The 24 Best Tank Mates For Swordtail Fish
Recognizable by their long, beautiful tails, swordtail fish are popular among aquarists. They don’t require any particular care or unusual food throughout their existence, making them a good choice for novices.
This freshwater fish is good for community tanks. They are peaceful and do well with other kinds of fish or the same kind.
But be careful, aggressive or bullying fish may hurt this active fish. In this article, let’s find out the best Swordtails tank mates for your next aquarium.
What Makes a Good Tank Mate for Swordtail Fish?
Swordtails are a great fish for community tanks. They are compatible with many different types of fish and they are easy to care for.
It is important to choose fish that will get along well with swordtails, as well as with the other fish in your tank.
These species are small, peaceful, and amicable. This means they naturally enjoy the company of other fish that are also small, peaceful, and amicable.
They do not get along well with large and aggressive fish. These fish have different behaviors than your swordtail and may harm your fish, as larger fish and aggressive fish might try to attack and eat your smaller fish.
Additionally, swordtails should not be kept with loners because the loners will isolate the swordtail. This is why you need to select fish that are compatible with each other.
Best Swordtail Tank Mates
We’ve compiled a list of some of the fish that might be suitable tankmates for your swordtail fish.
1.Pink Tail Chalceus (Chalceus macrolepidotus)
The Pink Tail Chalceus is a large fish that is native to Northern South America in Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. They can be found in the wild on lakes and rivers.
The Pink Tail Chalceus is a peaceful fish. They like to stay in groups and they are fast-moving species. In the wild, they are predators who wait until prey approaches.
Because they are getting injured by jumping away from the tank (closing the tank lid would save fish from serious injuries), Pink Tail Chalceus will usually stay on the top side of the tank.
How many can keep together: 6 Fish per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 55 Gallons
Temperature: 73°F – 85°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 10 inches
2.Debauwi Catfish (Pareutropius debauwi)
Debauwi Catfish are a type of fish that live in Africa. They can be found in the wild on streams and rivers.
They are freshwater fish and they are doing well with other fish of the same kind. They would like to swim around a tank that is darkly decorated. Normally, they are mid-dwelling fish.
How many can keep together: 6 Fish per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 55 Gallons
Temperature: 74°F – 82°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 4 inches
3. Madagascar Rainbow Fish (Bedotia madagascarensis)
The Madagascar Rainbow Fish is a good beginner fish for new fish keepers. This species is very beautiful and can only be found in Madagascar and Africa.
They can be kept in a community tank because they do well with other fish of the same kind. They like to swim with fish of the same kind and they also like to live in a planted tank.
How many can keep together: 6 Fish per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 55 Gallons
Temperature: 72°F – 89°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 4 inches
4.The Flagtail Prochilodus (Semaprochilodus insignia)
Flagtail Prochilodus is a beautiful fish. They are popular among large fish keepers. They come from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, and Peru.
You can find them in local pet shops now. In the wild, they can be found in lakes and rivers.
These fish are peaceful and live in freshwater. But they can be aggressive towards other fish of the same kind.
However, a 3:1 female-male ratio would reduce aggression between the same kind of fish. Experts recommend a live planted environment for these fish because they do better in that type of setting.
How many can keep together: 4 Fish per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 100 Gallons
Temperature: 73°F – 84°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 14 inches
5. Sparkling Gourami (Trichopsis pumila)
Sparkling Gourami is a fish that is popular among fish keepers. It is an attractive fish that comes from the gourami family.
This fish is native to countries like Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Saigon, southern Vietnam. In the wild, it can be found on slow water-moving wetlands, marshes
However, Sparkling Gourami is freshwater fish. They can do well with other types of fish, but they can be aggressive towards males of the same kind.
You need to add a 3:1 ratio of females to males if you want to keep lots of Sparkling Gouramis in the tank.
How many can keep together: 2 Fish per tank
Temperament: Semi-Aggressive
Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
Temperature: 73°F – 83°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 1.6 inches
6.Parrot Pacu (Ossubtus xinguensi)
The Parrot Pacu is not an attractive fish. But for people who like to keep monster-looking fish, this can be a good choice.
