Easy to intermediate
Chocolate Cherry Shrimp (Neocaridina davidi)
18–26°C · pH 6.5–8 · 30L
£13.99
One live, unsexed Pineapple Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) in the selected 4-5 cm or 6-8 cm size. Keep at least five in a mature 120L+, 80 cm aquarium; the gallery image is a representative illustration.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Pineapple Swordtail are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
One live, unsexed Pineapple Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) in the selected 4-5 cm or 6-8 cm size. Keep at least five in a mature 120L+, 80 cm aquarium; the gallery image is a representative illustration.
Platies are one of the best beginner fish — hardy, colourful, peaceful, and available in dozens of colour varieties. Perfect for community tanks of all sizes.
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Pineapple Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a warm yellow-orange colour variety of the Green swordtail species. It combines visible midwater activity with the longer body and adult swimming needs expected of a true swordtail. Pineapple describes a commercial aquarium colour form, not a separate species or a wild collection locality, and every fish can differ in hue, markings and fin development.
This product is one live, unsexed fish in the selected size. Choose approximately 4-5 cm or 6-8 cm where the live variant is available. Quantity one is not a pair, not a pack of ten and not a sex guarantee.
Each basket unit is one live Pineapple Swordtail. The product has two size options, not a wholesale pack. Select the available size that fits the intended group and aquarium. The current product options do not offer male, female, pair or trio selection.
| Option detail | Current meaning | Not promised |
|---|---|---|
| 4-5 cm option | One fish at approximately 4-5 cm | Not an exact measured length |
| 6-8 cm option | One fish at approximately 6-8 cm | Not an adult-size guarantee |
| Quantity 1 | One live fish in the chosen size | Not a pair or pack of ten |
| Sex | Unsexed | No male or female guarantee |
| Colour | Pineapple trade variety | No identical pattern promise |
| Gallery | One representative illustration | Not an exact-stock photograph |
The size selector shows which option can currently be ordered. One size may be available while the other is out of stock. This description does not hardcode quantities because inventory changes; the live variant state at checkout is the commercial source of truth.
Fish are living animals rather than machined parts. The selected size band is a practical guide and normal variation is possible. A 6-8 cm fish is not necessarily mature, sexable or finished growing, while a 4-5 cm fish still needs the complete adult aquarium from the outset.
The accepted scientific identity is Xiphophorus hellerii, a member of family Poeciliidae and order Cyprinodontiformes. NCBI Taxonomy records X. hellerii as the current name and the single-i form X. helleri as a synonym.
The product URL and existing category architecture contain historic spellings. They remain unchanged to avoid breaking a crawled address and internal navigation. The customer title, care data and principal copy use the accepted double-i spelling; the old path does not describe a different animal.
| Name or term | Role | Customer consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Pineapple Swordtail | Commercial colour-variety name | General warm colour identity; exact markings vary |
| Xiphophorus hellerii | Accepted species name | Used for taxonomy and care evidence |
| Xiphophorus helleri | Recorded synonym and old trade spelling | May remain in paths and older literature |
| Green swordtail | Species common name | Natural species context, not a colour promise |
| Platy | Related Xiphophorus fish | Not the species offered on this page |
Platies and swordtails are close relatives and can hybridise in aquaria, which helps explain confused retail naming. This product is sold as X. hellerii, the swordtail species. The stale word platy in the preserved URL is not a second product identity.
The sole gallery image was generated as a visual guide because the current source record has no reference photograph. It shows an orange, male-like swordtail in a planted aquarium. It is not a photograph of the exact fish that will be dispatched.
An adult male swordtail can develop the lower caudal-fin extension that gives the group its name. Females usually lack that male sword and may grow larger. Because this product has no sex option, receiving a fish without a sword does not mean that the wrong species was supplied.
