Compatibility brief
Can Swordtail live with Tiger Barb?
Often a workable match in a suitable, well-run tank. Still verify behaviour in your setup.
Compatibility score
Profile confidence: high
Order of checkstank volume vs adults → predation mouth gap → temperament / fin nipping → shared water windows.
80L
Combined minimum footprint reference for these two species: about 80L (larger active fish often want more length).
In many community tanks swordtails and tiger barbs share hard, warmer water and active midwater swimming, and Fishori’s live engine rates the pairing GOOD when both are given suitable groups. The practical limit is behaviour management, not chemistry: tiger barbs still need a proper same-species school so nipping does not concentrate on sword extensions, and swordtails need room to swim past without constant cornering. Treat the GOOD verdict as “works in a correctly stocked active community,” not as permission for two barbs in a short livebearer tank.
Assessment details
Compatible temperaments
Both Swordtail and Tiger Barb share a semi-aggressive temperament.
Compatible temperature range
Both fish can comfortably share similar water temperatures.
Next steps
Concrete changes, not "research more" filler.
- •Keep six or more tiger barbs, a mixed swordtail group, and a long active tank so barbs have each other to chase instead of sword tails.
- •Tiger Barb should be kept in a group of at least 8 for best health and behaviour.
- Seriously Fish. Xiphophorus hellerii
Supports: aquarium size, water chemistry, temperament and compatibility (primary care reference).
- FishBase. Xiphophorus hellerii
Supports: taxonomy and wild maximum size — translate to tank stocking, not a target number.
- Wikipedia. Xiphophorus hellerii
Supports: general species background and common-name orientation only.
- Seriously Fish. Puntigrus tetrazona
Primary: aquarium size, water chemistry, behaviour, and compatibility (URL verified in upgrade script; recheck if site content changes).
- FishBase. Puntigrus tetrazona
Secondary: taxonomy, distribution, and maximum length in nature; cross-check with aquarium import lines and measured tank parameters.
- Wikipedia. Puntigrus tetrazona
Secondary: general species context; verify all husbandry numbers against a dedicated aquarium care sheet and your test kit, not a single table row.
Try this next
Build the full stocking list with Swordtail + Tiger Barb
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.