Xiphophorus helleri pineaple
£5.99
Active assorted Xiphophorus hellerii swordtails for hard-water community aquariums with open swimming space, plants and careful group planning.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Assorted Swordtail are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Active assorted Xiphophorus hellerii swordtails for hard-water community aquariums with open swimming space, plants and careful group planning.
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller — pick a size variant above for the actual shipping size. Photos are AI-enhanced, so the animal may show subtle colour or marking differences.
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
Assorted Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is a bright, active livebearer for aquarists who want movement, colour and proper community-fish behaviour in a mature hard-water aquarium. This is an assorted swordtail listing, so the exact colour mix can vary by batch, but the care requirement stays the same: clean, well-oxygenated water, open swimming space, planted edges and a secure lid.
The useful search terms here are simple and natural: Assorted Swordtail, Xiphophorus hellerii, swordtail fish, livebearer, hard-water community aquarium and active tropical fish. The page is written around those real care topics rather than forced sales phrases, so it helps both keepers and search systems understand whether this fish is suitable for your tank.
Swordtails are popular because they look lively without being difficult. Males show the extended lower tail ray that gives the group its name, while females are fuller-bodied and often calmer in a group. Assorted batches may include red, orange, wagtail, koi-type or other mixed colour forms, making them useful when you want a display group rather than one exact strain.
Compared with platies, swordtails are usually more streamlined, more active and more appreciative of a longer aquarium. They suit keepers who enjoy livebearers but want a fish with stronger movement across the upper and middle levels of the tank.
| Scientific name | Xiphophorus hellerii |
|---|---|
| Common name | Assorted Swordtail / Swordtail fish |
| Adult size | Usually around 10-14 cm; large females can be bigger |
| Best aquarium size | 120 litres or larger, with length more important than height |
| Temperature | 22-28 C |
| pH | 7.0-8.2 preferred |
| Hardness | Moderately hard to hard water; avoid very soft acidic setups |
| Temperament | Peaceful but active; males can chase females and rival males |
| Diet | Omnivore: flakes, small pellets, vegetable matter and occasional frozen foods |
Assorted does not mean random care. It means the colour form may vary from the photographs or from fish to fish in the same order. The fish remain Xiphophorus hellerii, so the husbandry should be planned for swordtail behaviour rather than for a single named colour strain.
| Assorted colour | Expect a mixed display rather than one guaranteed pattern. |
|---|---|
| Same species care | Water, diet, group behaviour and aquarium size stay consistent across colour forms. |
| Best use | Community displays, livebearer groups and planted tanks where movement matters. |
| Not ideal for | Very small aquariums, soft blackwater-style tanks or setups with fin nippers. |
Choose Assorted Swordtails if your aquarium already has stable filtration, mineral-rich water and enough length for active fish. They are a strong fit for keepers building a colourful livebearer community, for families who want fish that are easy to see at feeding time, and for planted aquariums where red and orange movement helps the whole display feel alive.
They are less suitable for tiny desktop aquariums, very soft acidic aquascapes, or tanks built around shy slow-moving fish. Swordtails are not aggressive predators, but their energy can be too much in a cramped setup. Give them space and they become a confident, useful display fish rather than a source of pressure for tank mates.
This product has multiple size options. The smallest fish are easiest to settle into an established community, while larger fish give quicker impact and are better when you want a more visible centrepiece group. Always match the size you choose to the current livestock in your aquarium.
| 3-4 cm | Young fish for patient grow-on setups. Keep with peaceful tank mates only. |
|---|---|
| 4-5 cm | A balanced choice for most established community aquariums. |
| 5-6 cm | More visible in the tank and easier to sex as they mature. |
| Over 6 cm | Best when you want stronger display presence and already have enough space. |
Set up the aquarium with a long open swimming lane, plants along the sides and back, and a secure cover. Swordtails are active upper-to-midwater swimmers and can jump when startled. They do not need a bare tank; planted margins, floating cover and stable water quality make them calmer and show their colours better.
Filtration should be mature and oxygenation should be reliable. A gentle to moderate flow is useful, but avoid blasting smaller fish around the aquarium. Weekly maintenance matters: swordtails often look their best in clean, mineral-rich water rather than old water with rising waste.
Xiphophorus hellerii naturally comes from mineral-rich waters, including flowing streams and vegetated margins. In aquariums, the practical lesson is straightforward: do not keep swordtails long-term in very soft, acidic water. They are much better matched to tap-water community tanks where pH and hardness are stable.
| Good target | pH around 7.0-8.2, moderate to hard GH, stable temperature. |
|---|---|
| Watch closely | Low mineral water, neglected filters, nitrate build-up and unstable pH. |
| Simple improvement | Use regular water changes, good aeration and avoid overcrowding. |
Swordtails are peaceful, but they are not motionless fish. Males display, chase and compete, especially in cramped tanks or male-heavy groups. A female-heavy group usually works better than a pair because it spreads attention and keeps the aquarium calmer.
If you are adding them to an existing community, introduce them after the lights dim and watch the first few days. The goal is active swimming and feeding, not constant chasing. Extra plants and line-of-sight breaks are useful even in a spacious tank.
| Good matches | Platies, mollies, peaceful Corydoras, bristlenose plecos, rainbowfish and robust peaceful community fish that enjoy similar water. |
|---|---|
| Use care with | Guppies and Endlers if males are very persistent or if the tank is crowded. |
| Avoid | Fin nippers, very tiny fish, delicate soft-water species and aggressive cichlids. |
| Best display | A hard-water livebearer community with enough length for active swimming. |
Assorted Swordtails are omnivores. Use a quality flake or small pellet as the base, then add vegetable-rich foods and occasional frozen foods such as daphnia, mosquito larvae or brine shrimp. A little plant-based food helps support digestion and keeps the diet closer to what livebearers naturally browse.
Feed small amounts that are eaten quickly. In a group, spread food across the surface so confident fish do not take everything before quieter individuals feed.
| Good sign | Fish swim openly, feed quickly and use the middle and upper levels of the aquarium. |
|---|---|
| Check setup if | They hide constantly, clamp fins, gasp near the surface or males chase without pause. |
| Usually helps | More cover, more swimming length, cleaner water and a better male-to-female balance. |
Swordtails are livebearers, so mature females can give birth to free-swimming fry. This can be a bonus in a planted aquarium, but it also means numbers can rise if adults are kept in a well-fed, stable setup. Dense plants and fine cover help some fry survive; community fish may eat others.
If you want to control numbers, keep stocking sensible and plan homes for youngsters before deliberately raising fry. Avoid mixing different swordtail strains if maintaining a clean colour line matters to you.
Float the sealed bag to equalise temperature, then acclimate gradually to your aquarium water. Keep the lights low at first and avoid chasing the fish around the tank. The first signs you want to see are steady swimming, interest in food and normal group behaviour.
| First hour | Temperature match, gradual acclimation and low light. |
|---|---|
| First day | Let them settle before heavy feeding or maintenance. |
| First week | Watch for chasing, clamped fins, hiding or poor appetite. |
Livestock orders are packed for safe transit and sent through live-fish delivery routes. The Live Arrival Guarantee applies when the delivery is received promptly and the acclimation instructions are followed. If you are ordering during unusual weather, choose a delivery day when someone can receive the box straight away.
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