Hi-Fin Red Lyretail Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii)

Add a dramatic splash of crimson and architectural elegance to your aquarium with the Hi-Fin Red Lyretail Swordtail. This premium variety is a masterpiece of selective breeding, boasting an oversized, sail-like dorsal fin and a sophisticated "lyre" shaped tail that trails gracefully behind it. With its intense red coloration and active personality, this fish is the perfect centerpiece for hobbyists who want high-impact beauty without high-maintenance demands.

Quick Stats & Origin

• Scientific Name: Xiphophorus hellerii (Hi-Fin Lyretail Morph)

• Origin: The wild ancestors are native to Mexico and Central America. The Hi-Fin Red Lyretail is a designer variety developed for the ornamental fish trade.

• Adult Size: 4–5 inches (excluding the sword length).

• Lifespan: 3–5 years.

Care & Environment

Hi-Fin Red Lyretail Swordtails are remarkably hardy, making them suitable for both novice and expert aquarists. However, because of their long, delicate finnage, they appreciate an environment with gentle to moderate water flow.

• Tank Size: A minimum of 29 to 30 gallons is recommended. They are powerful swimmers and need horizontal space to move.

• Substrate: They look stunning against a dark substrate, which enhances their deep red pigment.

• Environment: These fish thrive in well-planted tanks. Use tall plants like Jungle Val or Amazon Swords to provide cover, while leaving the center area open for swimming.

• Water Parameters:

  • Temperature: 72°F to 82°F (22°C–28°C)

  • pH: 7.0–8.2 (They prefer slightly alkaline, harder water).

  • Hardness: 12–30 dGH.

Feeding & Diet

Swordtails are natural omnivores with a healthy appetite. Providing a varied diet ensures their fins stay strong and their color remains vibrant.

• Staple Diet: High-quality flake food or floating micro-pellets.

• Color Enhancement: Feed frozen or live foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms to boost the "fire-red" intensity.

• Vegetable Matter: They enjoy grazing on algae and will appreciate occasional spirulina flakes or blanched zucchini.

Tank Mates

These are social, peaceful fish that get along well with most community dwellers.

• Ideal Partners: Platies, Mollies, larger Tetras, Corydoras, and peaceful Gouramis.

• Social Ratio: It is best to keep them in a ratio of one male to at least two or three females. This prevents the male from exhausting a single female with constant attention.

• Avoid: Large, aggressive tank mates or notorious "fin-nippers" (like Tiger Barbs) that might target their trailing Lyretail or Hi-Fin.

Breeding

As livebearers, Swordtails are exceptionally easy to breed.

• Live Birth: Instead of laying eggs, females give birth to fully formed, free-swimming fry.

• The Lyretail Gene: Interestingly, due to the elongated gonopodium (breeding organ) of many Lyretail males, they can sometimes have difficulty breeding naturally. Many breeders keep "normal fin" males with Lyretail females to ensure successful spawning.

• Fry Survival: Provide dense floating plants like Guppy Grass or Hornwort to give the fry a place to hide from adult fish.

Note: These fish are excellent jumpers! Always ensure your aquarium has a tight-fitting lid to keep your Swordtails safe.

PLEASE READ BEFORE ORDERING

• The photos shown on fish product pages are representations of adult fish and are NOT the actual fish that you will be receiving. 
• Please visit our “Ordering/Shipping fish” page prior to checking out to familiarize yourself with our process.
• We ship fish exclusively using overnight shipping with either FedEx or UPS. We will not ship fish with lesser expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish. 
• Unless specified, all fish are sold as unsexed.

r expensive shipping services like “Ground” or “Priority Mail”. This is to ensure the safety of the fish.