Marigold Hi Fin Lyre Swordtail

The hi-fin lyretail variety of the marigold swordtail stands out for color and shape. The long, flowing tail and dorsal with the remarkable marigold color is a collector's prize.

Lyretails are bred into the species, and many offspring will have the same stunning attribute.

Quick Facts

Care Guide

Tank setup: Swordtails are active swimmers, so give them plants, open swimming space and a tight-fitting lid, since they are good jumpers. They prefer hard, alkaline water.

Feeding: Feed a quality flake or small pellet with some vegetable content once or twice a day. They also enjoy frozen foods like bloodworms and brine shrimp.

Tankmates: Swordtails get along with most peaceful community fish of similar size, such as platies, mollies, larger tetras, danios, rainbowfish, gouramis and corydoras. Keep more females than males, since males chase females and may spar with each other. Avoid fin-nippers and large cichlids.

Good to know: Lyretail and hi-fin swordtails have extra-long fins, so keep them away from fin-nippers like tiger barbs. Many lyretail males have an elongated gonopodium and can't breed, so lyretail fry usually come from lyretail females mated with standard-finned males.