Description:
The Assorted Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a popular freshwater fish known for its vibrant colours, active personality and distinctive appearance. Available in a variety of colours, including red, orange, yellow, white and black, Swordtails make a colourful addition to suitable freshwater community aquariums. Their hardy nature and relatively straightforward care requirements also make them a popular choice for beginner fish keepers.
The Swordtail gets its name from the distinctive sword-like extension on the lower part of the male's tail fin. This extension can become remarkably long as the fish matures, while females have a rounded tail without the characteristic sword. Through selective breeding, Swordtails are available in a wide range of colours and patterns, making assorted varieties a great option for aquarists who enjoy variety.
Temperament:
Swordtails are generally peaceful and active fish that can thrive in community aquariums with similarly sized species that prefer comparable water conditions. They enjoy swimming through open areas and exploring planted sections of the aquarium, making them an engaging addition to a community setup.
Males can display territorial behaviour towards one another, particularly when competing for females. Keeping more females than males can help distribute persistent courtship, with a ratio of around four females to one male often recommended. Providing plants and visual barriers also gives fish places to retreat and helps reduce unwanted attention.
Avoid aggressive fish and persistent fin-nippers, as these can stress Swordtails or damage their flowing fins. Their preference for neutral to alkaline water should also be considered when choosing suitable tank mates.
Diet:
Swordtails are omnivores and benefit from a varied, balanced diet. In the aquarium, high-quality tropical fish foods such as Xtreme Community Crave Flakes and suitable small pellets can form the foundation of their daily feeding routine, providing essential nutrients to support healthy growth, activity and colouration.
Their diet can be supplemented with plant-based foods, including spirulina flakes and algae-based foods, alongside occasional live or frozen options such as brine shrimp and daphnia. Offering a mixture of animal and plant-based nutrition helps support their overall health.
Feed small portions once or twice daily, offering only what the fish can comfortably consume within a few minutes. Remove uneaten food to help maintain good water quality.
Breeding Behaviour:
Swordtails are livebearers, meaning females give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs. They can breed readily in a well-maintained aquarium, and breeding may occur without any special intervention when males and females are kept together.
Males are usually identifiable by their elongated sword-like tail extension and modified anal fin, known as a gonopodium. Females lack the sword extension and have a fan-shaped anal fin. Young or immature fish can be more difficult to sex accurately.
Females can give birth to batches of fry approximately every four to six weeks under suitable conditions, although timing varies. They can also store sperm, allowing them to produce further broods after being separated from a male.
Adult Swordtails may eat their young, so dense plants such as Java Moss and other fine-leaved vegetation can provide useful hiding places for fry. If you wish to raise more of the young fish, consider a separate, appropriately set-up rearing aquarium. Keep in mind that Swordtails can reproduce quickly, so plan for the additional space and care required as their population grows.
Care Guide:
- Species – Xiphophorus Hellerii
- Common Name – Swordtail, Assorted Swordtail
- Origin – Mexico and Central America
- Temperament – Peaceful, with some territorial behaviour between males
- Diet – Omnivore
- Minimum Tank Requirement – 80 litres for a small group
- Tank Level – Top to mid dweller
- Care Level – Easy
- PH Range – 7.0 – 8.4
- Temperature – Tropical 24 – 26°C
- Breed Type – Livebearer
- Size – Approximately 14cm
- Lifespan – Approximately 3 – 5 years
- Sex – Un-sexed
Tank Setup:
Swordtails do best in a spacious freshwater aquarium with plenty of open swimming space and planted areas for shelter. A minimum of 80 litres is recommended for a small group, with a larger aquarium preferable for bigger groups or mixed community setups.
A sandy or fine-gravel substrate is suitable. Live plants such as Java Fern, Anubias and Dwarf Hairgrass can help create cover and provide a more natural environment. Leave open areas between planted sections so these active fish can swim freely. Driftwood and suitable aquarium décor can also provide additional shelter and visual barriers.
Good filtration, regular water changes and stable water parameters are important for long-term health. A filter with moderate water flow is generally suitable, provided the aquarium remains well oxygenated and the fish can swim comfortably.
Swordtails generally prefer neutral to alkaline water with moderate to high mineral content. Maintain stable water conditions and check your aquarium's existing parameters when choosing suitable tank mates.
Provide a consistent lighting schedule suited to the aquarium and any live plants. Dense planting can also provide useful hiding places for fry if breeding occurs.
Acclimation Guide:
- Float the Bag: Place the unopened bag in your tank and let it float for 15–20 minutes. This lets the water inside the bag slowly match your tank’s temperature.