Age, genetics, diet, social state, background and lighting all influence visible colour. A newly transported fish may look paler while settling. Use the image to understand the broad Pineapple theme, not as a calibrated colour sample or a promise of one precise red-orange boundary.
| Care point | Practical recommendation |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Xiphophorus hellerii |
| Family | Poeciliidae |
| Selectable sizes | Approximately 4-5 cm or 6-8 cm |
| Adult planning size | Up to about 16 cm total length |
| Social plan | At least five swordtails |
| Practical minimum | 120L+, at least 80 cm long for five |
| Preferred temperature | 22-26°C |
| Published range | 22-28°C |
| pH | 7.0-8.0 |
| Hardness | 9-19 dGH |
| Diet | Omnivore; complete staple plus plant and invertebrate foods |
| Tank region | Mainly middle to upper water |
| Care level | Moderate |
FishBase records 22-28°C, pH 7.0-8.0, 9-19 dH, adult females to 16 cm and an 80 cm aquarium minimum. The 120-litre recommendation adds practical water volume and social headroom for five fish; it is not a claim that FishBase specifies exactly 120 litres.
Check internal swimming length, not only the volume printed on packaging. Substrate, hardscape and equipment reduce usable space. Measure pH and general hardness as well; a regional reputation for hard water is not a substitute for testing the actual supply.
This variety suits a mature neutral-to-alkaline aquarium with mineral-rich water, at least 80 cm of horizontal room, a planned swordtail group and peaceful companions that can keep pace at feeding time. It rewards a keeper who enjoys active livebearer behaviour and accepts variation in sex and colour.
Choose another species for a 60-litre community, very soft acidic water, an open-top aquarium, a single-fish plan or a setup already crowded with fast midwater fish. This product is also unsuitable when a guaranteed male sword, female group, breeding pair or exact photograph match is required.
| Existing setup | Fit | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Mature 120L+ hard-water community | Potentially suitable | Confirm length, group and companions |
| Dedicated swordtail group | Potentially suitable | Manage males, cover and reproduction |
| 60L aquarium | Unsuitable for five adults | Too little adult swimming and social room |
| Soft acidic blackwater aquarium | Poor fit | Mineral chemistry does not match |
| Open-top display | Unsuitable | Active swordtails can jump |
| Guaranteed male display | Not supported | Sex is not selectable |
Swordtails accept prepared foods and can be robust, but that does not make every setup suitable. Adult length, male rivalry, courtship, fast reproduction, jumping and hard-water requirements all need planning. A moderate label is more honest than presenting this as a small effortless platy.
Use at least 120 litres with 80 cm or more aquarium length for five swordtails. A longer aquarium is preferable where more than one male may develop, tank mates share the middle water, or the keeper expects offspring. The supplied fish may look small, but the adult setup is required from the beginning.
FishBase records up to 14 cm for male or unsexed fish and 16 cm for females. A male's sword adds visual length and requires clear turning room, while a large female carries substantial body mass. Stock using the adult animal rather than the current size option.
| Planning case | Direction | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Five adults, species-led setup | 120L+, 80 cm length | Use planted barriers and open lanes |
| More than one mature male | Increase length substantially | Monitor territorial pressure |
| Swordtails with tank mates | Increase footprint and filtration | Fit every species at adult size |
| Fry retained in the display | Add planned capacity | Do not let reproduction create crowding |
| Temporary juvenile tank | Short planned use only | Do not delay the adult home indefinitely |
Search Console recorded one impression for a query about a 60-litre minimum, but one impression is not husbandry evidence. A group of active fish capable of reaching 16 cm needs more practical space. Search copy should answer the question responsibly, not repeat the smallest number likely to attract a click.
Add swordtails only after the aquarium can process waste reliably. Ammonia and nitrite must remain at zero. A calendar does not prove cycling; measured processing and stable test results are the evidence. Adding several active livebearers at once can challenge a marginal filter.
Keep nitrate controlled through appropriate stocking, measured feeding, plant growth where useful and regular partial changes. Match replacement-water temperature and mineral content. The correct change volume depends on measured accumulation, not a fixed slogan used for every aquarium.
