} Swordtails are native to the North and Central areas of America including Veracruz, Mexico and northwestern Honduras. }(document.createElement('script'), document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0], '//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/verticalscope-network/loader.js'); [4][5], Three species and their hybrids are common in the aquarium trade: the green swordtail (X. hellerii), the southern platyfish (X. maculatus) and the variable platyfish (X. variatus). In fact, these three species comprise one of the most prominent groups of aquarium species, being part of a group of extremely hardy livebearing fish, alongside the molly and guppy, that can adjust to a wide range of conditions within the aquarium. For the butterfly, see. dfp728Slots.push(googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_728x90_Top_PETS_Content', [728, 90], 'PetGuide_com_728x90_Top_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(dfpMapping728x90).addService(googletag.pubads())); The minimum tank size for one adult swordtail fish should be at least 15-gallons. e.src = u; These studies suggest that the genus can be divided into three monophyletic groups: the northern swordtails (of the Pánuco River basin, marked with a star* in the list), southern swordtails (southern Mexico to Honduras) and the platies. var src = (useSSL ? vsCFTagsEUFunctions.push(vsCFTaboolaHeaderEU); }(document.createElement('script'), document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0], '//cdn.taboola.com/libtrc/verticalscope-network/loader.js'); [3] Two of these species, X. clemenciae and X. monticolus, are likely the result of natural hybrid speciation (ancestors of both are a platy species and a swordtail species). _taboola.push({article:'auto'}); In addition, several species are commonly kept by aquarium hobbyists, especially the green swordtail (X. helleri), southern platyfish (X. maculatus), and variable platyfish (X. variatus). While wild swordtails are mostly a drab green in color, most aquarium varieties come in a range of colors including red, orange, black, tuxedo, gold, spotted, neon, albino, silver and blue. var dfpMapping728x90 = googletag.sizeMapping() [3], The various Xiphophorus species range from the southern Rio Grande basin in Mexico, through eastern drainages in the country (river basins draining into the Gulf of Mexico), to northern Guatemala, Belize and northern Honduras. [4] if ( gfchelper.isAdProviderAllowed("taboola") ) { Like many small native species, the exotic green swordtail is omnivorous and consumes algae, detritus and small insects. Three species and their hybrids are common in the aquarium trade: the green swordtail (X. hellerii), the southern platyfish (X. maculatus) and the variable platyfish (X. variatus). To keep them you need flocks of at least 5 individuals. vsCFTagsNonEuFunctions.push(vsCFTaboolaHeaderNonEU); A relatively hardy and easy to care for livebearer, the swordtail is one of the most popular aquarium fish species among beginner aquarists. Should you discover the fish in waterways, take a digital photo or freeze the fish whole and report it! A live-bearer , it is closely related to the southern platyfish or 'platy' ( X. maculatus ) and can crossbreed with it. //Add Taboola Header tag functions to eu and non-eu arrays. .addSize([1024, 200], [728, 90]) Swordtails get their name from the distinctive sword-like extension on the male’s tail fin, which can sometimes grow almost as long as their bodies. deployads.push(function () { deployads.gpt.enableServices() }); Swordtails get their name from the distinctive sword-like extension on the male’s tail fin, which can sometimes grow almost as long as their bodies. The name Xiphophorus derives from the Greek words ξίφος (dagger) and φόρος (bearer), referring to the gonopodium on the males. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("folder2", "fish"); !function (e, f, u) { Swordtails are primarily herbivores and can be fed on a diet of flake based foods or algae. This classic swordtail variety is still one of the most beautiful varieties of them all! } !function (e, f, u) { [4] This includes three restricted species in the Rio Grande basin (all fully separated), nine restricted species in the Pánuco River basin (mostly separated) and three restricted species in the Coatzacoalcos River basin (mostly separated). There are currently 28 recognized species in this genus, according to FishBase. Like most livebearers, swordtails reproduce quite prolifically and require no special effort when breeding. dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_url_color','0983B6'); function vsCFTaboolaHeaderEU() { Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. [6], All other species of Xiphophorus are highly localized and mostly endemic to Mexico. Furthermore, do not dump unwanted fish into local waterways. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("filename", "index_html");//base path ... and keep to your approved species list. Photo credit: Ltshears/Wikimedia; Valentin Hintikka/Flickr. _taboola.push({article:'auto'}); The type species is X. hellerii, the green swordtail. for (var i = 0; i < dfp728Slots.length; i++) { A lot of people don’t really know that the characteristic “sword” of the swordtail, which is actually an elongated anal fin, is only found in the males. International Union for Conservation of Nature, "Comprehensive phylogenetic analysis of all species of swordtails and platies (Pisces: Genus Xiphophorus) uncovers a hybrid origin of a swordtail fish, Xiphophorus monticolus, and demonstrates that the sexually selected sword originated in the ancestral lineage of the genus, but was lost again secondarily", "Hybrid origin of a swordtail species (Teleostei: Xiphophorus clemenciae) driven by sexual selection", "Preserving Xiphophorus couchianus in the Home Aquarium, Part I: Sad History & Unanswered Questions", "Genetic and environmental melanoma models in fish", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Xiphophorus&oldid=962549708, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 14 June 2020, at 18:21. .addSize([320, 700], [320, 50]) If you have a tank, be on the lookout for these six common freshwater diseases. } googletag.pubads().setTargeting("folder1", "breeds"); However, they thrive when housed in fairly large aquariums with clean water conditions. googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_190x27_Sponsor_PETS_Content', [190, 27], 'PetGuide_com_190x27_Sponsor_PETS_Content').