They are native to Brazil and in the wild, they will live in lakes, fast water-moving streams, and swamps. Usually, they live under rocks and caves.
However, the Parrot pacu fish is peaceful with other fish. It may eat other types of fish, but it is usually gentle with them. Female Parrot pacu can be aggressive toward other females.
She would protect her territory. These fish like to live in a tank with places to hide, like caves and holes.
How many can keep together: 4 Fish per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 100 Gallons
Temperature: 77°F – 82°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 10 inches
7.Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus helleri)
Green Swordtail is a common fish that many people keep. They are easy to care for and do not require any special equipment or methods to keep them.
They are native to North and Central America. They can be found in marshes, swamps, and slow-moving water holes in the wild.
However, Green Swordtails are very peaceful freshwater fish. They do well when they are kept in the same tank as other kinds of fish.
Moreover, they can be kept in an artificial tank that is decorated or has live plants. Normally these fish swim quickly and are hard to catch.
How many can keep together: 6 Fish per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
Temperature: 65°F – 84°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 3 inches
8. Red Cherry shrimp (Neocaridina heteropoda)
If you are looking for a shrimp that is both attractive and easy to care for, the Red Cherry Shrimp is a good choice.
This type of shrimp is found all over the world and it is native to Taiwan. It can be found in slow-moving lakes and water holes.
Red Cherry shrimp are very peaceful and shy when they are in a new environment. They scavenge for food, eating any leftover food or algae. In the process, they also help to keep the tank clean.
Furthermore, they are demanding a live planted tank as their environment and they will live more than 2 years if that demand is fulfilled.
How many can keep together: 6 shrimp per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 10 Gallons
Temperature: 65°F – 85°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 2 inches
9.Batik Loach (Mesonoemacheilus triangularis)
This type of loach has a pattern that is often used in the batik clothing industry. Batik loaches have an attractive look compared to other types of loaches.
Zodiac loaches are a type of fish that come from India. They can be found in swamps and slow-moving water holes.
However, Batik Loaches are usually peaceful. But they can be aggressive towards other Batik Loaches.
Moreover, they are bottom dwellers, which means that fish keepers must add soft sand to the base of the tank to reduce the injuries while they are moving.
How many can keep together: 4 batik loaches per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
Temperature: 64°F – 78°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 3.25 inches
10. Bubble Eye Goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Bubble Eye Goldfish is a popular and attractive species around the world. Every fish keeper should try them at some point in their life. With good conditions, they can live up to 20 years.
They are also called “Water bubble eye goldfish”. Bubble Eye Goldfish were originally from China. In the wild, they can be found in fast-moving lakes, ponds, and rivers.
Bubble Eye Goldfish are very peaceful and innocent fish. It is calming to watch them swim with their fat bodies and fancy fins.
Their fancy fins make them a bit timid, so fish keepers shouldn’t add sharp things to the tank because they could tear their fins.
How many can keep together: 6 Fish per tank
Temperament: Peaceful
Minimum Tank Size: 20 Gallons
Temperature: 65°F – 78°F
Diet: Omnivorous
Size: 5 inches
11. Platies
Swordtails are livebearers, which means that they give birth to their young live, rather than laying eggs.
This makes them compatible with almost all other livebearers, like platies. Platies make excellent companions for swordtails.
Swordtails and platies can breed together because they are of the same species, Xiphophorus. Platies have similar tank requirements and the care procedure is almost the same too.
Temperature: 65-82F
Hardness: 12-30 GH
pH Level: 7-8 pH
Size: 2.5 inches
Temperament: Hardy, Peaceful
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, larvae, algae, etc.
12. Guppies
An excellent tank mate for your fish is a guppy. Guppies are livebearers, so they need the same tank requirements as the swordtails.
Guppies are small fish that have unique color patterns. They can be a wonderful addition to your freshwater community tank.
Temperature: 72-84F
Hardness: 12-30 GH
pH Level: 7-7.2 pH
Size: 1.2-2.4 inches
Temperament: Hardy, Peaceful, and Schooling
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, larvae, algae, etc.
