Variety of Guppy
Sword guppy
Poecilia reticulata
One of 9 varieties of Poecilia reticulata · See all varieties →
Also known as Double Sword Guppy
FreshwaterBrackishFish
Varieties · Poecilia reticulata
See all 9 →
Care at a glance
- Temperature
- 64–82°F
- 18–28°C
- pH
- 6.8–7.8
- Adult size
- 2.4 in
- 6 cm
- Minimum tank
- 13 gal
- 50 L
- Temperament
- Peaceful
- Social behavior
- Social
- Swim level
- Middle
- Difficulty
- Beginner
- Breeding
- Easy
- Rarity
- Very common
- Family
- Poeciliidae
Overview
Sword covers three separate looks: a top sword, a bottom sword, and the double sword carrying both. The extension is a spike of caudal rays rather than a broad fan, so these males look narrower than a delta. Shops usually name which sword they have, and double sword is the one listed most often. Length and evenness vary between farms, so check both extensions before you pick.
In the wild
Sword tails are a domestic selection kept alive by breeders who prefer a slim tail to a big fan. Wild male guppies have short rounded tails, so the extensions do not occur in the wild. The IFGA runs single sword and double sword as separate classes, with top and bottom swords entered together as single sword. No one breeder or country is credited with fixing the shape.
Good to know
The swords are the outer rays of the caudal grown long, while the fin between them stays short. Total fin area stays small compared with a delta of the same body size. The IFGA sword classes ask for a caudal that is clear apart from the swords themselves. Length and symmetry are selected rather than switched on by one gene, so sword parents throw uneven fry.
Did you know
The sword classes reward tidiness over size. The standard asks for a caudal carrying no color outside the swords, so a clean center is part of what is being scored. A fish with color bleeding across the tail is outside the class description no matter how long its swords run.
Weekly picks
Tank mates
Sword guppy is a peaceful, social species that keeps to the middle. These picks share a community profile with it, are safe together in both directions, and overlap on water type, temperature and pH.
Guinean panchax
Epiplatys guineensis
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)68–77°F (20–25°C)
Bamboo shrimp
Atyopsis moluccensis
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)72–84°F (22–29°C)
Black devil snail
Faunus ater
Freshwater3.9 in (10 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)72–86°F (22–30°C)
Cobalt blue goby
Stiphodon semoni
Freshwater1.8 in (4.5 cm) · 13 gal (50 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Crescent gambusia
Gambusia hurtadoi
Freshwater2 in (5 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)68–79°F (20–26°C)
Green lace shrimp
Atyoida pilipes
Freshwater2.8 in (7 cm) · 14 gal (54 L)73–82°F (23–28°C)
Common questions
Is a Sword guppy a different species from the Guppy?
No. A Sword guppy is a variety of the Guppy, Poecilia reticulata, and it wants the same tank, water and food as the species.
What size tank does a Sword guppy need?
A Sword guppy needs at least 13 gal (50 L). It spends most of its time in the middle.
How big does a Sword guppy get?
An adult Sword guppy reaches about 2.4 in (6 cm).
Related species
2.4 in (6 cm)16 gal (60 L)77–86°F (25–30°C)Cauca molly
Poecilia caucana
2.4 in (6 cm) · 16 gal (60 L)
2.8 in (7 cm)29 gal (110 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Pacific molly
Poecilia butleri
2.8 in (7 cm) · 29 gal (110 L)
2 in (5 cm)15 gal (55 L)75–82°F (24–28°C)Melanzona guppy
Poecilia parae
2 in (5 cm) · 15 gal (55 L)
3.1 in (8 cm)20 gal (75 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Southern molly
Poecilia vivipara
3.1 in (8 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
3.5 in (9 cm)20 gal (75 L)68–82°F (20–28°C)Amazon molly
Poecilia formosa
3.5 in (9 cm) · 20 gal (75 L)
1.6 in (4 cm)11 gal (40 L)72–81°F (22–27°C)Dwarf molly
Poecilia chica
1.6 in (4 cm) · 11 gal (40 L)