Neon Swordtail Swordtail
Xiphophorus hellerii
About this strain
Features a vivid electric-blue or teal iridescent horizontal stripe running the length of the body, contrasting against a red or orange base color. The neon effect comes from structural iridophore coloration rather than pigment, so it shifts intensity depending on viewing angle and lighting. Under LED lighting it can look genuinely striking. This is one of the more recently stabilized ornamental swordtail strains; quality can be inconsistent between batches, so inspect the iridescent stripe carefully — it should be continuous and bright, not broken or pale. A standout in community tanks.
Origin
Developed primarily in Southeast Asian aquaculture facilities, most likely in the 1980s–1990s, through selective breeding for enhanced iridophore expression overlaid on standard body-color strains.