13. Mollies
Mollies are similar to swordtails in temperament and tank conditions, making them good tank mates for swordtails.
These fish are livebearers and suitable for beginners. This means that they are easy to take care of and they will be good friends for your swordtails.
Temperature: 75-80F
Hardness: 12-25 GH
pH Level: 7.5-8.5 pH
Size: 4-4.5 inches
Temperament: Hardy, Peaceful, and Schooling
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, larvae, algae, etc.
14. Tetras
Different types of tetras can live together happily with swordtails.
Larger tetras, like the Lemon Tetra and the Cardinal Tetra, make good companions for swordtails because they are big enough that the swordtails won’t be able to bully them.
Tetras are colorful and unique fish that need a little more coverage than other fish. They lay eggs, which can be tricky to breed, but they make great companions nonetheless.
Temperature: 78-84F
Hardness: 3-8 KH
pH Level: 6.8-7.8 pH
Size: 1.5 inches
Temperament: Peaceful, Schooling
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, larvae, algae, bloodworms, etc.
15. Dwarf Gourami
Gouramis come in different sizes. The bigger Gouramis can be aggressive and might not be good tank mates for swordtails.
But dwarf Gouramis have similar tank requirements and are a good company for your swordtails.
They are colorful fish with vibrant patterns. They like staying in groups of 4-5 and can sometimes spar with one another but are peaceful with other fish.
Likewise, dwarf Gouramis are colorful fish with vibrant patterns. They like staying in groups of 4-5. Sometimes, they tend to spar with one another but are peaceful with other fish.
Temperature: 80+F
Hardness: 3-8 GH
pH Level: 6.8-7.8 pH
Size: 3.5-4.5 inches
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: frozen or live foods like small insects, larvae, algae, etc.
16. Dwarf Otocinclus
Otocinclus are small, peaceful fish that can make a great addition to your swordtail fish tank. They prefer to live in groups of about 5-6 fish.
Moreover, they are small, interactive fishes with a calm nature. They are not aggressive so they make a wonderful addition to a tank with swordtails.
Temperature: 68-82F
Hardness: 4-18 GH
pH Level: 5.5-7.5 pH
Size: 1-2 inches
Temperament: Peaceful, Schooling
Diet: most kinds of algae
17. Cory Catfish
Cory Catfish come in different sizes and colors. But, no matter what the type, they are one of the best fish for swordtails. They are both freshwater fish and a good choice for novice aquarists.
Corys are bottom dwellers, so it is important to have a substrate like gravel in the tank. You can keep them with any freshwater species you want.
Temperature: 74-80F
Hardness: 3-10 KH
pH Level: 5.5-7.0 pH
Size: 1- 2.5 inches
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: bottom feeder, frozen bloodworms, blackworms, etc.
18. Barbs
Barbs, especially Tiger Barbs, are great fish to have in a tank with swordtails. Tiger Barbs are colorful and active fish that love to explore their surroundings.
This makes them a great match for the swordtails, who also enjoy exploring their environment.
Barbs are playful and active fish that would make a great mate for your swordtail. However, they can be aggressive and should be kept in groups to avoid fighting.
Temperature: 74-79F
Hardness: 4-10 KH
pH Level: 6-7 pH
Size: 3 inches
Temperament: Hardy, Semi-aggressive
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, larvae, algae, etc.
19. Angelfish
Angelfish can live with other kinds of fish that have similar tank requirements and temperaments.
They might be the only type of cichlids that swordtails can live with. They are aggressive with each other but are mostly peaceful with other species like the swordtails.
Make sure to provide sufficient plantation in the tank to keep your swordtails safer.
Temperature: 74-84F
Hardness: 3-8 KH
pH Level: 6.8-7.8 pH
Size: 1.2-2 ½ inches
Temperament: Hardy, Peaceful, and Schooling
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, larvae, small crustaceans, etc.
20. Goby
Gobies are very cool fish. They live in salt water, but a few kinds of gobies including the bumblebee goby can live in freshwater too. Gobies make great tank mates for your swordtail fish.