Warm, crowded water holds less oxygen. Maintain visible surface movement and unobstructed circulation. If several fish breathe rapidly or gather at the surface, test temperature, ammonia and nitrite immediately rather than assuming they are asking for food.
| Parameter | Target | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Temperature | 22-26°C preferred | Rapid change or chronic overheating |
| Published temperature | 22-28°C | Treating the upper edge as an automatic target |
| pH | 7.0-8.0 | Persistently acidic water |
| General hardness | 9-19 dGH | Very soft mineral-poor water |
| Ammonia | 0 | Any detectable reading |
| Nitrite | 0 | Any detectable reading |
| Nitrate | Low and controlled | A continuously rising trend |
Stable pH in a suitable range is more valuable than repeated chemical correction to hit one decimal. If source water is too soft, understand general and carbonate hardness before changing it. Sudden mineral or pH shifts can harm fish even when the final reading looks acceptable.
Do not add aquarium salt by habit. Build suitable freshwater hardness with known mineral chemistry and consider every plant, invertebrate and tank mate. Therapeutic salt should follow a diagnosis and a compatible treatment plan, not serve as a substitute for clean water.
Use the water parameter matcher with measured temperature, pH and hardness. Confirm ammonia, nitrite and nitrate separately. This is especially useful when the attractive Pineapple colour risks becoming more memorable than the species' actual water requirements.
Use robust plants at the sides and rear to break sight lines, then leave a broad horizontal lane for swimming. Floating cover can reduce exposure, but keep part of the surface open for gas exchange. A completely dense layout can restrict a long-bodied adult as much as a bare tank can increase social pressure.
Use smooth, stable wood and rock. Check that an adult sword cannot be trapped behind equipment. Cover cable, filter and feeding gaps with a secure lid; active swordtails can jump, particularly when startled or pursued.
| Feature | Purpose | Good practice |
|---|---|---|
| Dense side planting | Visual refuge | Keep adult turning room |
| Open horizontal lane | Swimming and display | Use the longest clear dimension |
| Floating cover | Surface shelter | Retain gas-exchange openings |
| Smooth wood or stone | Territory breaks | Secure every piece |
| Tight lid | Reduces escape risk | Close equipment gaps |
Choose a regular photoperiod that supports plants without forcing the fish into constant glare. Warm body colours can look different under various LEDs and backgrounds. Lighting should reveal a healthy fish, not be used to judge it against a digitally rendered colour sample.
Wild species records include flowing streams and rivers as well as canals and ponds. A domestic colour variety benefits from clean, oxygenated water and useful circulation, but it should not be pinned against one powerful outlet. Spread flow and retain calmer planted refuge.
A sponge pre-filter protects smaller fish and any unexpected fry. Rinse mechanical media in removed aquarium water when flow declines. Protect mature biological media from chlorine and avoid replacing all filter media at the same time.
During a power cut, oxygen becomes urgent. Reduce feeding, keep media wet and restore surface movement where safely possible. After a long interruption, test ammonia and nitrite because clear-looking water does not prove that the biological filter remained fully functional.
Pineapple Swordtails are visible, quick-moving livebearers that commonly use the middle and upper water. They can fit a peaceful community, but their pace and appetite may overwhelm slow delicate companions. Observe access to food and refuge, not only visible fighting.
| Observation | Possible meaning | Response |
|---|---|---|
| Brief display or chase | Normal social interaction | Confirm that the target can disengage |
| Repeated male confrontation | Territorial rivalry | Increase space and revise male number |
| One fish hidden continuously | Social pressure or illness | Check group, cover and water |
| All fish at the surface | Possible oxygen or toxin problem | Test and aerate immediately |
| Normal exploration and feeding | Useful positive sign | Continue daily observation |
FishBase specifically notes aggression between males. A small aquarium with two mature males can concentrate conflict. More length, multiple visual barriers and a carefully composed group are more useful than simply adding another fish to distract them.
