Pineapple Swordtail 5cm

Pineapple Swordtail

Why they get the name pineapple is quite unclear but the pineapple swordtail is an absolutely stunning fish. Swordtails are one of the most common and popular aquarium fish in the world for all the right reasons. They come in an array of colours, look super unique and are quite easy to take care of. With this particular strain being the pineapple swordtail there must have been a mistranslation or misinterpretation of their aesthetic because there isn’t any major resemblance to pineapples. What these fish have through is an array of different shades and colours that pop incredibly well. The most loved feature of this fish is the long extension seen on the tail of the male fish which looks like the blade of a sword. In some cases, the sword can be just as long as the fish itself which is stunning to see. 

Through years of selective breeding, aquarists have been able to develop hundreds of colour strains. The pineapple swordtail is a mosaic of reds, whites, yellows and oranges. The body colour can be described as a light yellow colour which starts from the head and transitions to some deeper colours. Past the dorsal fin, the pineapple swordtail is blood red however this stops just before the literal line. Under this line is a range of orange colours that lead to a black rim on the sword extension. The colours work in such unison that nothing looks out of place and the fish is a perfect balance of contrasting but also colourful. Especially in a planted tank, the pineapple swordtail will be a true sight to see and it's one of the main reasons that these are such great display fish. Females are also incredibly colourful which is an added bonus. 

Breeding swordtails in the home aquarium is a super easy task that often requires no effort from you. Since these fish are livebearers, the females will drop fully formed baby swordtails, which avoids rearing eggs. Males and females are easily distinguished as male swordtails have a long extension on their tails whereas females do not. The wild habitat of the natural swordtail is widespread from South America to Mexico.

Tank Recommendations for your Pineapple Swordtail

Pineapple swordtails reach around 7 cm when fully grown, this is excluding the extension on the tail as this can grow just as long as the fish itself. The ideal aquarium size to keep a small group of 5-7 swordtails would be a 70-litre aquarium. This ensures there is ample space for the fish and room for potential breeding as well. Having a black background and a higher red spectrum in the aquarium lighting will really make these fish pop. 

A sand or gravel substrate would be fine for these fish as well as a lot of plant growth which not only makes them contrast really well but also makes for handy locations where swordtail fry can grow. Pineapple swordtails are in fact considered to be a ‘hard’ water fish meaning they prefer the water to have an elevated PH and are not like a tetra. This higher PH of 7 - 8 can be achieved with a PH buffer or even African cichlid lake conditioning salts.

Suitable Tank Buddies

The pineapple swordtail is a very peaceful aquarium fish.  They are great with a wide range of nano aquarium fish however males can be highly prone to certain fin-nipping species so these should be avoided. The other factor is that swordtails are fish that needs higher PH so keeping them with south American tetras may not be very suitable as these lower PH.

Usually Compatible

Pseudomogil species such as fork-tail rainbows, blue eyes, rice fish and nano aquarium fish can tolerate hard water conditions.  

Sometimes Compatible

Medium-growing or possibly fin-nipping species. Bettas should also be avoided because of their similar flashy nature to swordtails which could lead to aggression from the betta's end. 

Rarely Compatible

Large and aggressive species would prey on the swordtails such as Oscars, or jaguar cichlids.

Feeding your Pineapple Swordtail

Pineapple swordtails are very easy to feed once they are settled into the aquarium. They will readily take a wide range of foods but would prefer to have a floating nano pellet or flake due to their top-dwelling behaviour. Giving them nutritional food with good protein and varied ingredients can result in the colours of the swordtails being further enhanced.