They are usually camouflaged or have bright colors and are usually found at the bottom of the tank.
Temperature: 72-84F
Hardness: 12-30 GH
pH Level: 7-7.2 pH
Size: 1inch
Temperament: Peaceful, Territorial
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like daphnia, brine shrimp, etc.
21. Dwarf Crayfish
Most crayfish have long fins. They use them to swim and catch prey. However, Dwarf Crayfish are very different than the larger ones. They are small and safe for most community aquariums.
Temperature: 60-75F
Hardness: 6-12 KH
pH Level: 6.5-8.0 pH
Size: 1.6-2 inches
Temperament: Peaceful
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, larvae, algae, etc.
22. Hatchetfish
Hatchetfish like the Marbled Hatchetfish are common in most aquariums and can get along with other fish. They are closely related to tetras and are very easy to care for.
Temperature: 72-81F
Hardness: 2-14 GH
pH Level: 7-7.2 pH
Size: 1.5 inches
Temperament: Peaceful, Schooling
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms, larvae, algae, etc.
23. Danio
Danios are a type of fish that is popular for pets and experiments. They are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
They like to school and are easy to take care of, peaceful and will make a good companion for your swordtails.
Temperature: 70-75F
Hardness: 3-8 KH
pH Level: 7-7.8 pH
Size: 1.2-2 ½ inches
Temperament: Peaceful, Schooling
Diet: zooplankton, insects, larvae, etc.
24. Snails
There are two types of freshwater snails that are good for cleaning algae from your tank. The Nitrite Snails and the Assassin Snails both eat algae and can be good companions for your swordtail fish.
However, they make a great catch for swordtail tank mates because they help keep the growth of algae down and the population of snails in check. They are hardy and prefer planted aquariums.
Temperature: 68-84F
Hardness: 7-12 GH
pH Level: 7.6-8.4 pH
Size: 2 inches
Temperament: Hardy, Peaceful
Diet: Live or Frozen foods like brine shrimp, bloodworms larvae, algae, etc.
Can Swordtails Live Alone?
Swordtail fish can live alone, but it is not recommended. Swordtails are social fish and they thrive more when in groups.
You should note that swordtails are not schooling fish and they do not shoal. However, they are social and like to hang out with other fish in the tank.
However, swordtails like being around other swordtails. They spend most of their time exploring and they are happier when they have company.
If you keep your swordtail by itself, it can be lonely or stressful. This can lead to problems like becoming weak or ill.
Why Do Swordtails Need Tank Mates?
Swordtails are very active and love socializing. That is why they need tank mates. They do well when kept with similar kinds of fish.
You should keep swordtails with other fish for these reasons:
1. To Keep Them Active
Swordtails need to interact with other fish to stay healthy. If they are isolated, they will become inactive and timid.
This can lead to the fish developing weaknesses and deteriorating their health.
2. Stress Relief
Isolation can stress out your swordtails. When they are alone and have no company, your swordtails can become depressed.
As a result, a good company can keep your fish happy and relaxed. This will help them lead healthy lives.
3. Healthy living
If you isolate your swordtail, it will harm both its physical and mental health. This can make the fish lose its appetite and immunity, making it more susceptible to disease.
If you want a healthy swordtail, consider choosing the best tank mates for your fish.
What Kinds Of Fish To Avoid Keeping With Swordtails?
You should avoid keeping swordtails with aggressive or territorial fish like Cichlids, Sharks, Piranhas, and Killifish.
Fish that nip fins or bite tails should be avoided. Also, fish that like to live alone should be avoided.
Likewise, Tiger Barbs and Gobies can make ideal tank mates, but they might turn out aggressive so we need to be careful.
Last Words
Swordtails are a popular type of freshwater fish that make great companions for other peaceful fish. They are hardy and can tolerate a wide range of water conditions.
However, to keep your swordtails happy and healthy, it is important to choose the right tank mates for them.
We hope this article helped you understand everything you need to know.
Happy Fish Keeping! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.
