Marigold Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) – Tank-Bred

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The Marigold Swordtail is a vibrant, tank-bred livebearer with a glowing gradient of golden yellow to orange across its body and an elegant, sword-like extension on the male’s tail fin. A peaceful, active swimmer that thrives in planted community tanks, this variety is both beginner-friendly and strikingly beautiful. Its hardy nature and social behavior make it a perfect addition to almost any freshwater setup.

What We Love About This Fish:

• Bright Marigold Coloration: Glows with golden hues and subtle orange-red accents.
• Peaceful Community Behavior: Gets along well with most peaceful tank mates.
• Livebearing Reproduction: Easy to breed, adds movement and interest to your tank.
• Hardy and Adaptable: Excellent for beginners and well-suited to a variety of setups.

Natural Habitat:

Though this fish is tank-bred, wild swordtails originate from clear rivers and streams in Central America, where they swim in shoals among dense vegetation and root tangles. They prefer stable, warm waters with steady flow and abundant cover.

Aquascaping:

• Plants: Ideal with Hornwort, Water Sprite, Vallisneria, and other broadleaf or floating plants.
• Hardscape: Use smooth stones, driftwood branches, and rock caves for structure.
• Botanicals: Indian Almond Leaves or alder cones help mimic their natural habitat and support water quality. Our Aquatic Arts Botanical Combo Pack is a perfect match—featuring a curated selection of leaves, seed pods, and natural woods that create an enriching, bioactive environment your swordtails will love.

Diet and Feeding:

Marigold Swordtails are omnivores and do best on a varied diet. A quality flake or micro pellet food forms a great staple, but variety is key to maintaining vibrant coloration and long-term health. We recommend supplementing with our Ultra Fresh Vegetables Shrimp Pie, which provides excellent plant-based nutrition that swordtails eagerly accept. For live food enrichment, we also offer live Daphnia—a perfect high-protein treat that brings out natural hunting behaviors and keeps your fish active and healthy.

Tank Mates and Compatibility:

Compatible with most peaceful community fish like mollies, platies, guppies, rasboras, tetras, and Corydoras. Avoid housing with aggressive or fin-nipping species. Males may display mild territorial behavior, especially with other male swordtails, so provide plenty of space and cover.

Shrimp Safe:

Generally safe with adult shrimp but may prey on small or newborn shrimp. Use mosses or dense plant cover to provide hiding spots for shrimp fry.

Breeding:

Livebearers that give birth to free-swimming fry. A ratio of 1 male to 2-3 females is ideal. Fry should be separated or heavily planted tanks used if you wish to raise young.

Recommended Tank Parameters:

• Temperature: 72° - 82° F (22° - 28° C)
• pH: 7.0 - 8.2
• KH: 8 - 18 dKH
• Minimum Tank Size: 20 gallons

Care Guidelines:

• Diet: Omnivorous – mix of flake, frozen, and veggie-based foods
• Social Behavior: Active and peaceful; keep in groups
• Origin: Tank-Bred (Not Wild-Collected)
• Average Adult Size: 4 – 5 inches (10 – 12.5 cm)
• Average Purchase Size: 1.5 – 2 inches (3.8 – 5 cm)

Product Highlight – Aquatic Arts Botanical Combo Pack:

Create a natural, enriching environment with our Botanical Combo Pack—a thoughtfully assembled collection of leaves, seed pods, and Cholla wood Not only does it help replicate the swordtail’s natural ecosystem, but it also supports water quality and encourages natural foraging and social behaviors.

Bring a splash of sunshine to your freshwater tank with the Marigold Swordtail – a vibrant, easygoing fish that brightens every aquascape.

Live Arrival Guarantee:
All Aquatic Arts brand animals come with a 100% live arrival guarantee, plus free email support!