Males may pursue females persistently. When sex is deliberately selected, more females than males can help distribute attention, but this product does not offer sex selection. Be prepared to adjust the group if the eventual composition produces chronic pressure.
Mature males can develop the extended lower caudal-fin sword and a modified anal fin called a gonopodium. Sword length and development vary. A juvenile without a visible extension may later mature as male, so early appearance is not a firm sex guarantee.
Females retain a broader fan-shaped anal fin, usually lack the male sword and may reach the larger documented body length. Body fullness alone does not prove pregnancy. Feeding, maturation, body shape or illness can alter the abdomen.
The 6-8 cm option can be easier to assess than a smaller juvenile, but size is not a contractual sex option. Stress, variable development and individual growth make remote guarantees inappropriate. Buy the selected size, not an assumed sex.
X. hellerii is a livebearer. A mixed-sex group may produce free-swimming fry, but this product does not promise a female, pregnancy, brood size or breeding success. Water quality and adult welfare should not be compromised in pursuit of fry.
Fry grow into active adult fish needing space, food and suitable homes. Dense planting may allow more fry to survive, which increases future stocking pressure. Decide how offspring will be housed before retaining them rather than reacting after the aquarium becomes crowded.
Swordtails and platies share genus Xiphophorus and can hybridise. Mixed colour displays may be attractive, but do not sell or distribute undocumented offspring as a pure Pineapple line. A keeper preserving a known strain should use reliable source records and deliberate separation.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service evidence review records introduced swordtail populations across many regions. Never release adults, fry, plants or aquarium water into ponds, streams or outdoor drains.
Use a quality flake, granule or small pellet formulated as a complete omnivore food. Particle size should suit the smaller selected variant while remaining visible to all group members. The complete staple provides consistency that treats alone cannot supply.
| Food type | Role | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Complete flake or granule | Nutritional base | Offer measured portions |
| Plant-rich or spirulina food | Plant and algal component | Rotate within the balanced diet |
| Daphnia, cyclops or brine shrimp | Invertebrate variety | Use modest live or frozen portions |
| Blanched vegetable | Occasional enrichment | Remove uneaten material promptly |
| Rich worm foods | Occasional supplement | Do not make them the whole diet |
Swordtails are enthusiastic feeders and may continue approaching the keeper after receiving enough. Feed what the group consumes promptly and remove leftovers. Overfeeding increases waste, nitrate and digestive stress; begging is not a reliable portion guide.
Use more than one feeding point so a dominant fish cannot intercept everything. Confirm that slower tank mates and smaller swordtails eat. Repeated spitting, inability to swallow or progressive weight loss requires investigation rather than simply offering more food.
Potential companions must accept 22-26°C, neutral-to-alkaline moderately hard water and the swordtail's active feeding style. The livebearer hub helps compare related fish, while the swordtail category keeps the focus on options with more closely aligned adult behaviour.
| Companion type | Guidance | Main check |
|---|---|---|
| Other swordtails | Often suitable | Male rivalry, courtship and adult space |
| Calm hard-water community fish | Potentially suitable | Adult size and feeding speed |
| Peaceful bottom dwellers | Potentially suitable | Footprint, hardness and food access |
| Platies or other Xiphophorus | Use caution | Hybridisation and stocking |
| Slow long-finned fish | Use caution | Activity and feeding competition |
| Dwarf shrimp or tiny fry | Use caution | Small animals may be eaten |
| Large predators or fin-nippers | Avoid | Injury and chronic stress |
No list guarantees behaviour. Aquarium length, exact sex composition, cover, feeding access and individual temperament all matter. Keep a safe alternative arrangement available before adding fish to an established group.
The Xiphophorus helleri category uses the existing storefront spelling and shows closely related listings. Each product still needs its own size, sex and sale-unit check; related category membership does not make options interchangeable.
