There are a few cornerstone fish in the aquarium hobby without which the hobby wouldn't exist.
The Swordtail is one such fish that was important in the establishment of fishkeeping as a viable
hobby.
Nowadays, it is one of the most affordable and beginner-friendly fish out there. However,
this does not mean that they are in any way a lesser option as a pet. They look stunning
and have great mannerisms. They make for a great addition to a community aquarium and
even the most seasoned hobbyist can have a blast keeping these beautiful fish.
While they are pretty easy to keep, there are still a few things you should know about
them and that is exactly what we will look at now.
Welcome to the channel. in today's video, we will be taking a look at the beautiful
swordtail fish. Before I continue, please do me a favor and tap the like button and
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Swordtail Natural Habitat And Appearance
The Swordtail naturally occurs in a vast array of water bodies all over Asia. The wild specimens
have a duller coloration. If you come across a swordtail in the hobby chances are high
that it is a captive-bred specimen.
The brilliant coloration that exists among Swordtails these days is a result of years
of selective breeding. Currently, you can also come across fancy varieties of Swordtails
that can have different colorations, markings, and fin shapes.
Despite some variance, most Swordtails have a few common characteristics. They get their
name from the male's tail fin which is shaped like a sword. The females lack this.
Their most common coloration is a brilliant orange with black fins. They have an elongated
torpedo-shaped body although fancier varieties can feature variations in this as well.
Ideal Tank Setup
A big reason behind the success of the Swordtail as an aquarium fish is its highly adaptable
nature. Even in its natural habitat, it can be found in varying conditions and as such,
they tend to be more tolerant of different types of aquariums than most fish.
However, for best results, you should set the aquarium up in a manner that makes them
feel at home.
Start with at least a 20-gallon tank. These are active fish and need plenty of open spaces
especially towards the top half of the aquarium.
So, decorate the aquarium accordingly. Apart from that, they don't really care for the
type of substrate or decor you have in the tank.
Water Parameters
While these fish are highly adaptable and durable, to ensure their good health you have
to keep the water parameters within a certain range.
They prefer hard water that is 12-30 dGH. pH should be greater than 7 but not more than
8.4. They are perfectly at home in a wide range of temperatures between 65ºF and 82°F
or 18°C and 28°C.
The key though is to keep everything as stable as possible. A good filtration system is needed
as these fish can produce copious amounts of waste.
With proper care, these fish can live for as long as five years.
Diet
As you probably would have guessed, Swordtails aren't very fussy about what they eat either.
They will eat pretty much anything they can fit in their mouths.
Ideally, they should be provided with a balanced diet. A high-quality fish food either in the
form of flakes or small pellets is the best option. You can supplement this with live
and frozen food.
These are some of the easiest fish to feed and oftentimes the challenge is to keep them
from overfeeding. Feed them small quantities of food twice a day and each time with just
enough food that they can finish off in a couple of minutes.
Behavior And Tank Mates
Swordtails are generally very peaceful but the males can get territorial. However, this
can be easily solved by providing plenty of hiding spots using live or artificial plants.
Keep one male for every three or four females. Always make sure that they are in a group
of at least six fish as they are social in nature.
They also make worthy additions to a community tank. Great tankmates for the Swordtail include
peaceful Tetras, Kuhli Loaches, and Cory Catfish. Make sure that there is plenty of space for
all the fish and you should not face any hassles.
Breeding
Swordtails belong to the group of fish that are livebearers and hence are among the easiest
fish to breed. Basically, all you need are multiple fish of both sexes and you will soon
have baby Swordtails whether you want it or not.
These fish are vociferous breeders and become sexually mature at just 3 months old. If you
do not want your Swordtails to breed then keep the males and females separate.
However, if you do want to breed Swordtails, let the babies be born naturally and move
them to a hospital tank where they can grow out.
It is worth noting that you won't get the healthiest fry as these fish have already
undergone years of selective breeding. So, if you are serious about breeding them,
keep adding new adults while swapping out the old ones after every breeding cycle to
prevent further degradation of their genetic quality.
Diseases
Swordtails are very hardy fish and generally do not contract any major diseases. However,
the fancier varieties can have genetic disorders which can significantly reduce their lifespan.
Either way, your best shot at ensuring that these fish live for a long time is by doing
proper tank maintenance and providing them with a proper diet. The water parameters should
be kept stable while any new additions to the tank should be made only after a proper
quarantine.
Common issues like ich can occur but these can be easily treated with a partial water
change and the addition of readily available medicinal solutions.
To Sum It Up!
Inexpensive and readily available can still be very good and the Swordtail fish is a living
testament to this statement. As alluded to before, these are among the best beginner
fish out there. It is also a great option for anyone looking to keep an easy-to-maintain
community aquarium.
Finally, their stunning looks also make them a great addition to a low-maintenance planted
tank. Their playful nature, alluring looks, and easy to care for nature make them a really
worthwhile option to consider for hobbyists irrespective of their level of expertise.
I hope you enjoyed the video. Don't forget to click the like button and subscribe. If
you want us to cover a certain fish please let us know in the comments below.
See you in the next video.