Xiphophorus montezumae
| Montezuma swordtail | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Poeciliidae |
| Genus: | Xiphophorus |
| Species: | X. montezumae |
| Binomial name | |
| Xiphophorus montezumae D. S. Jordan & Snyder, 1899 | |
Xiphophorus montezumae, the Montezuma swordtail, is a livebearing freshwater fish of the Order Cyprinodontiformes, family Poeciliidae, and genus Xiphophorus. It is in the same genus as the common platy and the swordtail. Xiphophorus means sword-tail in Greek.
Description
Growing to a maximum length of around 7.5 cm (3.0 in), the females are larger in size than the male. The genus Xiphophorus is common in freshwater aquariums. The males of this particular species are known for their metallic green scales and the fact that their "sword" stays horizontal unlike most species where it is angled downward.
The most suitable conditions for Montezuma swordtails include a water temperature of around 21–25 °C (70–77 °F). Water pH should stay near 7.5 at all times. They are quite resilient fish. They come from Central America and are most common in the Mexican states of Tamaulipas and San Luis Potosi. They are often found in fast-flowing rivers. In the wild, schools with more females than males are common, and enjoy dense aquatic foliage to give birth in. They reproduce quickly and often and also, prefer live foods and aquatic plants over tropical fish foods and fake plants. On average females will give birth to about 50 fry, this will happen once every seven weeks. Like almost all swordtails, the Montezuma swordtail will readily breed with platies
References
- Alderton, David. Aquarium & Pond Fish. Ed. Joanne Doran, Lee Griffiths, and Simon Tuite. N.p.: n.p., n.d. Print.