the male's tail fin, often with yellow tones on the fins. It is kept by livebearer enthusiasts who want a true wild-type species that stays smaller and calmer than the domestic swordtail.

Care at a glance

Care level

Moderate

Temperament

Peaceful

Adult size

4.5 cm

Temperature

22 to 28 °C

pH

7 to 8

Smallest tank

60 litres

Keep as

Group of 5 or more, ideally one male to several females

Diet

Omnivore: quality flakes and micro pellets, algae-based foods, frozen or live bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

2 to 4 years

Water

Freshwater

Wild range

Mexico (upper Río Coatzacoalcos basin, Oaxaca and Veracruz)

Breeding

A livebearer that gives birth to small broods of fully formed fry roughly every four weeks. Breeding is easy in a well-planted tank with floating plants for cover, though broods are smaller than in domestic swordtails.

Good to know

Keep it apart from other Xiphophorus species to avoid hybridisation, as wild stocks are uncommon and worth keeping pure. It prefers clean, well-oxygenated, flowing water.