- Turn Off the Lights: Keep the aquarium lights off during this process. It helps keep things calm and prevents sudden temperature changes.
- Add a Bit of Tank Water: After floating, carefully open the bag and pour out about half the water into a sink or bucket (not into your tank). Then, slowly add small amounts of your tank water into the bag over 15–20 minutes. This helps your fish adjust to the new water conditions.
- Gently Move the Fish: Use a fish net to gently move your fish from the bag into the tank. Try not to pour the bag water into your tank — this helps keep your aquarium clean and healthy.
- Watch and Wait: It’s normal for fish to hide or act a bit shy at first. Keep an eye on them, and avoid doing a water change for the first 24 hours to give them time to settle in.
- Feeding Behaviour: New fish may not eat any food for the first 12-24 hours whilst it is settling into its new environment, please allow some time before feeding as the food may go to waste.
For more detailed steps and tips, feel free to visit our Acclimation Guide in our Education tab to help make the transition as smooth as possible for your new fish.
Swordtails - Assorted
Swordtails - Assorted
Size Guide
Adult size 14cm
Selected size —
Out of stock
We recommend a group of 5 or more to see their active, social behaviour. Discount applies automatically when added to cart.
- Our livebearers are raised in mixed-sex tanks to promote natural breeding, so some females can arrive already pregnant, even if it isn’t showing at the time. This is normal and a sign of a thriving, well-maintained colony!
These Swordtails are sold as unsexed, if you are wanting male and female please reach out to us and we can help you out the best we can, we dont always have both genders avaliable.
Everything about shipping, care and guarantees is just below.
Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee
Shipping & Live Arrival Guarantee
✅ Healthy Fish Guarantee - All orders are covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee with DOA (Dead On Arrival) policies in place for peace of mind.
🚚 $30 flat-rate shipping - Arrives within 1-4 business days, Free shipping on fish for orders over $150.
📦 Ordering supplies too? - Dry goods ship separately and have their own $11.95 shipping fee. This ensures faster delivery, so your fish never wait for equipment to be in stock. When ordering both fish and dry goods, both shipping fees apply ($30 + $11.95 = $41.95 total).
🌿 Packed safely - Fast, reliable shipping with oxygen, insulation and careful handling, packaging Includes insulated boxes, insulation such as news paper to keep everything warm and snug, heat packs during colder seasons, and high quality fish bags.
📦🐟 Live Fish Ship Mondays & Tuesdays Only - To minimise transit time and ensure your fish arrive happy and healthy.
🚚💨Express shipping ONLY - These orders will be defaulted to Express shipping so your fish get to you as fast as possible.
💙 Thank you - for helping us put the health and safety of our fish first!
👉 For more detailed information, please visit our shipping page.
Tank Requirements - Quick Overview
Tank Requirements - Quick Overview
If your aquarium is new, it may not be fully cycled yet. Newly set up tanks benefit from being fully cycled before adding fish, this process helps your new fish stay happy and healthy. Depending on your tank size, cycling can take up to 4–6 weeks or even longer, but there are ways to speed up this process to just a few days! If your tank has already been running for a while, you’re already good to go! Not sure what cycling means? Check out our guide on The Nitrogen Cycle for an easy explanation on what it is, and why it is important for your aquarium to thrive.
🐟 Want expert tips for your aquarium? Beginners can start with How to set up your aquarium, while everyone can check out Aquarium Maintenance & Care for ongoing tank tips!
How We Package & Ship Your Fish - Video
How We Package & Ship Your Fish - Video
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Tank Mate Compatibility
✅ Compatible With
- Other Livebearers — Guppies, Swordtails, and Mollies share similar water parameters, care needs, and peaceful temperaments
- Small Peaceful Tetras — Neon, Cardinal, Emperor, and Ember Tetras are excellent companions
- Bottom Dwellers — Corydoras and Kuhli Loaches occupy lower levels with minimal interaction
- Algae Eaters — Bristlenose Plecos and Otocinclus Catfish are safe, practical additions
- Invertebrates — Mystery Snails are safe. Adult Amano Shrimp are generally too large and fast to be caught, however Platies will actively prey on juvenile shrimp, shrimp in moult, and smaller invertebrates. Use caution if keeping shrimp alongside Platies
- Other Community Fish — Harlequin Rasboras, Danios, and peaceful Gouramis (Honey, Dwarf, Pearl) all coexist well
❌ Avoid or Use Caution
- Large Aggressive Cichlids — Oscars, Jaguar Cichlids, and Green Terrors will bully or predate on Platies. Angelfish can eat juvenile and adult Platies despite their peaceful reputation
- Predatory Fish — Pictus Catfish, Reed Fish, and large Archerfish may view Platies as food
- Tiger Barbs — Known fin nippers that will harass Platies, particularly longer-finned varieties
- Strict Soft-Water Fish — Species requiring acidic, very soft water will not thrive alongside Platies which prefer harder, more alkaline conditions
- Betta Fish (Males) — Territorial male Bettas may attack or stress Platies. Some female Bettas may coexist with caution
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Platies need a heater?
