Kohaku Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii)

Bring the classic beauty of a Japanese Koi pond to your freshwater tank with the stunning Kohaku Swordtail. Characterized by its brilliant "Sanke" or "Kohaku" patterning—featuring a snowy white body accented by patches of vivid, translucent red—this variety is a true masterpiece of selective breeding. With their sleek profiles and active swimming style, Kohaku Swordtails provide a sophisticated pop of color that stands out in any aquascape.

Quick Stats & Origin

• Scientific Name: Xiphophorus hellerii (Kohaku Morph)

• Origin: While their wild ancestors hail from Central and North America, the Kohaku variety is a specialized line-bred color morph developed specifically for the ornamental fish hobby.

• Adult Size: 4–5 inches (males develop the iconic "sword" on their tail).

• Lifespan: 3–5 years.

Care & Environment

Kohaku Swordtails are celebrated for being "beginner-friendly" yet striking enough for advanced collectors. They are hardy and adaptable but thrive best in water that isn't too soft or acidic.

• Tank Size: A minimum of 29 to 30 gallons is ideal. As active, energetic swimmers, they require plenty of horizontal room to roam.

• Substrate: They look particularly radiant against a dark substrate or a lush green planted background, which makes their white-and-red contrast shimmer.

• Environment: They appreciate a well-planted aquarium with open swimming spaces in the middle. Including floating plants like Frogbit or Salvinia helps provide cover and security.

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

  • pH: 7.0–8.3 (Slightly alkaline water is preferred).

  • Hardness: 12–30 dGH.

Feeding & Diet

These fish are classic omnivores and are not picky eaters. A varied diet is the secret to maintaining the intensity of their red patches.

• Daily Diet: High-quality flakes or small sinking pellets.

• Color Enhancement: Supplement with live or frozen foods such as brine shrimp, daphnia, or bloodworms to boost their "Koi-like" pigmentation.

• Grazing: They will occasionally graze on algae within the tank, helping keep your surfaces clean.

Tank Mates

Kohaku Swordtails are peaceful, social fish that thrive in a community setting.

• Ideal Partners: Other livebearers like Mollies and Platies, as well as Corydoras, Tetras, and peaceful Gouramis.

• Social Ratio: To keep the peace, maintain a ratio of one male to at least two or three females. This ensures that the females aren't over-stressed by the male’s active courtship.

• Avoid: Large, predatory fish that may view the Swordtail as a snack.

Breeding

Like all Xiphophorus species, the Kohaku Swordtail is a livebearer.

• Easy Spawning: Breeding is very straightforward; females will give birth to live, free-swimming fry every 28 days or so.

• Fry Protection: To ensure the survival of the babies, provide plenty of fine-leafed plants (like Java Moss or Guppy Grass) where the fry can hide from hungry adults.

Aquarist Tip: Ensure your aquarium has a tight-fitting lid! Swordtails are famous for their jumping ability and can easily leap out of an open-top tank.

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.