Easy
Swordtail L mixture (Xiphophorus helleri L mixture)
22–28°C · pH 7–8.3 · 75L
£10.99
Vienna Broccoli Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) – a rare and attractive swordtail variety with distinctive green and orange colouration. Peaceful livebearer, perfect for community tanks.
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. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
Xiphophorus hellerii
Swordtail Lyra Assorted Colours are a shoaling species — they need 6+ to feel safe and show their full colour.
Vienna Broccoli Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) – a rare and attractive swordtail variety with distinctive green and orange colouration. Peaceful livebearer, perfect for community tanks.
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. Product-photo provenance and any image-specific limitations are stated on the listing.
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
The Lyretail Swordtail is a flowing-finned selectively-bred form of Xiphophorus helleri, supplied here as an assorted mix of colours. Hardy, active and endlessly sociable, swordtails are classic community livebearers that suit anyone moving on from their first few fish. The lyretail form softens the usual single sword into trailing upper and lower fin extensions, giving males an elegant, drifting outline. Every fish is captive-bred and ready for a spacious, well-planted community.
Males grow to around 12 cm including the extended tail filament, females a little shorter and deeper-bodied. As an assorted group they arrive in a spread of colours, with reds, greens, oranges and wagtail or pineapple patterns all common. The lyretail trait stretches both the top and bottom edges of the tail into fine points, and in males the gonopodium is likewise elongated, which can make breeding less efficient than in standard swordtails.
Give a group a tank of 75 litres or more with a long footprint, as these are strong, energetic swimmers. Firm, slightly hard and alkaline water suits them best, so aim for pH 7.0 to 8.3, 12-30 dGH and 22-28°C, which mirrors the mineral-rich Central American streams the species comes from. Plant robustly around the sides and back, leave open swimming lanes down the middle, and provide a secure, well-fitting lid. Good filtration and steady maintenance keep these active fish in top condition.
Swordtails are accomplished jumpers, especially skittish or harassed males. A tight-fitting lid or cover glass with no open gaps is essential, or fish will be lost over the rim.
Swordtails are lively and generally peaceful, but males can be pushy with one another and will spar to establish a pecking order. Keeping one male to two or three females spreads attention and reduces harassment, and a group with enough space settles into confident, constant activity in the middle and upper water. They mix well with other robust, similarly active community fish.
| Great tank mates | Best avoided |
|---|---|
| Platies and mollies | Long-finned fish at risk of nipping |
| Larger tetras such as black skirt | Timid, slow feeders |
| Corydoras catfish | Very small shrimp that may be eaten |
| Rainbowfish | Aggressive cichlids |
| Peaceful medium gouramis | Fin-nippers such as tiger barbs |
Swordtails are omnivores with a real appetite for greens, so pair a quality flake or pellet with algae-based or spirulina foods and regular vegetable matter. Rotate in frozen or live treats such as bloodworm, daphnia and brine shrimp to keep colour and condition high. Feed small amounts two or three times a day and include some plant matter to support their grazing habit.
As livebearers, swordtails breed with almost no encouragement, and females deliver broods of 20-80 free-swimming fry every four to six weeks. Dense planting or a breeding box gives the young somewhere to hide, as adults will eat fry given the chance. Note that the exaggerated fins of lyretail males can hamper fertilisation, so keeping some standard-finned stock alongside can improve yields for dedicated breeders.
Stock swordtails with more females than males and plenty of visual breaks in the layout. It defuses male sparring and keeps the whole group calmer and better coloured.
Every Lyretail Swordtail is hand-selected and quarantined before sale, then packed in oxygenated bags with insulation and heat packs when needed and sent by tracked, live-animal courier. Your order is covered by our Live Arrival Guarantee, so it reaches you safely anywhere in the UK.
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