Xiphophorus pygmaeus
The Xiphophorus pygmaeus gets its name for its tiny size. This fish is actually the smallest of all swordfish species.
Keeping and breeding Xiphophorus pygmaeus is very different from the regular Swordfish. The latter live in the wild mainly in shallow waters, often in ponds with standing water. Pygmaeus swordsmen, on the other hand, prefer to stay in strong currents. Only in dry periods, the Pygmy Swordfish can be found together with other fish in calm banks. This means the Pygmy Swordtails should not be kept in small tanks despite their small size.
The Xiphophorus pygmaeus has a slender body. Males have a bold lateral line starting from the eyes. Coloration under the lateral line is white with a bluish tinge. Above the lateral line is a pale blue stripe. The back of the fish is brown. The scales have darker edges, forming a net-like pattern on the body. The swordtail plumage is usually less than 2 mm long, although in some specimens it can be up to 8 mm long. The dorsal fin is short in both height and base length. There are fish with an all-yellow colouration. Females are silvery in colour with a dark stripe along the body. Males reach a size of 3 cm and females 4 cm.
The Xiphophorus pygmaeus is a timid but active fish. The aquarium with these fish should be a lot of plants, in the thick of which fish love to swim. Keep the fish can be as singly, or in a group consisting of 4-6 individuals. Can be kept in a common aquarium with other peaceful and comparable size fish. Males are constantly in conflict with each other, so the best option would be to keep 1 male with several females.
The volume of the aquarium should be at least 80 liters. Quality filtration and aeration is required. Create a strong water current in the aquarium by directing the withdrawal nozzle of the water filter along the back wall of the aquarium. Also need a weekly change of 1/3 of the aquarium water with fresh water. Water parameters: temperature 24-28° C, hardness dH 4-18°, pH 7.0-8.0. to improve immunity in the water, it is desirable to add table salt in a concentration of 5-8 grams per 1 liter of water.
Medium to bright light. Daily light duration 10-12 hours.
The diet consists of a variety of live, frozen and dried foods. Artemia, daphnia, chum, various dry food in the form of flakes and pellets. Feed the fish at least 2 times a day.
Reproduction
Breeding Xiphophorus pygmaeus is not difficult. Under acceptable conditions, the fry usually emerge without any action to do so.
The female carries the eggs in her belly for 1-1.5 months. The fry are born fully mature and ready to live on their own. Immediately after birth, it is desirable to remove the fry, so you can save almost all of their young from the encroachment of adult fish that do not mind them to eat.
The fry are fed with dried food suitable for pecilian fry.
The Longevity of the Xiphophorus pygmaeus under aquarium conditions is about 3 years.
