🐠 Swordtail Xiphophorus hellerii

The Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a easy-care, semi-aggressive species from Mexico to Honduras. 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

Good tankmates for Swordtail

Rummynose TetraBlack Skirt TetraPlatyMollyAngelfishDiscusGerman 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 KillifishRed SwordtailHigh-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 Swordtail →