Moderate
Wien Lyra Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii)
16–28°C · pH 7–8 · 108L
£5.99
A hardy, striking black lyretail swordtail that adds color, movement, and easy breeding to a peaceful community aquarium. Easy care, peaceful. 23-27C, pH 7-8.5.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Xiphophorus helleri
Max Adult Size
up to 4.5 cm
Lifespan
3 years
Care Level
Easy
Temperament
Peaceful
Temperature
23–27°C
pH Range
7–8.5
Hardness
5–30 dGH
Minimum Tank
75L
Diet
Omnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Water Parameters
Temperature
23–27°C
23°CIdeal27°C
pH Level
7–8.5
7Ideal8.5
Water Hardness
5–30 dGH
5 dGHIdeal30 dGH
Xiphophorus helleri
Swordtail Black Lyra (Xiphophorus helleri black lyra) - Tropical Fish for Sale UK
Beginner Friendly
Peaceful
£4.99/ fishSold Out
Shoal Pricing
— save up to 30%Shoaling fish: kept in a group they feel safer, stay calmer and show their best colour.
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Live arrival guaranteed. If they don’t arrive healthy, email us a short unboxing video the same day for a replacement or refund. Packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed.
£19.95 tracked delivery — half price (£9.98) from £100.00, free from £200.00. One delivery charge however many fish you add — everything travels together with a licensed live-animal courier.
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A hardy, striking black lyretail swordtail that adds color, movement, and easy breeding to a peaceful community aquarium. Easy care, peaceful. 23-27C, pH 7-8.5.
Care at a Glance
Scientific Name
Xiphophorus helleri
Max Adult Size
up to 4.5 cm
Lifespan
3 years
Care Level
Easy
Temperament
Peaceful
Temperature
23–27°C
pH Range
7–8.5
Hardness
5–30 dGH
Minimum Tank
75L
Diet
Omnivore
Adult size is the maximum length this species reaches at full maturity (scientific sources). The livestock you receive will be younger and smaller. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Full Care Guide
Platy Fish Care: Tank Size, Temperature & Types
Platy is a trade name used for Xiphophorus maculatus, X. variatus and domestic forms. Start with at least three in a mature aquarium of at least 45 litres, verify the exact fish and measured water, and plan extra capacity before mixing sexes.
16 min readRead guide
Water Parameters
Maintain these water conditions for optimal health and vibrant colors
Temperature
23–27°C
23°CIdeal27°C
pH Level
7–8.5
7Ideal8.5
Water Hardness
5–30 dGH
5 dGHIdeal30 dGH
Not every eye-catching fish needs a big aquarium. The Black Lyra Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri black lyra) is listed at a compact 4.5 cm, yet its deep black colouring and twin-pointed lyretail silhouette stand out the moment it crosses the tank. Colour, movement and elegant finnage come packaged in a body small enough for a modest set-up — it is the sort of fish that makes a 75-litre community feel complete rather than crowded — and it is noted as an easy breeder as well as an easy keep.
Peaceful by temperament, it mixes happily with platies, mollies, guppies, peaceful tetras, danios and Corydoras. Everything on that list shares the same calm energy, which is exactly the company this lyretail needs. Fin-nippers such as tiger barbs are specifically flagged as a poor match — those trailing fins are an obvious target — and large aggressive cichlids, big predators, very delicate slow-moving fish and soft-acid-water species should also stay off the plan.
Keep the water between 23 and 27 °C with a pH of 7.0–8.5; any hardness from 5 to 30 dGH is acceptable, which is an unusually forgiving range. Treat the listed figures as a target rather than a limit — sitting comfortably mid-range is always kinder than skating along an extreme. As an omnivore it feeds readily, holds to the middle of the tank and should live for around three years with consistent care.
Quick care summary
- Listed size: 4.5 cm
- Tank from: 75 litres
- 23–27 °C, pH 7.0–8.5, 5–30 dGH
- Omnivorous feeder; easy care
- Peaceful; noted as breeding readily
- Midwater swimmer with a 3-year typical lifespan
Stocking advice
Start with 75 litres and build the community around calm species from the compatible list. A dark fish shows best over light substrate or in front of fresh green planting, so think about the backdrop before it arrives. Few fish offer this much contrast per centimetre, which makes it an easy strain to recommend as a first lyretail. Take acclimatisation slowly, offer varied omnivore fare, and the strain's easy-care reputation looks after the rest. Delivery is by licensed live-animal courier, and our live arrival guarantee covers every fish we send.
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What customers say about ordering from us
4.6 on Google Maps, rated 4.6 out of 5 (opens in a new tab)4.4 · 91 shop reviews read them, rated 4.4 out of 5
- 4 out of 5Verified buyer
I have a small group of long finned mountain minnows. So was delighted to be able to order ten of this variety to increase the genetics in my tank . The ones I recieved are healthy but it’s to early to give a verdict on wether they are of a long finned type since they are small currently.
Gordon Walker · 23 Sept 2026
- 5 out of 5Verified buyer
100% success travel and "installation". Pleased with quality of purchase. The Siamese fighter a bit "shy" so have not yet seen him at his best yet but looking good. Happy customer. GG
George E Garratt · 21 Sept 2026
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