Swordfish (Xiphias gladius)

Scientific name: Xiphias gladius Linnaeus, 1758

The Swordfish (Xiphias gladius) is a marine fish of the family Xiphiidae. In the aquarium it needs water at 5–27°C (41–81°F).

Swordfish care at a glance

Temperature: 5–27°C (41–81°F)

Biology

Oceanic but sometimes found in coastal waters. Generally above the thermocline, preferring temperatures of 18°C to 22°C. Larvae are frequently encountered at temperatures above 24°C. Migrate toward temperate or cold waters in the summer and back to warm waters in the fall. Adults are opportunistic feeders, known to forage for their food from the surface to the bottom over a wide depth range. Feed mainly on fishes but also on crustaceans and squids. They use their sword to kill their prey. Large individuals may accumulate large percentages of mercury in its flesh. Are batch spawners. Spawning takes place in Atlantic during spring in southern Sargasso Se

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Xiphias gladius
Family: Xiphiidae (Swordfish)
Order: Perciformes (Perch-like fish)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 455
Common length: 300
Depth range: 0–800 m (0–2625 ft)
Environment: Marine; pelagic-oceanic; oceanodromous; depth range 0 - 800 m, usually 0 - 550 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Atlantic, Indian and Pacific: tropical and temperate and sometimes cold waters, including the Mediterranean Sea, the Sea of Marmara, the Black Sea, and the Sea of Azov. Highly migratory species, Annex I of the 1982 Convention on the Law of the Sea. Mt DNA restriction analysis reveal that genetic differentiation occurs between populations inhabiting the Mediterranean Sea and the tropical Atlantic ocean, indicating little genetic exchange occurring between the two.
Conservation status (IUCN): Data deficient (DD)
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; gamefish: yes
Resilience: Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (rm=0.076; K=0.23; tm=5-6; tmax=9)

Sources

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026