9 Best Tank Mates for Swordtails (Pictures)

Are you on the lookout for tank mates for swordtails? Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri) are a preferred livebearer freshwater fish. They’re broadly distributed and can be found in most pet shops.

Male Swordtails are characterised by their sword-like tails, whereas feminine Swordtails are rounder. There are a lot of coloration variations of swordtails, however the preferred are the orange coloured swordtails.

Swordtails are nice fish for newbies as a result of they’re straightforward to maintain. So what fish will get together with swordtails? Listed below are one of the best tank mates for swordtails.

3 Elements to Think about When Deciding on Swordtail Tank Mates

When choosing tank mates for swordtails, there are 3 elements to contemplate to verify your swordtails and tank mates are glad.

1. Water Parameters Needs to be Much like Swordtails

Select tank mates which have related water parameters as Swordtails. Swordtails want medium, onerous water that’s barely alkaline. Keep away from fish that can want comfortable, acidic water.

2. Keep away from Fin Nippers with Swordtails

Though Swordtails don’t have the large showy fins of some fish. However, it is best to keep away from aggressive fin nippers as tank mates for Swordtails. You don’t need fin nippers to nip the lengthy sword-like tails of Swordtails! Undoubtedly don’t combine Tiger Barbs with Swordtails.

3. Will You Be Breeding Swordtails?

Are you planning to breed Swordtails? In that case, that can have an effect on the tank mates you select to your Swordtail. Most fish will eat smaller fish that may match of their mouths. Even essentially the most peaceable fish are responsible of consuming smaller fish. It’s their pure intuition! 

Undoubtedly hold that in thoughts when selecting tank mates for swordtails. Keep away from large fish, follow small fish with small mouths as tank mates for swordtails.

9 Fish which might be Suitable with Swordtails

1. Guppy (Poecilia reticulata) 

Traits

Title	Guppy
Scientific Title	Poecilia reticulata
Origin	Central America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Measurement	2 inches (5 cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Simple
Water Parameters	Medium Exhausting Water. Alkaline, pH 7.5
Water Temperature	70-77F (21-25C)
Water Column	Midwater Fish

Guppies will get alongside nicely along with your swordtails. They’re peaceable and vigorous fish and can reside peacefully along with your swordtails. Hold Guppies in teams of 4 to six. The male guppies are characterised by their colourful tails, whereas the females are bigger and extra drab trying. Guppies are lively and peaceable fish which might be lots of enjoyable for newbies. They’re additionally very hardy and may tolerate a variety of water situations. Much like different swordtails, Guppies breed simply.

2. Platy (Xiphophorus maculatus) 

Traits

Title	Platy
Scientific Title	Xiphophorus maculatus
Origin	Central America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Measurement	2.5 inches (6 cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Simple
Water Parameters	Medium Exhausting to Alkaline, pH 7.5
Water Temperature	64-77F (18-25C)
Water Column	Midwater Fish

Platies are preferrred tank mates for swordtails. They’re peaceable and are suitable with swordtails. Platies are additionally hardy, so it’s nice for newbies. Platies are available many coloration varieties, from albino to vibrant orange. Much like swordtails, platies are livebearers and breed simply.

3. Black Molly  (Poecilia sphenops) 

Traits

Title	Black Molly
Scientific Title	Poecilia sphenops
Origin	Central America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Measurement	3.5 inches (8.5 cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Simple
Water Parameters	Brackish Water. Exhausting Water. Alkaline, pH 7.5
Water Temperature	75-81F (24-27C)
Water Column	Midwater Fish

Black Mollies are suitable fish with swordtails. They’re peaceable fish and can get alongside properly with swordtails. Hold Black Mollies in teams of 4 to six. One factor to notice, Black Mollies will not be as hardy as swordtails although. They’re vulnerable to ailments if the water isn’t barely brackish or onerous. Much like swordtails, Black Mollies will breed simply. 

4. Endler (Poecilia reticulata) 

Traits

Title	Endler
Scientific Title	Poecilia reticulata
Origin	Central America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Measurement	2 inches (5 cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Simple
Water Parameters	Medium Exhausting Water. Alkaline, pH 7.5
Water Temperature	70-77F (21-25C)
Water Column	Midwater Fish

Endlers will get alongside properly in the identical aquarium as swordtails. They’re livebearers that look similar to guppies as a result of they’re the wild type of guppies. Endlers are very colourful fish, extra colourful than guppies! Endlers are prolific breeders. Don’t combine guppies and Endlers in the identical tank since they are going to interbreed and you’ll lose the attractive Endler colours.

