Product Details

Lyretail Red Wag Swordtail – Xiphophorus hellerii

Overview:

The Lyretail Red Wag Swordtail is a striking fancy livebearer with a bright red body, dark wagtail-style fins and an ornamental lyre-shaped tail. As a selectively bred form of Xiphophorus hellerii, it has the same active, streamlined nature as other swordtails, but the extended finnage means it should be kept with peaceful tank mates that will not nip or damage the tail. This is a colourful community fish for stable, mineral-rich aquariums with good swimming space.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Lyretail Red Wag Swordtail
Other Names: Red Wag Lyretail Swordtail, Red Wagtail Lyretail Sword, Lyretail Red Swordtail, Fancy Swordtail, Green Swordtail
Scientific Name: Xiphophorus hellerii
Fish Type: Livebearer / Swordtail
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

Wild Xiphophorus hellerii is native to North and Central America, from Veracruz in Mexico through to north-western Honduras. In nature it is found in streams, rivers, warm springs, weedy canals and ponds, often in vegetated areas with moving, well-oxygenated water. FishBase also notes that red varieties are especially popular aquarium fish. (fishbase.se)

The Lyretail Red Wag Swordtail is a domesticated aquarium strain, so its colour and fin shape are captive-bred traits rather than wild features.

Appearance & Adult Size:

This strain usually has a vivid red to orange-red body with black or dark markings on the tail and fins. The lyretail form has extended upper and lower rays on the caudal fin, giving the tail a decorative forked shape. Males also develop the swordtail extension and a gonopodium, while females are larger, deeper-bodied and lack the male sword.

Adults commonly reach around 10–12 cm in aquariums, with females often larger than males. FishBase lists Xiphophorus hellerii at up to 14 cm total length for males or unsexed fish and 16 cm total length for females, so this species needs more room than platies or guppies. (fishbase.se)

Aquarium Suitability:

This is best suited to larger peaceful community aquariums, livebearer displays and planted hard-water setups. Lyretail Red Wag Swordtails need open swimming lanes, plant cover, gentle to moderate flow and good oxygenation. Because of the extended tail rays, they should not be kept with persistent fin-nippers or rough, boisterous fish.

They are not suitable for very small aquariums, very soft acidic water, aggressive predator tanks or cramped setups where males cannot avoid one another.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 100–120 litres for a small group, with a tank length of at least 90 cm recommended. FishBase gives a minimum aquarium size of 80 cm, while Fishkeeper recommends at least a 3 ft aquarium, preferably larger, because swordtails are more streamlined and agile than platies. (fishbase.se, fishkeeper.co.uk)

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–26°C
pH: 7.0–8.2
Hardness: Moderately hard to hard preferred
Additional Notes: Swordtails do best in mineral-rich, neutral to alkaline water with stable chemistry and good oxygenation. FishBase lists X. hellerii at 22–28°C, pH 7.0–8.0 and hardness 9–19 dH. (fishbase.org) Avoid very soft acidic conditions, poor filtration and sudden swings in temperature or hardness.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Lyretail Red Wag Swordtails are peaceful overall, but they are active and males can be persistent during courtship. Suitable tank mates include platies, mollies in compatible water, peaceful barbs, danios, rainbowfish, bristlenose plecs, hard-water tolerant Cory-type catfish and other active community fish that enjoy neutral to alkaline water.

Avoid Tiger Barbs, Serpae Tetras, large predators, aggressive cichlids, persistent fin-nippers and very slow long-finned fish. The lyretail extensions are more vulnerable than standard fins, so calm tank mates are important. Keep in groups, ideally with one male to two or more females if mixed sexes are kept. Multiple males need extra space, plant cover and line-of-sight breaks.

Feeding:

Lyretail Red Wag Swordtails are easy-feeding omnivores. Offer quality flakes, small granules and livebearer pellets as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as daphnia, brineshrimp, cyclops, mosquito larvae and bloodworm. Include vegetable matter such as spirulina flakes, algae-based foods, blanched spinach or courgette. FishBase records wild Xiphophorus hellerii feeding on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter. (fishbase.se)

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is a lively mid-to-upper-level fish that spends much of the day cruising, grazing and interacting with other livebearers. Males display to females and rivals using body posture, fin spreading and the swordtail extension. Females give birth to free-swimming fry rather than laying eggs, and fry may survive in planted aquariums if there is enough cover.

Care Notes:

Keep Lyretail Red Wag Swordtails in a mature aquarium with stable hard water, good filtration and regular water changes. Provide plants or décor to break up sight lines, especially if males are active. A secure lid is recommended, as swordtails are strong jumpers. Protect the extended lyretail fins from nipping fish, sharp décor and rough handling. If breeding is not wanted, keep males only or plan ahead for fry. Do not mix different swordtail or platy strains if you want to preserve the Lyretail Red Wag line, as Xiphophorus varieties can hybridise in captivity.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common to occasional / Captive-bred fancy strain

Image Disclaimer:

All images are a visual representation of the fish you will receive, made to be as accurate as possible. Natural variation in size, red intensity, black fin coverage, sword length, lyretail shape, fin extension and markings can occur between individual fish.