Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) – male freshwater livebearer with elongated tail sword swimming in a planted aquarium.

Swordtail Care Guide

⚔️ Swordtail Care Guide (Xiphophorus hellerii)

🌟 Overview Swordtail Care Guide (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a hardy, colorful livebearer named for the elongated “sword” on the tail fin of males. Popular with both beginners and experienced aquarists, Swordtails are peaceful, active swimmers that thrive in community tanks. They come in a wide variety of color morphs, including red, green, pineapple, koi, and lyretail varieties.

🔑 Quick Facts

  • Scientific Name: Xiphophorus hellerii
  • Common Name: Swordtail
  • Origin: Central America (Mexico to Honduras)
  • Size: 4–5 inches (10–13 cm)
  • Lifespan: 3–5 years
  • Temperament: Peaceful, social livebearer
  • Care Level: Easy

🏠 Tank Requirements

  • Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons (larger preferred for groups)
  • Water Temperature: 72–82°F (22–28°C)
  • pH: 7.0–8.0
  • Hardness: 10–20 dGH (prefer harder, alkaline water)
  • Aquascape: Provide plants, swimming space, and hiding spots for fry

🍽️ Diet

Swordtails are omnivores and thrive on variety:

  • High-quality flakes & micro-pellets
  • Frozen/live foods: brine shrimp, daphnia, bloodworms
  • Vegetables: spirulina, blanched spinach, peas
  • Frequent, small meals keep them active and colorful

🧑🤝🧑 Tank Mates

  • Excellent for community aquariums: tetras, mollies, guppies, platies, corydoras, rasboras, danios
  • Compatible with shrimp and snails
  • Avoid aggressive or fin-nipping fish (some barbs, larger cichlids)

🧠 Behavior & Tips

  • Livebearers → females give birth to live fry every 4–6 weeks
  • Males are slimmer with elongated “sword” tails; females are larger and lack the sword
  • Breed quickly → provide plants or breeding boxes to protect fry
  • Hardy and forgiving, but do best in clean, stable water

❓ FAQ

Q: How many Swordtails should I keep together?
A: Keep in groups of at least 3–5. One male with multiple females helps prevent stress.

Q: Can Swordtails live with Guppies or Mollies?
A: Yes, they mix well with other livebearers in community tanks.

Q: How long do Swordtails live?
A: Typically 3–5 years with good care.

Q: Do Swordtails breed easily?
A: Yes, they breed readily like other livebearers. Control fry numbers by separating sexes or adding natural predators.

Back to blog