Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri) is a member of the group of fish commonly known as Swordtails, which are some of the most widely kept and popular of the tropical community fish species available within the hobby. Swordtails are a species of live-bearing fish that flourish in the rivers and streams of Central America.
Known for their prolific breeding ability, Swordtails have been captivity bred at tropical fish farms for many years. Their popularity with aquarium hobbyists stems from their ease of care, bright coloration (orange, red, yellow), relative abundance and low cost. Swordtails do tend to have shorter life spans than other tropical community fish, with the average life span of 2 to 4 years.
Swordtail receives it's name due to the feathery, lyre-shaped tail and flowing fins, combined with an extension on the lower part of its tail which resembles a sword. While the male has a very long and pronounced dorsal and anal fins, the fin variations of the female Lyretails are not nearly as impressive.
Swordtails, are known to be jumpers so it is important to provide an adequate cover over the aquarium. Their penchant for taking flight is taken from their natural habitat, where while swimming at the waters surface in search of food they would use their ability to jump from the water to avoid ambush predators who typically strike from below.