Mixed Lyretail Swordtails

Appearance:

• Body Coloration: Mixed Lyretail Swordtails display a wide range of colors, including red, orange, yellow, green, black, and various marbled or patterned forms. Their tails and fins often contrast with their body color, adding to their striking appearance.
• Tail Shape: The defining feature of the lyretail swordtail is its lyre-shaped caudal fin. The top and bottom edges of the tail are elongated and pointed, giving the fish a graceful, flowing appearance. The males still possess the signature sword-like extension, but it is more pronounced with the lyretail effect.
• Sexual Dimorphism: Males are slimmer with elongated sword-like tails, while females are typically larger and more rounded but still feature the lyretail shape.

Size:

• Males typically grow up to 5-6 inches (12-15 cm) including the tail, while females may reach 4-5 inches (10-12 cm).

Lifespan:

• With proper care, Mixed Lyretail Swordtails can live for 3-5 years, though some individuals may live longer in well-maintained aquariums.

Behavior:

• Peaceful and Active: Lyretail swordtails are generally peaceful and social fish, ideal for community tanks. Males can occasionally show territorial behavior, especially if multiple males are present in a small space.
• Livebearers: As with all swordtails, they are livebearers, meaning females give birth to live young. This makes them prolific breeders under the right conditions.

Habitat & Tank Requirements:

• Tank Size: A minimum of 20 gallons is recommended for Lyretail Swordtails due to their active swimming habits and larger size. For groups or multiple males, a larger tank (30+ gallons) is preferable.
• Water Parameters: They prefer slightly alkaline water with a pH of 7.0-8.3 and temperatures between 72-82°F (22-28°C).
• Aquarium Setup: A well-planted tank with open swimming spaces is ideal. Plants, rocks, and other decorations can provide hiding spaces, which is particularly helpful for fry and females.

Diet:

• Mixed Lyretail Swordtails are omnivorous, thriving on a balanced diet that includes:
  • High-quality flake or pellet food.
  • Vegetables such as blanched spinach, peas, or algae wafers.
  • Live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms to provide protein.

Breeding:

• Easy to Breed: Mixed Lyretail Swordtails are prolific breeders, with females giving birth to 20-50 fry every few weeks. Dense planting or a breeding box can protect the fry from being eaten by adult fish.
• A 1 male to 2-3 females ratio is ideal to prevent males from overharassing females.

Tank Mates:

• Mixed Lyretail Swordtails are well-suited for community tanks and do well with other peaceful fish, such as:
  • Platies
  • Mollies
  • Guppies
  • Corydoras
  • Tetras
• Avoid keeping them with aggressive or fin-nipping species, as they may damage the lyretail’s elongated fins.

Health and Care:

• These fish are generally hardy but can be prone to common freshwater issues like Ich or fin rot if water quality is poor. Regular water changes and maintaining good filtration are key to keeping them healthy.

Temperament:

• Mixed Lyretail Swordtails are usually peaceful but may show slight aggression or territorial behavior, particularly between males. Keeping a spacious tank and providing enough females to balance out the males will help maintain harmony.

Hardiness:

• Like other swordtails, Lyretail Swordtails are hardy and adaptable, making them a great choice for both novice and experienced aquarists. As long as the water quality is maintained and there is enough space for them to swim, they will thrive.

Common Color Variants in Mixed Lyretail Swordtails:

• Red Lyretail Swordtail: Bright red body with an elegant lyre-shaped tail.
• Green Lyretail Swordtail: A metallic green sheen with a long, flowing tail.
• Marigold Lyretail Swordtail: Orange to yellow body with black accents on the tail and fins.
• Calico Lyretail Swordtail: A mix of black, white, and orange or red blotches, often with a marbled appearance.