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Freshwater fishRed Hi Fin Lyretail Swordtail (School of 5)
Red Hi Fin Lyretail Swordtail (School of 5)
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Five of these amazing-finned swordtails will be a dominant characteristic of any planted aquarium or community fish tank.
Quick Facts
| Scientific Name | Xiphophorus hellerii (red hi-fin lyretail) |
| Origin | Southern Mexico to Honduras (wild ancestors); aquarium-bred |
| Care Level | Easy, good for beginners |
| Temperament | Peaceful (males may spar) |
| Adult Size | Up to 4–5" (not counting the sword) |
| Lifespan | 3–5 years |
| Diet | Omnivore |
| Water Temperature | 72–79°F |
| pH | 7.0–8.0 (hard water) |
| Group Size | Sold as a school of 5 |
| Shipping Size | Approx. 2" |
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.
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