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

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 …

Native to southeastern Mexico, central Guatemala, southern Belize, and northwestern Honduras. Its known range extends south from the Río Nautla (alternatively referred to as the Río Filobobos) in central Veracruz state, Mexico, to the Rio Usumacinta drainage in Guatemala, the Río Sarstún (aka Sarstoon) at the border between Guatemala and Belize, and the ríos Copán and Chamelecón in Honduras.

Within these boundaries it also occurs in various river systems in the Mexican states of Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, and Tabasco.

Type locality is 'Orizaba, Mexico', which corresponds to the city of that name in Veracruz state.

It has been widely introduced to other river basins in Mexico and throughout the world, and is now present on all major continents except Antarctica. Countries or territories in which feral populations exist include Panama, Colombia, Brazil, Peru, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Martinique, Bahamas, United States, Hawaii, Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Israel, Iran, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Madagascar, Réunion, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Guam, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Caledonia, and Fiji.

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Where does this come from?

My own experienceFor example, I've kept twelve in a planted 60 cm tank since March 2024.A website I sawFor example, an IUCN Red List assessment, a museum catalogue or a FishBase page.A paperFor example, Marshall et al. (2011), Water temperature differences in interfluvial palm swamp habitats of Paracheirodon axelrodi and P. simulans.A book, or something not onlineFor example, Tappin (2010), Rainbowfishes: their care and keeping in captivity.Something already on the profileFor example, the Behaviour and compatibility section already says this.

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DOI

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Year

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Pages

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Anything worth adding

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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

21 on this profile

Name

Scientific name

Described by

Family

Summary

Size and aquarium

Maximum size

Tank size

Water

Temperature and pH

Hardness

Conductivity

Behaviour

Temperament

Social needs

Community suitability

Where it lives

Countries

Supporting text

Etymology

Distribution

Habitat

Aquarium size

Maintenance

Water conditions

Diet

Behaviour and compatibility

Sexual dimorphism

Reproduction

Notes

References

References