🐟TankstockerFreshwater Stocking & Compatibility

🐠 Red Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii

Red Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) — male
Male
Red Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) — female
Female

The Red Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a easy-care, semi-aggressive species from Mexico to Honduras (captive-bred). Adults reach roughly 5.5", so plan on a minimum tank of 20 gallons. Keep the water between 72–82°F with a pH of 7–8.4. This is a schooling fish — keep a group of at least 3 so it feels secure and colors up. As an omnivore, it does best on a varied diet appropriate to its feeding style.

At a glance

Adult size5.5"
Minimum tank20 gallons
Temperature72–82°F
pH7–8.4
TemperamentSemi-aggressive
SchoolingYes — group of 3+
DietOmnivore
Care levelEasy
OriginMexico to Honduras (captive-bred)
Shop 20-gallon setupsFilterWater test kit

Good tankmates for Red Swordtail

Rummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraPlatyMollySwordtailAngelfishDiscusGerman Blue RamBolivian RamApistogrammaKribensisTiger BarbRosy BarbDwarf GouramiPearl GouramiThree-Spot GouramiBronze CoryBristlenose PlecoKuhli LoachClown LoachPictus CatfishCongo TetraDiamond TetraBuenos Aires TetraScissortail RasboraPearl DanioGiant DanioGold BarbOdessa BarbDenison BarbBoesemani RainbowfishNeon Dwarf RainbowfishMadagascar RainbowfishCelebes RainbowfishKissing GouramiMoonlight GouramiKeyhole CichlidFiremouth CichlidSeverumElectric Blue AcaraBlue AcaraRainbow CichlidYellow Lab CichlidAcei CichlidPeacock CichlidJulidochromisSterbai CoryGlass CatfishUpside-Down CatfishYoyo LoachZebra LoachDojo LoachHillstream LoachRubber Lip PlecoClown PlecoSiamese Algae EaterBala SharkRainbow SharkFlying FoxAfrican Butterfly FishGolden Wonder KillifishCommon GoldfishFancy GoldfishRosy Red MinnowBamboo ShrimpRabbit SnailPenguin TetraRed Eye TetraBleeding Heart TetraColombian TetraSilver DollarRuby BarbMelon BarbTurquoise RainbowfishRed RainbowfishSnakeskin GouramiCroaking GouramiThick-Lipped GouramiGolden RamFlag AcaraGold SeverumChocolate CichlidFestivum CichlidYellow Dwarf CichlidElectric Yellow CichlidCompressed CichlidBrichardiCalvus CichlidEmerald CoryAlbino CoryThree-Striped CoryStriped Raphael CatfishDwarf Chain LoachRed-Tail Tinfoil BarbWeather LoachHorseface LoachLeopard Frog Pleco (L134)Zebra Pleco (L046)Gold Nugget Pleco (L177)Vampire ShrimpRed Claw CrabLyretail KillifishHigh-Fin PlatyBalloon MollySailfin MollyAmerican FlagfishIndian Glassfish

Avoid these tankmates

OscarCherry ShrimpJack DempseyTexas CichlidFrontosaChinese Algae EaterBlack Ghost KnifefishRopefishSenegal BichirBanjar Red CichlidMidas CichlidFlowerhornVenustus CichlidLivingstonii CichlidBlue Dream ShrimpYellow ShrimpBlack Diamond Shrimp

See the full tankmate guide for Red Swordtail →