Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is perhaps one of the more playful and whimsical color varieties of the Xiphophorus helleri Swordtail. Through selective breeding, the Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail was developed to have eye-catching Red/Orange coloration. However, more notable is the black marking at the base of the body that resembles the silhouette of Disney's Mickey Mouse.

The Swordtail is perhaps the quintessential community aquarium fish. The time-tested popularity of the Swordtail can be attributed to its ease of care, peaceful temperament, and wonderfully diverse fin and color varieties. The most common Swordtail varieties include: Red Wag, Red Velvet, Marigold, Black Nubian, Pineapple, and Neon Swordtail. The male Swordtail is especially prized for its namesake feature, the showy extension on the lower part of its tail resembling a sword.

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail requires an aquarium of at least 20 gallons that is well planted with plenty of room for swimming. Because of its peaceful nature, the Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is well suited for the community aquarium. However, the male Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail can demonstrate territorial aggression towards other male Swordtails. Care should be taken when housing more than one male. Also, the Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is an accomplished jumper, so be sure to provide a secure cover for the aquarium.

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is a live-bearing fish related to freshwater aquarium favorites including guppies, mollies, and platys. As such, a female Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail can give birth to as many as 80 fry at one time. A spawning box is recommended, or if one is not available, provide dense floating cover to protect the Swordtail fry from potential predation by the adults. Unless it is your intention to breed Red Mickey Mouse Swordtails, the male Swordtail fry should be separated once the sex of the fry is determined. The Swordtail can begin breeding as young as three months of age and can quickly overpopulate an aquarium.

The Red Mickey Mouse Swordtail is an omnivore that will eat commercially prepared flaked foods and algae, as well as freeze-dried bloodworms, tubifex, and brine shrimp.

Approximate Purchase Size: 1" to 1-1/2"

Care details

• Temperature: 64 - 82° F
• dKH: 12 - 30
• Color: Red, Orange and Black
• Family: Poeciliidae
• Diet: Omnivore