Product Details

Red Hifin Swordtail – Xiphophorus hellerii

Overview:

The Red Hifin Swordtail is a bright, active livebearer with intense red colour and an enlarged high dorsal fin that gives it extra display appeal. This ornamental strain of Xiphophorus hellerii is a lively choice for a spacious community aquarium with harder, mineral-rich water, open swimming room and plenty of plant cover. Males are especially eye-catching, with the classic sword-like extension to the lower tail, while the high-fin trait makes careful tank mate choice important to avoid fin damage.

Key Identification:

Common Name: Red Hifin Swordtail
Other Names: Red Highfin Swordtail, Hi Fin Red Swordtail, Red Swordtail, High Dorsal Swordtail, Green Swordtail, Xiphophorus helleri
Scientific Name: Xiphophorus hellerii
Fish Type: Livebearer
Water Type: Freshwater

Natural Range & Habitat:

The Red Hifin Swordtail is a captive-bred aquarium strain, so this exact red high-fin form is not found in the wild. The wild Green Swordtail is native to Mexico and Central America, with FishBase recording its natural range from the Rio Nantla in Veracruz, Mexico, to north-western Honduras.

Wild swordtails are found mainly in flowing streams and rivers with heavy vegetation, but they may also occur in warm springs, canals and ponds. This explains why aquarium swordtails appreciate clean, oxygenated water, plant cover and enough swimming space rather than cramped, still conditions.

Appearance & Adult Size:

Red Hifin Swordtails have a streamlined body, strong red to orange-red colouration and an enlarged dorsal fin. Males develop the distinctive lower-tail “sword”, while females lack the sword and usually become larger and deeper-bodied. The high-fin dorsal can be especially impressive in mature males, although individual fin size and shape varies.

Adults are larger than many people expect from livebearers. FishBase lists Xiphophorus hellerii at up to around 14 cm for males and 16 cm for females, although domestic aquarium strains are often smaller. Plan for an active medium-sized livebearer rather than a small nano fish.

Aquarium Suitability:

This is a good community fish for aquariums with harder water, active tank mates and plenty of swimming room. Red Hifin Swordtails suit planted community tanks, livebearer aquariums and Central American-inspired setups with open areas and moderate water movement. They are not suitable for very small aquariums, very soft acidic setups, fin-nipping communities or tanks with shy fish that may be stressed by their constant activity.

Recommended Aquarium Size:

A practical minimum is 120 litres for a small group, with a tank length of at least 90 cm recommended. FishBase notes a minimum aquarium size of around 80 cm, while UK aquarium guidance recommends a tank of at least 3 ft due to their adult size and active swimming behaviour. Larger aquariums are preferred if keeping several males or a breeding group.

Water Conditions:

Temperature: 22–26°C
pH: 7.0–8.0
Hardness: Moderately hard to hard preferred
Additional Notes: Swordtails do best in mineral-rich water with stable pH and good oxygenation. Seriously Fish gives Xiphophorus hellerii a broad temperature range of 16–28°C, pH 7.0–8.0 and hardness 179–447 ppm, while FishBase lists pH 7.0–8.0 and hardness 9–19 dH. Avoid very soft acidic water and maintain regular water changes, as active livebearers produce a steady waste load.

Temperament & Tank Mates:

Aquarium Category: Community Fish

Red Hifin Swordtails are generally peaceful, but they are active, assertive livebearers. Suitable tank mates include platies, mollies in compatible water, larger peaceful tetras that tolerate harder water, rainbowfish, danios, peaceful barbs, bristlenose plecs, Cory-type catfish suited to the water chemistry and other robust community fish.

Avoid fin-nippers such as Tiger Barbs, Serpae Tetras and aggressive barbs, as the high dorsal fin can be targeted. Very small fry or tiny fish may be eaten opportunistically. Males can pester females and may spar with rival males, so keep either a single male with multiple females or a larger mixed group with enough space and cover. A ratio of one male to two or more females is usually more settled than pairs.

Feeding:

Red Hifin Swordtails are omnivores and easy to feed. Offer quality livebearer flakes, tropical flakes, small granules and micro pellets as the staple diet. Supplement with frozen or live foods such as brineshrimp, daphnia, bloodworm, mosquito larvae and cyclops. Include vegetable-based foods such as spirulina flakes, algae wafers, blanched courgette or spinach to support digestion and colour. FishBase notes that wild swordtails feed on worms, crustaceans, insects and plant matter, so a mixed diet is ideal.

Behaviour in the Aquarium:

This is an active midwater to upper-level livebearer that spends much of the day swimming, displaying and browsing among plants. Males show off their sword and dorsal fin while courting females or competing with other males. Females give birth to free-swimming live young rather than laying eggs, and fry may survive in planted aquariums if there is dense cover.

Care Notes:

Keep in a mature, well-filtered aquarium with stable hard water. Avoid very soft acidic water, cramped tanks and poor oxygenation. Provide plants or décor to break lines of sight, especially if keeping males with females. The high-fin strain should not be mixed with fin-nipping fish or sharp décor. Swordtails are prolific livebearers, so be prepared for fry or keep single-sex groups where appropriate. Never release unwanted fish outdoors, as swordtails have established introduced populations in several countries and can cause ecological problems.

Recommended For:

Beginner to intermediate

Availability:

Common / Captive-bred colour and fin 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, colour, pattern and markings can occur between individual fish.