This species of swordtail is only very rarely offered in the trade. At the first glimpse one may think that they are a variety of the common swortail X. hellerii, but the species X. signum is much more slender. The mark that is responsible for the scientific name (latin signum = sign) is always good visible in females on the caudal fin base, while in males it is covered by the dark border of the sword.
Xiphophorus signum is, like most wild types of swordtail, quite demanding. It needs clear, bacteria poor water and a proper feeding with different types of food, including frozen and live food. Our specimens are German bred ones. We can currently offer XXL animals.
We have also made a small film about these fish, which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BFpvzF09W-k
For our customers: the fish have code 476655 on our stocklist. Please note that we exclusively supply the wholesale trade.
Text & photos: Frank Schäfer
