Scientific name: Xiphophorus helleri
Common name: Red Swordtail
Distribution: Native to southeastern Mexico, central Guatemala, southern Belize, and northwestern Honduras
Habitat: Natural populations are found in various types of habitat from sea level to around 1500 m altitude, including fast-flowing, rocky streams, to springs, ditches, ponds, and rivers containing clear to turbid water. In most cases the water is less than 1.5 m deep and there is no aquatic vegetation.
In flowing water adults tend to congregate in areas with greater current, while juveniles and subadults display a preference for quiet marginal zones.
Size: up to 6"
Temperature: 61 - 82° F
pH: 7.0 - 8.0
Feeding: Offer a balanced diet comprising good quality dried products along with small live and frozen foods such as Daphnia, Artemia and chironomid larvae (bloodworms).