Confirm cycling, lid security, water chemistry and adult group capacity before dispatch. Have test kits and suitable food ready. A newly arrived swordtail should not be placed into an improvised uncycled container while the permanent aquarium is still being planned.
| Stage | Action | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Before arrival | Test and prepare the destination tank | Last-minute pH chasing |
| At delivery | Open promptly and inspect | Leaving the parcel unattended |
| Acclimation | Follow current supplied instructions | One ritual for every transport condition |
| Transfer | Move the fish as directed | Pouring transport water into the aquarium |
| First hours | Keep lighting calm and observe breathing | Immediate heavy feeding |
Bag chemistry changes after opening, so follow the instructions supplied with the order. The acclimation timer is useful only where that method matches the current instructions. Do not prolong acclimation automatically because a longer process sounds more careful.
Eligible livestock orders are covered under the current guarantee when its reporting and evidence conditions are followed. Read the delivery and guarantee information, choose a suitable delivery day and ensure someone can receive and inspect the parcel promptly.
Keep disturbance low and check balance, breathing and ability to shelter. A fish may be pale after transport. Avoid repeated netting, glass tapping or lifting decor to force visibility unless an urgent welfare issue requires intervention.
Offer a small familiar food and confirm that the new fish can reach it. Test ammonia and nitrite, especially after adding several swordtails. Watch male-male display, courtship and whether established residents exclude the newcomer.
Look for stable feeding, normal swimming, intact fins and improving colour. Continue testing because the biofilter may react after the initial day. Record any concern with dates, water readings and clear images so support or aquatic veterinary advice has useful evidence.
Count the group and compare breathing, posture, body condition, fins, skin, appetite and social position. A fish hidden behind the filter every day is not displaying normal group confidence merely because no injury is visible.
Use measured nitrate, stocking and feeding to set change frequency and volume. Dechlorinate where required and bring replacement water close to the aquarium's temperature and mineral chemistry. Avoid a routine that creates large weekly swings.
Remove mechanical waste without sterilising biological media. Inspect the lid, heater, intake guard, impeller and hardscape stability. A gradual decline in flow is a maintenance signal, not a reason to increase pump power through a blockage.
A settled swordtail should hold balance, respond to its surroundings, breathe without visible effort and compete appropriately for food. Colour varies, so body condition and behaviour are more reliable than comparing the fish with one generated image.
| Sign | Immediate check | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Rapid breathing | Oxygen, temperature, ammonia and nitrite | Correct environment and seek advice |
| Clamped fins or isolation | Water and social pressure | Document and investigate |
| White spots or excess mucus | Whole group and recent additions | Obtain a diagnosis |
| Weight loss despite feeding | Food access, intake and faeces | Seek specialist assessment |
| Abdominal swelling | Scales, feeding and behaviour | Do not assume pregnancy |
| Frayed fins | Rivals, decor and water | Remove the cause and assess damage |
Environmental, infectious, nutritional and social problems can produce similar signs. Test the water first and gather a clear history. Avoid mixing medication, salt and rapid chemistry changes because overlapping interventions can increase harm and hide the original cause.
Seek an aquatic veterinarian or experienced fish-health professional for persistent breathing difficulty, loss of balance, severe injury, progressive swelling, repeated deaths or a problem affecting several fish. Product copy cannot diagnose an individual animal.
Age at purchase, genetics, water quality, temperature, reproduction, nutrition and disease exposure all affect longevity. The current source does not provide age or a guaranteed lifespan. Plan for years of responsible care without turning a commonly searched number into a product promise.
A 4-5 cm swordtail may change substantially in body size, sex characteristics and social behaviour. Do not postpone the adult setup because the fish currently fits a smaller aquarium. The 6-8 cm option also remains below the documented 16 cm maximum.