5. Bronze Corydoras (Corydoras aeneus) 

Traits

Title	Bronze Corydoras
Scientific Title	Corydoras aeneus
Origin	South America
Measurement	2.75 inches (7cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Reasonable
Water Parameters	Tender, pH 6-7
Water Temperature	64-79F(18-26C).
Water Column	Backside Dweller Fish

Bronze Corydoras are backside dwelling fish that can get alongside properly with swordtails. They’re peaceable group fish. Corydoras are additionally hardy fish and may tolerate a variety of water parameters which makes them straightforward, adaptable fish. 

Corydoras are social and must be saved with different Corydoras of the identical species. If in case you have house in your aquarium, hold not less than 5 Corydoras in a gaggle.  

Though they’re scavengers, you continue to have to feed Cory catfish their very own meals. It’s not sufficient to depend on meals collected from scavenging as their solely meals supply. It’s best to complement their eating regimen with sinking pellets which might be formulated for bottom-dwelling fish. 

6. Otocinclus (Otocinclus affinis) 

Traits

Title	Otocinclus
Scientific Title	Otocinclus affinis
Origin	South America
Measurement	1.5 inches (4 cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Reasonable
Water Parameters	Tender and Barely Acidic, pH 6.5-7.0
Water Temperature	72-77F (22-25C)
Water Column	Backside Dweller

Otocinclus are peaceable fish that won’t hassle swordtails. They’re algae eaters and are an incredible addition to group tanks. Get a gaggle of Otos so that they have firm.  

Otocinclus is a well-liked selection for fishkeepers on the lookout for an algae eater to wash their tank. Otos are peaceable fish. They’re delicate to nitrate ranges, so it’s necessary to maintain the water high quality in good situation with common water adjustments.

7. Bristlenose Catfish (Ancistrus temminckii) 

Traits

Title	Bristlenose Catfish
Scientific Title	Ancistrus temminckii
Origin	South America
Measurement	6 inches (15cm)
Temperament	Territorial
Ease of Care	Reasonable
Water Parameters	Tender to Acidic, pH 6-7
Water Temperature	75-82F (24-28C)
Water Column	Backside Dweller Fish

Bristlenose Catfish is an efficient tank mate for swordtails. It’s a backside dweller, algae eater that can get out of the way in which of swordtails. Bristlenose Catfish can get territorial with different Bristlenose Catfish and different backside dwellers, so it’s finest to maintain only one or a pair of Bristlenose Catfish (one male and one feminine). 

Bristlenose Catfish are good algae eaters and can do a very good job cleansing your tank. Be sure to complement their feeding with sinking pellets as a result of they are going to feed on aquarium vegetation if there’s not sufficient algae within the aquarium.

8. Boeseman’s Rainbowfish (Melanotaenia boesemani) 

Traits

Title	Boeseman’s Rainbowfish
Scientific Title	Melanotaenia boesemani
Origin	New Guinea
Measurement	4.75 inches (12 cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Reasonable
Water Parameters	Impartial to onerous, pH 7-8
Water Temperature	75-82F (24-28C)
Water Column	Midwater Fish

Boeseman’s Rainbowfish are good tank mates with swordtails. They’re lovely, lively education fish. Hold 4-6 in a tank and you should have a thriving group of Boeseman’s Rainbowfish. 

Boeseman’s Rainbowfish characterised by the yellow/orange and blue colours. They’re lively fish that can thrive in an aquarium with vegetation and a spacious open swim space. A well-filtered tank that doesn’t have a robust present is good. 

9. Coolie Loach (Pangio kuhlii) 

Traits

Title	Coolie Loach
Scientific Title	Pangio kuhlii
Origin	Southeast Asia
Measurement	4 inches (10 cm)
Temperament	Semi-Social
Ease of Care	Reasonable
Water Parameters	Acidic, pH 6-6.5
Water Temperature	75-86F (24-30C)
Water Column	Backside Dweller

Coolie Loaches will do nicely in an aquarium with swordtails as a result of they keep out of the way in which of their tankmates. They’re nocturnal and can normally cover within the substrate or decorations throughout the day and are available out to feed at night time. They’re glad in a gaggle.  

Coolie Loaches are common for his or her snake-like look. Like different loaches, Coolie Loaches are nocturnal, so they’re normally hidden throughout the day. Coolie loaches are eel-like and can bury themselves within the substrate. It’s normally very troublesome to catch coolie loaches as soon as they’re within the tank. You also needs to have a decent lid on the aquarium as a result of they’ll slither out of the aquarium.

All About Swordtails (Xiphophorus helleri) 

Traits

Title	Swordtail
Scientific Title	Xiphophorus helleri
Origin	Central America Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras
Measurement	4 inches (10 cm)
Temperament	Peaceable
Ease of Care	Simple
Water Parameters	Medium Exhausting to Alkaline, pH 7.5
Water Temperature	70-77F (21-25C)
Water Column	Midwater Fish

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