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Compatibility

Compatibility brief

Can Angelfish live with Swordtail?

Angelfish

Angelfish

Pterophyllum scalare

semi-aggressive~20cm
Swordtail

Swordtail

Xiphophorus hellerii

semi-aggressive~12cm
VerdictCAUTION

Caution. Check the issues below before buying.

Angelfish + Swordtail: Caution advised. Swordtails are active midwater livebearers; angels are territorial cichlids with flowing fins. Male swords chase each other and can stress angels in under-tall tanks. Possible in 120L+ with height and plants — not a shop impulse mix. Outcomes still depend on your tank shape, maintenance routine, and individual fish.

Compatibility score

72/100

Profile confidence: medium

Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.

Min tank

150L

Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 150L (larger active fish often want more length).

Temperature
Range in °C24–28°C shared
AngelfishSwordtailShared window
pH
Range7–7.5 shared
AngelfishSwordtailShared window

Assessment details

  1. Caution advised

    Top issue

    Swordtails are active midwater livebearers; angels are territorial cichlids with flowing fins. Male swords chase each other and can stress angels in under-tall tanks. Possible in 120L+ with height and plants — not a shop impulse mix.

  2. Compatible temperaments

    Both Angelfish and Swordtail share a semi-aggressive temperament.

  3. Compatible temperature range

    Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.

“Swordtails are active midwater livebearers; angels are…”

Caution advised
Sources from both profiles
Only URLs that exist on the species records are shown. We do not fabricate citations.

Try this next

Build the full stocking list with Angelfish + Swordtail

Compare another pairOpen tank builder

Plan further

Check each species’ mates list, size the glass, then verify the full stock in the builder. Methodology explains how verdicts are produced.

Individual fish vary in personality. Fishori uses conservative hobby rules. Observe any new introduction closely, feed thoughtfully, and keep a quarantine or backup plan. This is not veterinary advice.

Profile data confidence: high. Checked against several solid care sources that mostly agree.

Full tank-mate guides

Related pair checks

Angelfish + Swordtail — common questions

Can Angelfish live with Swordtail?
Yes, if you plan for it. The verdict is CAUTION, which means the pairing works when specific conditions are met, not by default. The assessment details on this page list what to set up first.
What tank size do you need for Angelfish and Swordtail together?
Plan around 150 litres as the working minimum. That figure comes from each species' published minimum and their group needs, and it assumes adult sizes, not shop sizes.
What's the main risk?
The main constraint comes from a curated keeper note rather than a single mechanical rule. The matching entry under assessment details on this page explains the reasoning and the numbers behind it.