Sheepshead swordtail
Xiphophorus birchmanni
Also known as Birchmann's swordtail, Swordless swordtail
FreshwaterFish
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 68–81°F
- 20–27°C
- pH
- 7.2–8.2
- Adult size
- 2.8 in
- 7 cm
- Minimum tank
- 24 gal
- 90 L
- Temperament
- Mostly peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Breeding
- Medium
- Rarity
- Rare
- Family
- Poeciliidae
- Origin
- Native to the Rio Panuco basin in Hidalgo, Mexico, in fast flowing, well oxygenated streams.
Overview
Keep a group in a longer tank of 90 liters or larger at 20 to 27 C, pH 7.2 to 8.2, in medium hard to hard water with brisk flow. Feed a varied diet with plenty of vegetable matter plus frozen daphnia, brine shrimp, and bloodworm. Keep several females per male, and give current and cooler temperatures rather than warm, still water. Mostly peaceful but active.
In the wild
A wild swordtail from fast mountain streams, so it wants cooler, well oxygenated water with real flow. Despite the name, males grow no sword and instead have a tall dorsal fin and a blunt, high headed profile. Both sexes are silvery with dark vertical bars. Give them a longer tank with current and open swimming room.
Good to know
Xiphophorus birchmanni is a swordless swordtail, reaching about 7 cm, whose males attract females with a large dorsal fin and body barring rather than a sword. In the wild it hybridizes with the related Xiphophorus malinche where their streams meet, and these natural hybrid zones are heavily studied by geneticists. Females give birth to 20 to 40 live young.
Did you know
Female sheepshead swordtails can be swayed by the scent of related species, which is one reason natural hybrids with Xiphophorus malinche form in the wild.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Sheepshead swordtail is a mostly peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Wrestling halfbeak
Dermogenys pusilla
FreshwaterBrackish2.8 in (7 cm) · 25 gal (95 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)
Apple snail
Pomacea canaliculata
Freshwater5.9 in (15 cm) · 21 gal (80 L)64–81°F (18–27°C)
Charcoal loach
Schistura carbonaria
Freshwater3.4 in (8.6 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)70–79°F (21–26°C)
Sondhi danio
Devario sondhii
Freshwater3.1 in (8 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Siamese flying barb
Laubuka siamensis
Freshwater2.6 in (6.5 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Flathead loach
Nemacheilus platiceps
Freshwater2.9 in (7.3 cm) · 24 gal (90 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)
Common questions
What size tank does a Sheepshead swordtail need?
A Sheepshead swordtail needs at least 24 gal (90 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
What temperature and pH does a Sheepshead swordtail need?
A Sheepshead swordtail is comfortable at 68–81°F (20–27°C) with a pH of 7.2–8.2.
How big does a Sheepshead swordtail get?
An adult Sheepshead swordtail reaches about 2.8 in (7 cm).
Related species
3.5 in (9 cm)29 gal (110 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Northern mountain swordtail
Xiphophorus nezahualcoyotl
3.5 in (9 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Southern platy
Xiphophorus maculatus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)15 gal (55 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Variable platy
Xiphophorus variatus
2.8 in (7 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Pygmy swordtail
Xiphophorus pygmaeus
1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)
5.5 in (14 cm)32 gal (120 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Montezuma swordtail
Xiphophorus montezumae
5.5 in (14 cm) · 32 gal (120 L)
2 in (5 cm)16 gal (60 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)Spiketail platy
Xiphophorus xiphidium
2 in (5 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)