Red Tuxedo Swordtail 5cm

Red Tuxedo Swordtail

The Red Tuxedo Swordtail is a classic strain of Swordtail that has been in the aquarium hobby for ages. This eye-catching fish offers great contrast and will stand out in almost any aquarium setting. Being easy to care for and having a friendly temperament, they make a great choice for novice and expert aquarists alike, and they also offer the prospect of a rewarding breeding experience.

These tuxedo red sword tails are a very common strain that shares colour pattern quite commonly seen in other livebearers. This name comes from the wide, black streak that runs across these fish, which gives a loose resemblance to the fish wearing a black tuxedo. Yes, some imagination is required here, but that just makes it more fun! The red is featured heavily on the front half of the fish with streaks of gold and orange. These are a sight to behold, especially when they are in a large school, looking like a ball of fire swimming through the tank. Reaching up to 10 cm when they're fully grown, with the sword alone making half of that. Their body are long and slender, which stands out very well in an aquarium or pond.

Breeding swordtails is something that honestly requires minimal effort in the home aquarium. If there is a tank with both males and females, then getting fry is almost inevitable however, it is always better to have a higher ratio of males compared to females. These fish are livebearers, meaning the females give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry. It's quite a sight when a female swordtail releases her live young; however, the parents don't provide any care for their young and may even consider them as a snack. So, it's important to provide ample hiding spots for the fry or move them to a separate tank.

Tank Recommendations for your Red Tuxedo Swordtail

A minimum tank size of 75 litres is recommended for these fish, though larger is always better considering their active nature and potential size. They love swimming in open spaces, but also appreciate plants and decor for hiding and exploring. These fish spend a lot of their time near the surface of the aquarium and can jump out if there is no lid so this will be required. The water temperature should sit between 22-28°C with a pH level of 7.0 - 8.5.

Suitable Tank Buddies

Red Tuxedo swordtails are generally peaceful and can share their home with a variety of fish.

Usually Compatible

Most small to medium-sized community fish like tetras, mollies, platies, and peaceful bottom dwellers like Corydoras.

Sometimes Compatible

Some larger, boisterous or more active fish, such as larger barbs, severum, and Veja, may stress the swordtails. Betta fish may also view the swordtails a competitors and show aggression.

Rarely Compatible

Any fin-nipping species should be avoided, as they might pester the sword tails. Large and aggressive predator fish should be avoided as well, since they will predate on the fish.

Feeding your Red Tuxedo Swordtail

Feeding Red Tuxedo swordtails is a very easy task. They're omnivorous and will happily accept a wide variety of foods. A balanced diet including quality flakes or pellets, along with regular servings of live or frozen foods like bloodworms or brine shrimp, will keep them healthy and their colours vibrant.