Continuous care at the warmest published limit increases metabolic and oxygen demand. A stable 22-26°C target provides useful headroom for ordinary domestic care. Respond to hot weather with ventilation and oxygenation rather than abrupt cold-water additions.
| Fish or variety | Key distinction | Does this listing promise it? |
|---|---|---|
| Pineapple Swordtail | Warm yellow-orange trade variety of X. hellerii | Yes; exact pattern varies |
| Green Swordtail | Species common name and wild-type context | Species identity, not wild colour |
| Kohaku Swordtail | Different red-white variety | No |
| Red Wagtail Swordtail | Different dark-fin variety | No |
| Platy | Related but smaller Xiphophorus species/forms | No |
| Guaranteed male | Would require a sex option | No |
The trade name describes broad warm coloration and does not prove a closed breeder line. Domestic swordtails have complex histories, and appearance alone cannot establish genetic purity. This listing avoids assigning a breeder, generation or locality that the source does not provide.
Both are livebearers in family Poeciliidae, but swordtails are longer, more active and capable of a much larger adult size. A setup suitable for a small platy group may not provide enough horizontal room for adult X. hellerii.
Species records extend from Veracruz in Mexico through parts of Central America to northwestern Honduras. Adults occur around vegetation in fast streams and rivers, as well as springs, canals and ponds. A domestic Pineapple colour variety does not carry a wild collection-location claim.
FishBase reports worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. That supports a varied omnivore diet with both plant and invertebrate components. It does not justify using rich bloodworm as the only food or treating the fish as a dedicated algae cleaner.
Scientific sources describe the species, not the exact retail animal. They cannot prove this individual's sex, age, reproductive status, colour, breeder or health history. The live Shopify variant and this explicit sale contract define what the customer can select.
Choose 4-5 cm or 6-8 cm only when that variant is available. Set quantity for the number of fish required. Recheck the full adult stocking plan before checkout; a lower current price or a larger available inventory does not create more aquarium capacity.
New customers can use WELCOME10 for 10% off a first eligible order, subject to the current promotion terms. Complete cycling, water matching and adult-space planning before using a discount.
The product controls show current price and availability for each size. This description deliberately avoids hardcoding those values. An item is not reserved until checkout completes successfully.
One live fish is included per quantity selected. Choose the available 4-5 cm or 6-8 cm option. It is not a pair or pack of ten.
Sex is not selectable or guaranteed. The representative image shows a male-like fish, but that does not change the unsexed sale contract.
No. Mature males can develop the lower tail extension; females normally do not, and juveniles may not yet show adult sex characteristics.
Plan for up to about 16 cm total length, allowing for larger females and the visual length of a male sword. Both selectable sizes may still grow.
For five swordtails, use at least 120 litres and 80 cm length. Increase space for multiple males, more fish, tank mates or retained fry.
A permanent singleton is not recommended. Plan at least five swordtails, with enough length and visual refuge to manage social interaction.
Target 22-26°C for normal long-term care. The published species range extends to 28°C, but the upper edge is not an automatic everyday target.
Target pH 7.0-8.0 and 9-19 dGH with zero ammonia and nitrite. Very soft acidic water is a poor match.
Use a complete omnivore staple with plant-rich foods and modest small frozen or live invertebrate variety. Feed measured portions and remove leftovers.
Potentially, where adult space, water and behaviour match, but hybridisation is possible. Do not mix them when preserving a documented line matters.
No. It is a representative generated illustration. Exact sex, colour, markings, fin length, maturity and body proportions vary.
No in this listing. X. helleri is a recorded synonym and common old spelling for X. hellerii. The accepted double-i form is used in the customer title.
Receive the parcel promptly, follow the current livestock instructions and keep lighting calm. Check breathing and balance before offering a small meal after the fish settles. Document any immediate concern according to the guarantee process.
Maintain stable mineral-rich water, open horizontal room, planted sight breaks, a varied measured diet and a socially workable group. Treat the Pineapple name as a living colour variety and let the actual fish, not a repeated keyword or illustration, define the individual you keep.
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