Species profile

Red Swordtail

Xiphophorus helleri var. "Red"

Common names: Red Swordtail, Swordtail, Swordtails

Colour varietyLivebearers

Adult size

Up to 14 cm

Countries of origin

Good fit for your tank?

Good fit for

A peaceful community tank with similar-sized fish

Think carefully if

Your water is soft and acidic, which often causes poor health in livebearers
You only want to keep one or two, because this fish needs a group of 5 or more
You keep shrimp you want to protect

A bright red swordtail, and the male has a long, sword-like tail extension. Keep a group of at least 5 in 108 litres or more.

Appearance and Identification

A bright red swordtail, and the male has a long, sword-like tail extension. It needs a long tank and hard water, and males can fight among themselves.

Check the scientific name when buying, as common names vary between sellers and countries.

Males have a gonopodium, which is a modified anal fin used for mating. Females are larger and rounder.

Tank Requirements

Suggested filter: About 430–540 litres an hour
Minimum tank volume: 108 litres
Minimum tank length: 120 cm
Minimum group size: 5
Recommended group size: 8
Activity level: Active
Flow preference: Moderate
Planting preference: Heavily planted
Lid recommended: Yes
Jumping risk: Moderate

Provide dense plants or floating cover for fry and for females that want a rest from males, and keep the water hard and alkaline.

Behaviour and Tankmates

Active, hardy and always on the move, with males displaying to females.

Keep a group, with two or three females for every male.

Not territorial, although some males chase each other.

Suits a peaceful community that likes hard water. Avoid fin nippers. Adults may eat shrimplets. It is likely to eat shrimp.

Check tankmates for this species

Water Parameters

Temperature: 16–28 °C
pH: 7–8
GH: 10–25
Stability importance: Important

Keep the pH steady, because this fish is sensitive to swings.

Parameter caveat

Keep up regular water changes, and acclimatise new fish slowly.

Feeding

Diet types: Omnivore
Feeding frequency: Daily
Preferred foods: Flake with vegetable contentA good staple for these grazing fish.
Frozen or live daphnia and brine shrimpOffer a few times a week.
AlgaeThey graze on it throughout the day, and it is good for them.

An omnivore that eats insects, small invertebrates, and algae in the wild.

Feed small amounts, and remove anything left after a few minutes.

Breeding

Breeding type: Livebearer
Breeding difficulty: Easy
Parental care: None
Baby foods: Crushed flake or powdered fry foodFry can eat this from birth.
Newly hatched brine shrimpSpeeds up growth in the first weeks.

Gives birth to live young, with no special setup needed. Adults may eat fry, so provide dense plants or move a heavily pregnant female to a separate, planted tank.

Habitat and Origin

Geographic origin: Africa, Belize, Captive Bred, Central America, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico
Natural habitat: Ditch, Freshwater Stream, Pond, River
Aquarium contexts: Planted Aquarium
Audience level: Intermediate

Classification

Profile type: Colour variety
Genus: Xiphophorus
Family: Poeciliidae
Species group: Fish, Livebearers, Swordtails

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