Orange Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) – Locally Bred
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For the safety of our animals, we now ship live fish exclusively via UPS Next Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS Next Day Air as a shipping option during checkout.
The Orange Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) is one of the most striking livebearers in the aquarium hobby, prized for its vivid coloration and signature tail extension. With its bold orange hue and lively personality, this fish adds nonstop movement and a splash of fiery color to any community aquarium. Our specimens are locally bred, making them hardy, well-acclimated, and a sustainable alternative to imported fish.
What We Love About This Fish:
• Brilliant Orange Coloration – A fiery tone that stands out in planted aquariums.
• Signature Swordtail – Males display the elegant, elongated “sword” extension of the caudal fin.
• Peaceful and Active – A schooling livebearer that adds energy and personality.
• Locally Bred – Adapted to aquarium conditions, hardy, and sustainably raised.
Natural Habitat:
Wild Swordtails are native to rivers and streams throughout Mexico and Central America, typically inhabiting flowing waters with lush vegetation and rocky or sandy substrates. The Orange variety is a selectively bred color morph, developed for its unique coloration and now available as a locally bred, aquarium-raised fish.
Aquascaping:
Swordtails thrive in aquariums that combine open swimming space with areas of cover.
• Plants: Live plants like Amazon Sword, Hornwort, and Water Sprite provide natural shelter and grazing surfaces. Floating plants such as Duckweed or Frogbit help diffuse light and create a comfortable environment.
• Hardscape: Smooth rocks and driftwood pieces can be arranged to create visual interest while leaving plenty of open water for schooling behavior.
• Botanicals: Additions like Indian Almond Leaves or Casuarina pods can help condition the water, encourage biofilm growth, and enhance a natural look.
Diet and Feeding:
Swordtails are omnivores and accept a wide range of foods. A staple of high-quality flakes or micro-pellets should be supplemented with live or frozen treats like brine shrimp and daphnia, as well as vegetable matter such as spirulina flakes or blanched zucchini to keep them healthy and colorful.
Tank Mates and Compatibility:
Orange Swordtails are excellent community fish. They do well with other livebearers (Platies, Mollies, Guppies) as well as peaceful species like tetras, rasboras, and Corydoras catfish. Avoid aggressive or fin-nipping tank mates.
Shrimp Compatibility:
Safe with adult shrimp, but may prey on very small shrimp fry. Provide ample plants and hiding spots if keeping shrimp together.
Breeding:
Like all livebearers, Orange Swordtails are prolific breeders. Females give birth to free-swimming fry, which benefit from dense plant cover or breeder boxes for survival. A ratio of 1 male to 2–3 females is recommended to reduce stress.
Recommended Tank Parameters:
• Temperature: 72° – 82° F (22° – 28° C)
• pH: 7.0 – 8.0
• KH: 8 – 15 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons
Care Guidelines:
• Diet: Omnivorous; thrives on flakes, pellets, live, and frozen foods.
• Social Behavior: Peaceful, schooling fish best kept in groups.
• Origin: Locally bred in the USA.
• Average Adult Size: 4 – 5 inches (10 – 12.5 cm), with males displaying a longer sword.
• Average Purchase Size: 1 – 2 inches (2.5 – 5 cm)
Bring home the vibrant Orange Swordtail – Locally Bred for a community fish that combines beauty, activity, and hardiness, all while supporting sustainable, domestic breeding.
Live Arrival Guarantee:
All Aquatic Arts brand animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!
What makes Orange Swordtails a classic aquarium fish?
They’re bright, active, and easy to live with. The solid orange coloration paired with constant movement makes them noticeable without being overwhelming, and they bring a lot of life to a tank.
What does “locally bred” mean for these swordtails?
Locally bred means they’ve been raised in aquarium conditions close to home rather than imported. This usually results in hardier fish that adapt more easily to typical home aquariums.
How big do Orange Swordtails get?
Males usually reach around 4 inches, not including the sword extension, while females can grow a bit larger. They appreciate tanks with open swimming space.
Are Orange Swordtails peaceful?
Yes, overall. Males may posture or display toward each other, but serious aggression is uncommon. Keeping multiple females helps spread attention and keeps things calm.
How many Orange Swordtails should I keep together?
They do best in small groups. A good rule of thumb is one male with two or three females. This setup reflects their natural social behavior and reduces stress.
Do Orange Swordtails do well in community tanks?
Very well. They’re compatible with many peaceful community fish of similar size and temperament. Their active nature makes them a great fit for lively tanks.
What kind of tank setup do Orange Swordtails prefer?
They enjoy planted tanks with open swimming areas. Plants provide cover for females and fry, while open space lets them swim freely.
What do Orange Swordtails eat?
They’re easy eaters. A quality flake or pellet works well as a staple, with vegetable-based foods and occasional frozen or live treats for balance.
Will Orange Swordtails breed in a home aquarium?
Yes. Like other livebearers, they breed readily. If males and females are housed together, fry should be expected unless steps are taken to separate them.
Who are Orange Swordtails best suited for?
They’re great for both beginners and experienced hobbyists. If you want a hardy, colorful fish that’s always on the move and easy to care for, Orange Swordtails are a solid choice.
For the safety of our animals, we only ship live fish, crabs, and select other inverts exclusively via UPS 1 Day Air. If your order contains this item, you will only see UPS 1 Day Air as a shipping option during checkout. If other items are in your cart that can ship with 2 day or standard shipping options the only shipping method you can still select is UPS 1 Day Air.
UPS 1 Day is a description of the duration of time a shipment will spend in transit once it has been shipped. This does not guarantee the package will be shipped the same or next day from which the order was placed.
Shipping Schedule for this service
Current Handling Time:
1-9 business days
Here at Aquatic Arts, we consider the welfare of the live animals we are shipping to be of the foremost importance. This process is much more involved than simply creating a shipping label and affixing it to a box. Depending on the order, it takes from 4 to 7 people to complete this process properly. We check the weather conditions here where they fly out of the Indianapolis UPS facility and the destination for each shipment. We start early each morning and go through a multi-step process to have the day's shipments prepared in time for the UPS pickup. The volume of orders in our system also affects the processing time. Therefore our stated handling time is 1-9 business days.
Shipping Rate
Pricing is by size of package needed to fill entire order and distance it must travel. It will be calculated at checkout.
