Swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii

Males carry a long "sword" on the lower tail – the longer the sword, the more impressed the females.

A peaceful freshwater fish that grows to 10 cm, lives in the middle of the tank and needs 21–28 °C, pH 7.0–8.2 and an aquarium of at least 80 L.

Care at a glance

Water

Freshwater

Temperature

21–28 °C (70–82 °F)

pH

7.0–8.2

Adult size

10 cm (3.9 in)

Aquarium

80 L or bigger (21 US gal)

Temperament

Peaceful

Group size

Fine on its own

Swims

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Wild home

Rivers of Mexico & Honduras

Good to know

• Livebearer. Gives birth to live fry – easy to breed.
• Hardy. Tolerates less-than-perfect water. Great for beginners.

Tank mates

Good company: Amano Shrimp, Bristlenose Pleco, Corydoras, Dwarf Gourami, Ghost Shrimp, Honey Gourami, Marbled Hatchetfish, Mystery Snail, Otocinclus, Pearl Gourami.

Will eat: Chili Rasbora, Crystal Red Shrimp, Ember Tetra, Neocaridina Shrimp.

Eaten by: Asian Arowana, Flowerhorn, Motoro Stingray, Ornate Bichir, Oscar, Siamese Tigerfish.

Attacked by: Demasoni Cichlid, Flowerhorn, Jack Dempsey.

Eats the newborn fry of: Betta, Black Skirt Tetra, Bloodfin Tetra, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cardinal Tetra, Celestial Pearl Danio, Cherry Barb, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Congo Tetra, Corydoras, Demasoni Cichlid, Dwarf Gourami and 22 more.

Its fry are eaten by: Angelfish, Axolotl, Bala Shark, Betta, Black Ghost Knifefish, Boesemani Rainbowfish, Cockatoo Dwarf Cichlid, Comet Goldfish, Electric Blue Acara, Fancy Goldfish, Firemouth Cichlid, Frontosa and 8 more.

Grown ones eat their own newborn fry, so raise the young in another aquarium.

Colours and breeding

• Red common
• Green common
• Pineapple uncommon

In Aquarius a grown male and female breed in a healthy tank. Their young are born about 0.8 cm long and take after one of the parents.

The care values are the ones Aquarius uses, based on how these animals live. Tank mates follow the game's rules: water type, temperature and pH, who can swallow whom, fin nipping, temperament and territory.