Green Swordtail

Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii)

Photo courtesy of DAR

Description:

  • Popular freshwater aquarium fish
  • Males are identified as having a large “swordtail” (USFWS, 2019)
  • Females lack a “swordtail” and only have a fan shaped tail (USFWS, 2019)
  • Red or brown mid lateral stripe (Froese, 2021)

Habitat:

  • Inhabits fast flowing streams and rivers around vegetation (USFWS, 2019)
  • Has been found in warm springs, ponds, and ditches (USFWS, 2019)

Impacts & Concern:

  • Largely unknown impact but has been implicated in the decline of native damselflies on Oʻahu (Nico et al., 2012)
  • Known to carry parasites that can affect native gobies (Nico et al., 2012)

Introduction:

  • The Green Swordtail is a popular ornamental fish and was most likely introduced through aquarium release (Nico et al., 2012)

Distribution in Hawaii (Nico et al., 2012):

Reported distribution of Xiphophorus hellerii in the Main Hawaiian Islands

  • Kauai: Present
  • Oʻahu: Present
  • Molokai: Present
  • Lanai: Not documented
  • Maui: Present
  • Big Island: Present

References:

  • Froese, R. (2021). Xiphophorus hellerii summary page. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.de/summary/XIPHOPHORUS-HELLERII.html. 
  • Nico, L., Fuller, P., & Neilson, M. (2012). Green Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii) – Species Profile. https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?SpeciesID=869. 
  • USFWS. (2019). Green Swordtail Ecological Risk Screening Summary. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. https://www.fws.gov/fisheries/ANS/erss/uncertainrisk/ERSS-Xiphophorus-hellerii-FINAL-November2019.pdf