Because they have unique-looking dorsal fins and colorful bodies, swordtail fish is favorites among novice aquarium keepers. Unfortunately, this popularity result in ignorance. Most new swordtail owners think these robust fish can survives on flake food and in just any bowl.
The result is stressed swordtails, dirty water, and early mortality. Swordtails aren’t as easy to maintain as many people believe. To give them a good home, you will need to do extra work.
You’ll need to establish a stable Swordtail environment that resemble the natural habitats of these tropical fish, the streams of Central and South America. If you succeed in mastering the essentials, Swordtails will be rewarding to keep. They show striking colors and interact with their surroundings.
If not, your swordtails won’t stay healthy long. Most newbies go wrong here. Most will buy small tanks and be told they’re ok for Swordtails.
Essential Care Guide for Keeping Swordtail Fish Healthy
Tank Size and Swimming Space
That’s bad advice. Swordtails reaches lengths of up to four inches and are very active swimmers. They don’t just require height (vertical volume); they also desires some width (horizontal swim space).
The smallest tank I’d recommend for a few swordtail is a 20g long. Anything smaller will result in stunted growth and aggression since the fish will has nowhere else to go. When you give your fish the room to move about, you’ll end up with more relaxed school of fish.
Water Parameters and Filtration
Decoration second, water first: Swordtails are happy in neutral to slightly alkaline (pH 7.0, 7.8) water. They’re content in temperatures ranging from 72-78 degrees Fahrenheit. In both cases, stability is important.
Any sharp increase in nitrite/ammonia will shock them. Cycling waste well via a good filtration system will help keep those parameters stable. Until the tank is stable, test it once per week.
Don’t let consistency stress them out, which can lead to disease outbreaks.
Choosing Compatible Tank Mates
Choose your tank mates. Swordtails are normaly considered peaceful, yet they can gets nippy, particularly around breeding times.
Because of this, you want to avoid keeping them with shy/reluctant species that won’t defend themselves (e.g., Bettas). Slow movers aren’t good either. Other livebearers such as Mollies or Platies will be fine since they’re similar in water requirements.
So will larger, docile community dwellers such as any kind of Corydoras catfish. Stay away from fin-nipping types and aggressive cichlids. Aim for a harmonious community, one where no one feels threatened.
Diet and Feeding Habits
They stay colorful if fed correctly. Swordtails is omnivorous. They will consume both animal protein and plant matter.
The bulk of their diet are a good quality flake food. Variety is essential though. Once or twice per week supplement their diet with some type of meaty foods such as blanched veggies (e.g., peas, spinach) or live foods (e.g., brine shrimp, bloodworms).
Don’t overfeed. Doing so fouls the water quickley. Feed them no more than they can consumes within two minutes.
Decorating for Stress Reduction
Controlling your feeding habits begins with clean water. More is more, Plants and other hiding places lowers stress levels. Live plants such as Anubias and Java Fern are great choices since they’re hardy enough for Swordtails to pick at, oxygenate the water, and help remove nitrates.
If live plants aren’t your thing, plastic works just fine, too. The structure matter more than the material. Hiding spots not only break up sight lines and reduce territorial disputes, but they also allows shy fish to get away from others.
Nothing says “home” quite like a messy tank compared to an empty one. In summary, Swordtails are a great fish. They’re easy to keep as long as you strike a balance.
You need to maintain healthy conditions, provide adequate shelter and space, offer variety in their diet, and select appropriate tankmates. If you do those things, you’ll be rewarded with an entertaining, colorful display of life that will brighten up any room. Every time they dart or make a graceful turn, it’s all worth it.
It’s no wonder Swordtails continues to be favorites decades later. They could of been even better if you followed this advice. Most owners would of preferred more simple instructions, but accuracy matters more then ease.
The fish will livig happy lives if you do! You should of read this before buying your first tank.
