Woodthorpe Hall Aquatics Golden Comet Swordtail (Xiphophorus Helleri)

Swordtails (Xiphophorus hellerii) are a highly favoured species in the aquarium hobby, admired for their vibrant colours and distinctive tail extensions in males. Known for their active and engaging behaviour, these fish are a hit among both novice and seasoned aquarists. As members of the Poeciliidae family, Swordtails are Livebearers, giving birth to live, free-swimming fry, which makes them an intriguing addition to any tank setup.

Swordtails are social creatures that thrive in groups. It is recommended to keep at least five to six individuals together to promote natural behaviours and reduce stress. A higher ratio of females to males is beneficial to prevent excessive male competition and ensure a more peaceful environment.

Compatibility

Swordtails are generally peaceful and get along well with a variety of tank mates. Suitable companions include other livebearers like Guppies, Platies, and Mollies, as well as small, non-aggressive fish such as Tetras, Rasboras, and Corydoras Catfish. It is best to avoid housing them with larger, aggressive species like Cichlids and large Barbs, which could pose a threat to the Swordtails. To provide an optimal habitat for swordtails, a tank of at least 75 litres is recommended for a small group. Larger tanks are preferable as they offer more space for swimming and reduce territorial disputes. Maintain a water temperature between 72- and 82-degrees Fahrenheit, with a pH range of 7.0 to 8.0. A well-planted tank with both live and artificial plants will provide necessary hiding spots and breeding areas, while open swimming spaces are essential for their active nature. Gentle filtration is crucial to keep the water clean without creating strong currents that could stress the fish. Regular water changes of about 25 to 30 per cent weekly are important to maintain high water quality.

Diet

Swordtails are omnivores, needing a varied diet to stay healthy. In the wild, they consume a mix of small invertebrates, algae, and plant material. In the aquarium, a balanced diet should include high-quality flake or pellet food as the base, supplemented with live or frozen foods like brine shrimp, daphnia, and bloodworms. Additionally, vegetable matter such as blanched spinach, zucchini, and spirulina flakes is beneficial. Feed small portions two to three times daily, ensuring they consume all the food within a few minutes to avoid overfeeding and maintain water quality.

Origins

Swordtails are native to the freshwater rivers and streams of Central America, ranging from Mexico to Honduras. These natural habitats are characterized by warm, slow-moving waters with abundant plant life. Their adaptability to a range of water conditions makes them a versatile choice for home aquariums. Mimicking these natural conditions with appropriate water parameters and plant coverage is key to their health and well-being.

Payment Methods

We accept all major Credit and Debit cards, and these are processed via a third party payment gateway called Opayo. 

We also accept payments via PayPal, PayPal credit, Clearpay and Klarna which are both pay in 4 interest-free instalments. 

Also, you can pay using Android and Apple Pay if you are using a compatible device. 

Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.

Security

When speaking to one of our team, we will never ask you for your bank details, passwords or any private information. We will only ever ask for your order number followed by either your postcode, email address or phone number to verify we are talking to the person named on the account. 

When creating an account on our website, we ask that you use a unique password, this will help keep all your online accounts safe. If you are visiting our website via a smartphone we suggest you use the strong password and store it securely on your phone. 

Our website is run on Visual Soft, which means all your data is stored securely on their servers. 

Next Day Shipping cut off is at Noon/12:00pm

Orders after that time will be processed the next working day

Please Note: Certain ponds, aquariums, all pond plants, and all livestock are excluded from free delivery.

The blue highlighted area on the map below is where we deliver on our own vehicle. Unfortunately, if you are not in one of these postcode zones we are unable to deliver certain items such as plants, small glass items and selective other products.

We offer a few different delivery options depending on the size and value of your order.

Certain orders over £50 qualify for free mainland UK (excludes Northern Ireland, Pond Plants, and livestock) delivery which will arrive within 3-5 working days of the order being processed.

Orders Below £50 in Mainland UK will be charged a standard delivery fee of £5.99.

Pond Plant and Tropical/Marine/Pond Livestock will be charged a delivery fee of £19.99.

Additional Shipping Charges

For any orders that do not include Aquariums, the below is charged:

Next Working Day Parcel Delivery to Mainland UK - £7.99 OR £2.99 if the order is over £50 (excludes Northern Ireland)

Standard Parcel Delivery to Northern Ireland £8.99

Standard Parcel Delivery to Scottish Highlands & Islands £9.99

Standard Parcel Delivery to Jersey & Guernsey £12.99

For all Aquarium, Medium - Extra Large Terrarium/Vivarium/Paludarium deliveries (Excluding biOrbs & Smaller Aquariums), the below is charged:

You must be present for delivery and please check your item before signing for delivery.

A payment link will be sent to you if redelivery is required.

Next Working Day Pallet Delivery - £20

2 Hour Booking Slot Pallet Delivery - £20

Pallet Delivery to Northern Ireland - £45

Saturday and OptiClear 90 & 120 Delivery - £60

Pallet Delivery to Isle of Wight (PO30 and Above) and Scottish Highlands (AB, PH, IV1-36, IV, KW1-14, KY, PA21-41) - £45

Pallet Delivery to the Scottish Isles (KA27-28, PA60-90, ZE, JE, GY, IM, IV40-56, KW15-17, PH42-44, PA20, PA42-49) - £120

Pallet Delivery to Outer Hebrides (HS) - £140

Pond's over 1000 litres will be a curb side pallet delivery.

Aquariums over 125 litre will be a curb side pallet delivery.

The couriers we use are Royal Mail, DX, APC, and UPN.

Standard Delivery

Northern Ireland Standard Delivery

Next Day Delivery

Cut off is Noon/12:00pm

Saturday Delivery

Cut off is Noon/12:00pm

Livestock Delivery

Cut off is Noon/12:00pm

Plant Delivery

Cut off is Noon/12:00pm

Standard Curb Side Pallet Delivery

Cut off is Noon/12:00pm

Next Day Curb Side Pallet Delivery

Cut off is Noon/12:00pm

Saturday Curb Side Pallet Delivery

Cut off is Noon/12:00pm

Northern Ireland Curb Side Pallet Delivery