Edit Xiphophorus hellerii
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Name
Scientific name
Xiphophorus hellerii
Described by
Authority Heckel, Year 1848
Family
Poeciliidae
Summary
The green swordtail, Xiphophorus hellerii, is a livebearer native to southeastern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize and Honduras. Among the world's…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
140mm, standard length
Tank size
Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm
Water
Temperature and pH
Temperature 16–28°C, pH 7–8
Hardness
10–25dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Community-safe
Where it lives
Countries
Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, DR Congo, Fiji, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jamaica, Japan, Madagascar, Martinique, Mexico, Namibia, New Caledonia, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Puerto Rico, Réunion, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, United States, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Supporting text
Etymology
Xiphophorus: from the Ancient Greek ξίφος (ksíphos), meaning 'a kind of double-edged sword', and -φóρος (-phóros), meaning 'bearing', in allusion to the presen…
Distribution
Native to southeastern Mexico, central Guatemala, southern Belize, and northwestern Honduras. Its known range extends south from the Río Nautla (alternatively …
Habitat
Natural populations are found in various types of habitat from sea level to around 1500 m altitude, including fast-flowing, rocky streams, to springs, ditches,…
Aquarium size
An aquarium with surface dimensions of 120 ∗ 30 cm48 ∗ 12 in or equivalent should be the smallest considered.
Maintenance
Choice of décor is not especially critical though it tends to look best in a heavily-planted set-up with a dark substrate. Wild forms should also suit an aquar…
Water conditions
Not written yet
Diet
Stomach analyses of wild specimens have shown it to be a generalised omnivore, feeding on a range of aquatic and terrestrial invertebrates, organic detritus, a…
Behaviour and compatibility
In confined spaces groups of males tend to form dominance hierarchies and may invest a significant proportion of time maintaining their respective positions.
Sexual dimorphism
Adult males tend to be smaller than females and possess a prominent gonopodium, plus the characteristic extension of the lower caudal-fin lobe. In some ornamen…
Reproduction
Like other members of the viviparous family Poeciliidae, male Xiphophorus have a gonopodium, essentially a modified anal-fin, which is used for internal fertil…
Notes
This species is among the world's most recognisable aquarium fishes and ubiquitous in the ornamental trade, although its name is often misspelled X. helleri (w…
References
References
21 on this profile