Swordtail care

Water temperature

72–79°F

Keep swordtails at 72–79°F with a pH of 7–8.3, in a tank of at least 30 gallons. Good tank mates include guppies, mollies, platies.

Males spar with each other. Keep one, or three or more.

Xiphophorus hellerii

pH

7–8.3

Minimum tank

30 gal

Adult size

5.0 in

Temperament

Semi-aggressive

Group

Groups of 3+

Lifespan

3–5 years

Swims at

Middle

Diet

Omnivore

Best tank mates

• GuppyYes
• MollyYes
• PlatyYes
• AngelfishYes
• CorydorasYes
• Mystery snailYes
• Blue gouramiYes
• Red tail sharkYes
• Paradise fishYes
• CrayfishYes
• Pictus catfishYes
• Nerite snailYes

Full swordtail tank mate chart: 58 yes, 25 with care, 15 no

Swordtail water compared

Fish to keep away from swordtails

• Goldfish Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); swordtails need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
• Axolotl Axolotls are coldwater animals (60–66°F); swordtails need 72–79°F. No temperature suits both.
• Cherry shrimp A swordtail is big enough to swallow adult cherry shrimp.
• Ghost shrimp A swordtail is big enough to swallow adult ghost shrimp.
• Oscar An adult oscar eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches swordtails do.
• Amano shrimp A swordtail is big enough to swallow adult amano shrimp.
• Bichir An adult bichir eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches swordtails do.
• Black ghost knife An adult black ghost knife eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches swordtails do.

More livebearers

• Guppy72–82°F
• Platy70–80°F
• Molly72–82°F
• Endler's livebearer72–82°F