Swordtail tank mates

Good matches

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The safest picks for swordtails are guppies, mollies and platies. Each match shares swordtails' temperature and pH and leaves them alone.

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

Temperature: 72–79°F
pH: 7–8.3
Temperament: Semi-aggressive
Minimum tank: 30 gal
With care: 25
Avoid: 15

How each group of fish does with swordtails. Click through below for the reason behind every verdict.

Good tank mates

Possible, with care

Betta Swordtails are much bigger and pushier than bettas, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
Neon tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Pea puffer At 5 inches a swordtail can swallow a small pea puffer. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Koi A grown koi may treat small swordtails as food, especially at night.
Convict cichlid Convict cichlids are aggressive. Swordtails hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
Honey gourami Swordtails are much bigger and pushier than honey gouramis, which are slow and easy to bully at feeding time.
African dwarf frog African dwarf frogs eat slowly and nearly blind. Fast swordtails will take the food first, so target-feed them.
Kuhli loach Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Endler's livebearer At 5 inches a swordtail can swallow a small endler's livebearer. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Common pleco Plecos grow to 15 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for swordtails.
African cichlid African cichlids are aggressive. Swordtails hold their own only in a big tank with places to hide.
Bamboo shrimp Swordtails will eat baby shrimp and may chase adults. Dense plants or moss give bamboo shrimp somewhere to hide.
Bala shark Bala sharks grow to 13 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for swordtails.
Celestial pearl danio At 5 inches a swordtail can swallow a small celestial pearl danio. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Killifish Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Tinfoil barb Tinfoil barbs grow to 12 inches and need 125 gallons, far more than a tank set up for swordtails.
Apistogramma Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Pygmy cory At 5 inches a swordtail can swallow a small pygmy cory. Fast, alert fish usually stay out of reach.
Ember tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Severum Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Zebra pleco They only share 79°F. Keep the heater set there and steady.
Silver dollar Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Rummy nose tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Chili rasbora Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.
Cardinal tetra Water chemistry is a squeeze. The only pH that suits both is around 7.

Avoid

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.
Fancy goldfish Fancy goldfish are coldwater animals (65–74°F); swordtails need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.
Jack Dempsey Jack dempseys are aggressive and much bigger than swordtails.
Silver arowana An adult silver arowana eats fish that fit in its mouth, and at 5 inches swordtails do.
German blue ram No shared temperature. Rams need 80–86°F, swordtails need 72–79°F.
Flowerhorn No shared temperature. Flowerhorns need 80–89°F, swordtails need 72–79°F.
Discus No shared temperature. Discus need 82–88°F, swordtails need 72–79°F.
White cloud minnow White cloud minnows are coldwater animals (60–72°F); swordtails need 72–79°F. They meet only at 72°F, the edge of both ranges.

Planning a mixed tank? The tank mate checker tests every pair at once. Or read the swordtail care sheet.

Questions

What are the best tank mates for swordtails?

Guppies, Mollies, Platies, Angelfish, Corydoras. They share swordtails' temperature and pH and leave them alone.

What fish should not live with swordtails?

Goldfish, Axolotls, Cherry shrimp, Ghost shrimp, Oscars. Goldfish are coldwater animals (60–74°F); swordtails need 72–79°F. They overlap only at 72–74°F, the edge of both ranges.

How is compatibility checked?

Each pair is compared on temperature and pH overlap, adult size and mouth size, fin nipping, temperament and territory. The worst result decides the verdict.