Tank mates for swordtails

We checked swordtails against all 149 other species in our database for water temperature, pH, size, fin nipping, predation and aggression.

Good tank mates for swordtails include nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and zebra danio. Avoid cherry shrimp, chinese algae eater and convict cichlid: swordtail eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.

Swordtails: 22–26°C (72–79°F), pH 7–8, adult size 12 cm (4.7 in), minimum tank 29 gallons (110 L). Full swordtail care guide.

Check a full stocking plan

Good Compatible tank mates (96)

Shared water conditions and no known conflict. Still add fish slowly and watch them.

Caution Possible, with care (37)

These can work in the right setup, but there is a real risk. Read the reason first.

  • Angelfish · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.
  • Betta fish · 5+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.
  • Common goldfish · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Dwarf gourami · 15+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of dwarf gouramis are an easy target.
  • Fancy goldfish · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of fancy goldfish are an easy target.
  • Guppy · 10+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of guppies are an easy target.
  • Oscar · 75+ gal
    • Oscar may eat swordtails, especially young or small ones.
    • Oscar is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller swordtails.
    • Oscar defends its patch of the tank and may chase swordtails, which use the same area.
  • Amano shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Swordtail hunts shrimp. Larger amano shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Blood parrot cichlid · 55+ gal
    • Blood parrot cichlid defends its patch of the tank and may chase swordtails, which use the same area.
  • Boesemani rainbowfish · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Clown loach · 180+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Dojo loach · 75+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–23°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Ghost shrimp · 10+ gal
    • Swordtail hunts shrimp. Larger ghost shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Hillstream loach · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Honey gourami · 10+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of honey gouramis are an easy target.
  • Pearl gourami · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of pearl gouramis are an easy target.
  • Rosy barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Senegal bichir · 90+ gal
    • Senegal bichir is semi-aggressive and may bully much smaller swordtails.
  • Three spot gourami · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of three spot gouramis are an easy target.
  • White cloud mountain minnow · 15+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 22–22°C).
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • African butterfly fish · 29+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of african butterfly fish are an easy target.
  • Agassiz's dwarf cichlid · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Bamboo shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Swordtail hunts shrimp. Larger bamboo shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Congo tetra · 40+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of Congo tetras are an easy target.
  • Dwarf orange crayfish · 10+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
    • Swordtail may attack small crustaceans like dwarf orange crayfish, especially after they molt.
  • Gold barb · 29+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Paradise fish · 20+ gal
    • One is a cold-water species and the other is tropical, so neither will be at its best.
  • Rabbit snail · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
  • Severum · 55+ gal
    • Severum defends its patch of the tank and may chase swordtails, which use the same area.
  • Thai micro crab · 5+ gal
    • Swordtail may attack small crustaceans like Thai micro crabs, especially after they molt.
  • Threadfin rainbowfish · 20+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of threadfin rainbowfish are an easy target.
  • Vampire shrimp · 20+ gal
    • Swordtail hunts shrimp. Larger vampire shrimp sometimes survive, but expect losses.
  • Zebra pleco · 20+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 26–26°C).
  • Dwarf rasbora · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
  • Green neon tetra · 10+ gal
    • Their preferred pH ranges don't quite overlap (7–8 vs 5–6.5).
  • Moonlight gourami · 29+ gal
    • Their temperature ranges barely overlap (only around 25–26°C).
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of moonlight gouramis are an easy target.
  • Thick-lipped gourami · 20+ gal
    • Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of thick-lipped gouramis are an easy target.

Avoid Bad tank mates (16)

  • Cherry shrimp: Swordtail eats small shrimp like cherry shrimp.
  • Chinese algae eater: Chinese algae eater is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails.
  • Convict cichlid: Convict cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails.
  • Discus: They need different temperatures: Swordtail 22–26°C (72–79°F), discus 28–30°C (82–86°F).
  • Electric yellow cichlid: Electric yellow cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Swordtails don't belong in that setup.
  • German blue ram: They need different temperatures: Swordtail 22–26°C (72–79°F), german blue ram 27–30°C (81–86°F).
  • Jack Dempsey: Jack Dempsey is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails.
  • Pea puffer: Pea puffer is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails. Pea puffer is best kept in a species-only tank.
  • Peacock cichlid: Peacock cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Swordtails don't belong in that setup.
  • Red zebra cichlid: Red zebra cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails. Red zebra cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Swordtails don't belong in that setup.
  • Crystal red shrimp: Swordtail eats small shrimp like crystal red shrimp.
  • Demasoni cichlid: Demasoni cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails. Demasoni cichlid is a Lake Malawi cichlid. It needs a Lake Malawi tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–8.5), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Swordtails don't belong in that setup.
  • Frontosa: Frontosa is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 8–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Swordtails don't belong in that setup.
  • Green terror: Green terror is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails.
  • Jewel cichlid: Jewel cichlid is aggressive and will bully or injure peaceful swordtails.
  • Shell dweller cichlid: Shell dweller cichlid is a Lake Tanganyika cichlid. It needs a Lake Tanganyika tank: hard, alkaline water (pH 7.5–9), plenty of rockwork and other cichlids from the same lake. Swordtails don't belong in that setup.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can live with swordtails?

Good tank mates for swordtails include nerite snail, neon tetra, panda corydoras, bristlenose pleco, bronze corydoras and zebra danio. They need similar water and won't fight with or eat swordtails.

Can swordtails live with angelfish?

Sometimes, with care. Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of angelfish are an easy target.

Can swordtails live with bettas?

Sometimes, with care. Swordtail sometimes nips fins, and the long fins of bettas are an easy target.

Can swordtails live with bristlenose plecos?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

Can swordtails live with bronze corydoras?

Yes. They share similar water needs (22–26°C (72–79°F)) and peaceful temperaments.

How we decide: we compare each pair's comfortable temperature, pH and hardness ranges, adult sizes, mouth size (who can eat whom), fin nipping, aggression and territory. Read the full method. Data last reviewed 2026-10-13.