Platies are one of the few tropical fish that can thrive without a heater in many Australian homes, as they tolerate a wide temperature range of 15–28°C. In cooler climates or during winter months, a heater may still be beneficial to maintain consistency and encourage breeding activity. A thermometer is always recommended to monitor water temperature regardless.
Will Platies help keep my aquarium clean?
Platies will help by grazing on algae and picking up uneaten food before it breaks down, which contributes to a cleaner tank environment. However, regular water changes and good filtration remain essential for maintaining water quality.
How often do Platies breed?
Platies are prolific breeders and females can give birth to anywhere from 20 to 80 fry every 4 to 6 weeks. They are livebearers, meaning they give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs. Breeding is largely effortless and will occur naturally in a mixed-sex aquarium with little to no intervention required.
Can a female Platy have babies without a male present?
Yes, and this surprises many new owners. Female Platies can store sperm internally for several months after a single mating, meaning they can continue to produce multiple batches of fry without a male being present in the tank. If you have purchased females only and they begin producing fry, this is the most likely explanation.
What do I do with all the fry?
Platy fry are free-swimming from birth and will be eaten by adult fish if not given shelter or separated. To improve survival rates, provide dense floating or fast-growing plants such as Java Moss, Hornwort, or Guppy Grass for the fry to hide in. Alternatively, move the pregnant female to a separate breeding tank shortly before she gives birth, then return her once the fry are born. As the fry grow, they can be returned to the main tank once they are large enough to avoid being eaten, or rehomed to other fish keepers.
What do Platies eat?
Platies are omnivores and do best on a varied diet. High-quality flake foods such as Xtreme Community Crave Flakes make an excellent staple, while Xtreme Spirulina Flakes provide important plant-based nutrition. Supplementing with live or frozen foods such as baby brine shrimp and bloodworms will enhance their condition and colouration. Algae-based foods and vegetable matter should also be included regularly to support their overall health.
Can I keep Platies with other fish?
Yes, Platies are peaceful community fish and coexist well with a wide range of similarly sized and tempered species. They generally avoid aggression and do well alongside other livebearers, tetras, corydoras, and peaceful bottom dwellers. Avoid housing them with large or aggressive fish that may bully or prey on them.
What size tank do Platies need?
A minimum of 35 litres is recommended for a small group of Platies. However, given how readily they breed, a larger tank of 60 litres or more is advisable to comfortably accommodate population growth and provide adequate swimming space for all fish.
How can I tell if my Platy is male or female?
Male and female Platies are easy to tell apart once they reach maturity. Females have a fan-shaped anal fin and are generally larger and rounder-bodied, while males have a longer, narrow, pointed anal fin called a gonopodium, which is used during breeding. Males also tend to be slimmer and slightly smaller than females.
How do I know if my Platy is pregnant?
Pregnant females develop a noticeably rounder belly and often display a dark gravid spot near the anal fin. As they get closer to giving birth, they may spend more time hiding, isolate themselves from other fish, or appear restless. Gestation typically lasts around four weeks, although this can vary depending on water temperature.
Why are my Platies chasing each other?
Some chasing is completely normal, particularly in mixed-sex aquariums. Male Platies frequently chase females as part of their breeding behaviour and may also display briefly towards other males. If the chasing becomes constant or fish appear stressed, increasing the number of females (ideally two or three per male), adding more plants and hiding places, or providing a larger aquarium can help reduce unwanted attention.
Fish may vary slightly in colour, size, and pattern from those pictured or shown in images and videos. This is natural across all fish, whether bred in-house, locally sourced, or imported, as individual variation is part of what makes each fish unique!
Every fish is quality checked for health, behaviour, and appearance before leaving our fish room. Fish that are dispatched as juveniles will grow into their adult size and colouration over time with a good balanced diet and proper care.
Whether you need filters, fish nets, breeding boxes, or aquascape accessories, you can find all of our premium supplies here.