Description
Swordtails – Lively, Colorful, and Easy to Care For
(Xiphophorus hellerii)
Swordtails are a popular and attractive freshwater fish known for the distinctive elongated lower tail fin found on males—giving them their signature “sword” appearance. Available in a range of brilliant colors such as red, orange, pineapple, green, and even koi-patterned varieties, Swordtails are active, peaceful, and perfect for both community aquariums and beginner setups.
Key Features:
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Elegant Appearance: Males feature a striking sword-like tail, while females are slightly larger and more robust
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Bright Color Varieties: Includes Red, Green, Pineapple, Marigold, and more
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Medium Size: Typically grow to 6–10 cm (2.5–4 inches)
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Peaceful & Social: Best kept in groups or peaceful communities
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Livebearers: Easy to breed—ideal for hobbyists interested in natural breeding behavior
Tank Requirements:
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Minimum Tank Size: 75 liters (20 gallons)
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Temperature: 22°C–28°C
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pH Range: 7.0–8.3
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Prefer planted aquariums with open swimming space and stable water parameters
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Gentle water flow and regular maintenance promote optimal health
Compatibility:
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Ideal tankmates include mollies, guppies, platies, corydoras, and tetras
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Best kept in a ratio of 1 male to 2–3 females to reduce stress
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Avoid aggressive species or those that nip fins
Feeding:
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Omnivorous—enjoy a varied diet of high-quality flakes or pellets, supplemented with live or frozen foods like daphnia or brine shrimp, and some blanched veggies
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Feed 2–3 times daily in small portions
Why Choose Swordtails?
With their graceful form, vibrant color options, and friendly nature, Swordtails are a striking and rewarding addition to any freshwater setup. Whether you're new to fishkeeping or building a peaceful community aquarium, these hardy livebearers are sure to impress.
Click & Collect
Livestock will only be bagged once you arrive, or if you contact us in advance to request it ready beforehand.
Local Delivery
Order anything from our in-store range and have it delivered right to you.
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Minimum spend: £50
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Delivery up to 10 miles: £10
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Delivery up to 25 miles: £20
Distances are measured “as the crow flies”, not by road.
Once your order is placed, we’ll be in touch to arrange a suitable delivery date and time.
Please note, delivery may take a little longer as we often group orders together to build an efficient delivery run.
Important: If you’re ordering a large aquarium, please ensure someone is available to help unload the van on arrival.
Dry Goods Delivery
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DPD Next Day: 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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DX Next Day (Heavy Items & Small Aquariums): 1 working day (order before 12 noon)
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Express Pallet: 1–3 working days
If you'd like to add more items to an existing order that hasn't yet been dispatched, please place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to combine the orders.
Please note: We currently only dispatch parcels Wednesday to Friday.
Pre-Order
Want the full details? Check out our Terms & Conditions.
Livestock Delivery
Thursday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Wednesday afternoon
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Delivered Thursday before 1pm
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Order by Wednesday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Friday Delivery – £24
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Dispatched Thursday afternoon
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Delivered Friday before 1pm
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Order by Thursday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
Saturday Delivery – £29
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Dispatched Friday afternoon
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Delivered Saturday before 1pm
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Order by Friday 12 noon
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Minimum spend: £50
📦 Want to Add to an Existing Order?
No problem! Just place a Click & Collect order and leave a note asking us to link it with your original one (as long as it hasn’t been dispatched yet).
🛒 Dry Goods Now Included!
You can now include dry goods in your livestock delivery – perfect for topping up supplies in one go.
❄️ Please note: We can’t send frozen food with livestock – please order frozen items separately.
⚠️ Delivery Exclusions
Unfortunately, we’re unable to deliver livestock to the following postcodes:
Scotland & Isles:
AB30–AB56, DD8–DD10, DG3–DG9, DG12–DG14, FK17–FK21, KA18–KA19, KA26–KA30, PA20–PA38, PA80, PH3–PH40
Cornwall Isles: TR21–TR25
All of the following postcodes are excluded:
BT, HS, IM, IV, JE, KW
Plus Channel Islands and Shetland Islands
Payment & Security
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