Lyretail Swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii var. Lyretail

The Lyretail Swordtail is one of the most elegant and tragic fishes in aquariums. Its fins grow endlessly like ribbons, making it majestic. But nature presented a cruel bill: this hypertrophy also affects the male's reproductive organ. His penis (gonopodium) becomes a very long dangling ribbon, impossible to use. Therefore, ALL Lyretail males are beautiful biological "eunuchs", condemned to mechanical infertility.

Family: Poeciliidae
Origin: Variante selezionata artificialmente per l'estensione delle pinne. Base genetica originaria del Nord e Centro America.
Tank use: Used in 0 tanks

Temperature

20 °C - 28 °C

7 - 8

Water type

Freshwater

Tank level

All levels

Adult size

10 cm

Description

Death by Current (Cardiac Strain Futile Deaf Mute):

Those drapes are like parachutes. In an aquarium with a powerful filter pump, the Lyretail is dragged away like a plastic bag. The fish will swim frantically in place to avoid crashing against the glass, exhausting its energy reserves in a few days and dying of extreme exhaustion. They need calm, almost stagnant waters.

Care and observations

The Fin-Nippers Banquet (Slow Torture Futile Blind):

Putting a Lyretail in a tank with Barbs (e.g., Tiger Barbs) or minor Tetras is an act of sadism. Its long filamentous fins will act as irresistible lures. Tankmates will chase it and bite off the fin rays, one by one. The fish, too clumsy to flee, will suffer continuous amputations, contracting lethal bacterial infections (Fin Rot) and then dying of septicemia.

Fish profile

Temperament: Pacifico, ma gravemente ostacolato fisicamente.
Diet: Onnivoro. Richiede cibo facilmente accessibile in superficie a causa della lentezza nel nuoto.
Tank level: All levels
Adult size: 10 cm
GH: 10 dGH - 25 dGH
KH: n/a
TDS: n/a
Conductivity: n/a

Image gallery

Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.

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