The green swordtail is a species of freshwater/brackish fish in family Poeciliidae of order Cyprinodontiformes. A live-bearer, it is closely related to the southern platyfish or ‘platy’ and can crossbreed with it.
Details
| Livebearers | |
| Family | Poeciliidae |
| Species | Xiphophorus hellerii |
| Synonyms | Xiphophorus brevis, Xiphophorus guentheri, Xiphophorus helleri guentheri, Xiphophorus jalapae, Xiphophorus rachovii, Xiphophorus strigatus |
| Origins | North & Central America. Has been introduced to other countries. Most specimens offered for sale today are captive-bred. |
| Sexual Dimorphism | Males have a gonopodium, and mature male specimens develop a sword-shaped extension to the tail. |
| Length | 14 cm |
| Shoaling | No |
| Temperature | 22 - 28 deg C |
| Water parameters | pH 7.0 - 8.0, dH 8 - 20 |