Black Swordtail

Appearance:

• Body Coloration: The Black Swordtail has a striking solid black coloration throughout its body, giving it a sleek and elegant appearance. The males, in particular, have a long, sword-like extension from the lower part of their caudal (tail) fin, which is also black, making the overall appearance even more dramatic.
• Fins: The tail fin of the male has a long, sword-like extension, a defining feature of swordtails. Females do not have this extension and are generally more robust in appearance.

Size:

• Black Swordtails are medium-sized fish, with males growing up to 5-6 inches (12-15 cm) in length, including the sword-like extension on their tails. Females are typically a bit shorter, around 4-5 inches.

Lifespan:

• With proper care, Black Swordtails can live for 3-5 years, though they may live longer in well-maintained aquariums.

Behavior:

• Peaceful and Active: Black Swordtails are peaceful, active fish that do well in community aquariums. However, males can sometimes be territorial or chase each other, especially in smaller tanks. Keeping a ratio of 1 male to 2-3 females helps to reduce male aggression.
• Livebearers: Like all swordtails, they are livebearers, meaning females give birth to live fry rather than laying eggs.

Habitat & Tank Requirements:

• Tank Size: A minimum of 20 gallons is recommended for a small group of swordtails. Larger tanks are always better, especially to reduce territorial behavior in males.
• Water Parameters: Black Swordtails prefer slightly alkaline water with a pH of 7.0-8.3 and a temperature range of 72-82°F (22-28°C).
• Aquarium Setup: These fish prefer a well-planted tank with plenty of open swimming areas. Plants, rocks, and decorations can provide hiding spaces for females and fry.

Diet:

• Black Swordtails are omnivores and thrive on a varied diet that includes:
  • High-quality flakes or pellets formulated for tropical fish.
  • Vegetables: Blanched spinach, peas, and algae wafers.
  • Live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms.

Breeding:

• Black Swordtails are easy to breed, as they are prolific livebearers. Females can give birth to fry every 4-6 weeks. Providing plenty of plants will help protect the fry from being eaten by adults.
• A 1:3 male-to-female ratio is ideal to prevent males from stressing females with constant mating attempts.

Tank Mates:

• Black Swordtails are peaceful fish and can live with many other community species, including:
  • Platies
  • Guppies
  • Mollies
  • Tetras
  • Corydoras
• Avoid aggressive or fin-nipping species, which may harm their tails.

Health and Care:

• Black Swordtails are hardy fish, but like all aquarium fish, they are susceptible to common diseases such as Ich or fin rot if the water quality is poor.
• Regular water changes and good filtration are essential to maintaining their health.

Temperament:

• Swordtails are generally peaceful but may show slight territorial behavior, especially among males. Providing plenty of space and hiding spots can help reduce stress.