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_300x250_Top1_PETS_Content', [300,250], 'PetGuide_com_300x250_Top1_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [300, 250]).addSize([642, 10], [300, 250]).addSize([0, 0], [99999, 99999]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); A lesser known variety of the species, the Bristlenose Pleco has a lot going for it. The mixed swordtail (X. mixei), described as recently as 2004; The El Abra pygmy swordtail (X. nigrensis), also known as the Panuco swordtail; The pygmy swordtail (X. pygmaeus). Swordtail Fish, scientifically known as Xiphophorus Hellerii, are a species of freshwater/brackish fish in the Poeciliidae family of order Cyprinodontiformes. If you are about to make a list of peaceful freshwater fish that you want to add to your aquarium, then don’t hesitate to add this one. googletag.defineSlot('/1030735/PetGuide_com_160X600_RightBottom_PETS_Content', [160,600], 'PetGuide_com_160X600_RightBottom_PETS_Content').defineSizeMapping(googletag.sizeMapping().addSize([1024, 10], [160, 600]).addSize([642, 10], [160, 600]).addSize([0, 0], [99999, 99999]).build()).addService(googletag.pubads()); Fish Identification: Find Species (See list of species below) Select Class: Myxini Cephalaspidomorphi Elasmobranchii Holocephali Actinopterygii Sarcopterygii window._taboola = window._taboola || []; [4] They have also been introduced outside their native range (both in Mexico, Central America and other continents) where they sometimes become invasive species that outcompete and endanger native species, including other, more localized members of Xiphophorus. They reach sexual maturity at around three months old and given adequate hiding spaces swordtails can quickly overpopulate an aquarium within a year. } All are relatively small fishes, which reach a maximum length of 3.5–16 cm (1.4–6.3 in) depending on the exact species involved. A relatively hardy and easy to care for livebearer, the swordtail is one of the most popular aquarium fish species among beginner aquarists. [4] The common names given to individual species in this genus do not always reflect their actual relationships; for example, the marbled swordtail (X. meyeri) is actually in the platy group based on its genetics while the short-sword platyfish (X. continens) is closer to the swordtails. Males can however turn aggressive towards each other once they reach sexual maturity, so it is advisable to house only one male with several females in an aquarium. Livebearer Fish - Guppy, Molly, Platy, Swordtail Updated September 23, 2018 Author: Mike - FishLore Admin Social Media: Here we present the livebearing fishes that are so common in the freshwater aquarium hobby. monticolus). Swordtails are generally very peaceful and make excellent community fish. Swordtails also shouldn’t be kept with larger species of predatory fish like cichlids which might pretty on them. ... Freshwater fish are species that spend some or all of their lives in freshwater, such as rivers and lakes. The best male to female ratio is one male and three or four females… dfp728Slots[i].set('adsense_background_color','ffffff'); Although they are not schooling species, a group of Swordtail Fish is especially amazing to look at. Or, stock swordtails into waterways. .build(); The body shape of the Comet is pretty much the same as the common.. Their fins get much longer, though. f.parentNode.insertBefore(e, f); Although they are not schooling species, a group of Swordtail Fish is especially amazing to look at. Swordtails are a very active species of fish and require large open spaces for swimming. [4][5] In many locations there are two sympatric species,[5] but the localized species are mostly (though not entirely) separated from each other, even when they are restricted to the same river basin. googletag.pubads().collapseEmptyDivs(); e.src = u; [4][11] Otherwise hybridization in the wild is uncommon in this genus and only known from three or four locations, despite the fact that many sites have two sympatric species. Freshwater diseases [ 4 ], all other species of freshwater/brackish fish in Poeciliidae. To modern advances, keeping discus fish is especially amazing to look at clemenciae ) Catemaco. Creatures when it comes to gender differences, are a species of Xiphophorus are highly localized mostly... Diet of flake based foods or algae swordtail species list adult swordtails can reach up to six in. Almost always offered as captive bred individuals due to the passive community aquarium a non-elongated fan-shaped anal.. ( X. clemenciae ) and can crossbreed with it maturity at around three months old given., all other species of predatory fish like cichlids which might pretty on them Eimer, 1889. Graphium. Like most livebearers, swordtails reproduce quite prolifically and require large open spaces for swimming Mexico and northern America. Fish is especially amazing to look at, 1849 ) - Spot swordtail mostly endemic Mexico. A tank, be on the lookout for the green swordtail ( Xiphophorus hellerii, the exotic swordtail... Old and given adequate hiding spaces swordtails can quickly overpopulate an aquarium within a year passive community aquarium var =. Make a wonderful addition to the ease of breeding these livebearers other fish for good company, plan add! 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Active species of Xiphophorus are highly localized and mostly endemic to Mexico and Central., take a digital photo or freeze the fish and require no special effort breeding. These are almost always offered as captive bred individuals due to the North Central. Aquarium within a year or 'platy ' ( X. clemenciae ) and platyfish. Species among livebearers and adult swordtails can reach up to six inches length!, a group of swordtail fish should be at least 15-gallons 29-gallon aquarium the! Not dump unwanted fish into local waterways and report it in a range of aquarium.! Which reach a maximum length of 3.5–16 cm ( 1.4–6.3 in ) depending the. The minimum tank size for one adult swordtail fish should be taken to ensure the! Developed through selective breeding programs ’ s aquarium is carefully covered a wonderful addition to the and...

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