The word “tropical” can be defined as a type of climate that is warm to hot and moist. Tropical areas mostly have a hot climate year-round with lush vegetation. In this sense, the fish that are found in the water resources of such areas are called tropical fish. Thus, tropical fish are likely to enjoy warm to hot water temperatures. So, are swordtails tropical fish?
The answer to this question is yes. Yes, swordtail fish are among the most popular tropical fish species. Swordtails are native to the tropical waters of Northern and Central America. The water temperature of tropical regions typically exceeds 680F (200C) and stays constant year-round.
There are nearly 15 different species of swordtail fish found throughout the rivers, lakes, and streams of Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, etc. Swordtails enjoy the warm environment of the fast-flowing freshwater sources.
Moreover, swordtails are also among the most popular community aquarium fish. Hence, their domestic home must replicate their natural habitat. Swordtails are freshwater tropical fish that enjoy a temperature of about 65-82°F. you can use tank heaters or room heaters for this purpose.
What Do You Mean By Tropical Fish?
Tropical fish is not a taxonomic group or a scientific classification of fish, but rather is a general term used for fish that are found in tropical environments.
Types of fish that are found in tropic waters all over the world are called tropical fish. Tropical regions or tropical waters are water sources in the area right near the equator. The Equator is an imaginary line in the center of the earth.
They are found in lots of different bodies of water, but the one thing same for all tropical fish is that they live in tropical regions .i.e. the area around the equator. This means that their environment is much warmer than those of fish that live away from the equator.
Many people use tropical fish as pets. They are favorite aquarium fish choices for hobbyists, due to their bright coloration and patterns. Tropical fish is a term used for pet fish that are kept in heated aquariums. There can be freshwater or saltwater types of tropical fish.
Are Swordtails Freshwater Tropical Fish?
Yes. Swordtails are freshwater tropical fish.
Tropical fish are of two kinds: freshwater tropical fish and saltwater tropical fish. As the name suggests, we can find freshwater tropical fish in freshwater bodies near the equator line. Similarly, saltwater tropical fish are found in marine waters around the equatorial area.
Freshwater tropical fish are more commonly kept aquarium fish than saltwater tropical fish. The reason behind this is the common availability of freshwater sources. You can easily keep freshwater tropical fish because freshwater is easily available like tap water itself.
However, saltwater tropical fish need sea salt addition. You need to monitor saltwater tanks more carefully to maintain their salinity. Whereas, you can easily maintain freshwater tanks by adding plain water.
Swordtail fish is a popular freshwater tropical aquarium fish. They are found along the equator of Central and Northern America. They prefer a warm environment with water temperatures ranging from 65-820 F.
You must provide your swordtail with a tank that portrays its natural habitat. Tropical areas are warm with warm water and lush vegetation. Therefore, your tank should have warm freshwater with necessary parameters, with thick vegetation so that your swordtail can have a tropical homely feeling.
How To Prepare Your Tropical Tank for Swordtail Fish?
Choosing the right kind of tank and setting it up perfectly is very crucial to give your fish a natural feeling. For that, you need to consider the type of fish you are keeping, and the placement of your tank. Likewise, a proper setup for your tank like lighting, filter, heater, substrate, vegetation, water parameters, etc. is very important.
Swordtail fish like any other fish prefer a certain type of tank setup and water parameters. So, how do you set up a tropical tank that favors your swordtail? Here are the steps:
Wash Everything
Your decors and the tank itself might contain residues and other chemicals during manufacturing. Thus, you must rinse the inside of your new tank and also clean the ornaments to remove any residues.
Similarly, it is a good idea to thoroughly rinse your gravel or sand to remove any dirt or other chemicals. But, make sure not to overdo it because substrate also contains necessary nutrients that help your live plants grow.
Add Everything
Once everything is clean, add the gravel first. Make a bed that is 1-2 inches in width so that your tank can have a strong bottom. Then, fill half your tank with water. Make sure your water is fresh and clean as swordtails are freshwater fish species.
After that, add all your decors, filter, and heater. Then fill your tank full of water. Once the tank is full, plug in your heater and filter.
Wait
Your aquarium is a life support system for your swordtail. It might take some time to set up a tropical tank. The water needs to have the correct temperature. You have to wait till your tank becomes chemically stable. The desired water parameters for a swordtail fish is:
- Temperature: 65-82F
- DH Range: 12-30
- pH Range: 7
Check the temperature, pH, hardness, and filtration of water before adding your swordtail. Once your tank conditions are stable you can add your swordtail.
Do Swordtails Need A Heater?
Swordtails are tropical fish and like warm water. As mentioned above, their preferred temperature is 18-280C. Therefore, your swordtails do need a heater in their tank.
You need to heat the water for your swordtails unless you live in tropical regions where the temperature does not drop under 200C.
To calculate the watt you need, there is a basic rule of 5 watts per gallon of water. For example, a single swordtail needs around 15-20 gallon tank. This means the preferred heater wattage should be around 100W. With this setup, you will be able to heat your aquarium water to 27C.
Likewise, if you have a room heater, where the air temperature is around 21C, your swordtail can easily survive. However, the problem is your tank water will heat slower than the air in the room where the tank is kept. Make sure to adjust accordingly.
Are Swordtails Hardy?
Hardy fish is that kind of fish that is easy to maintain in a home aquarium due to its ability to adapt to a wide range of water parameters.
Swordtails are tropical fish and they are also hardy. They can tolerate a wide range of water temperatures. They should be fine in any water temperature between 65-82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Even though they are adaptable fish and can endure a wide range of temperatures, avoid sudden temperature drops in the temperature can harm your fish. Your fish can be stressed when there are violent falls in temperatures. It can also lead to diseases making their immune system vulnerable.
Swordtails are hardy creatures. But, you should keep them in an environment that matches their natural tropical freshwater habitat.
Can Swordtail Survive In Cold Water?
Swordtails are tropical fish and have preferences for warmer waters. Swordtails are sturdy, however, they can tolerate temperatures that are below 15C. However, they cannot survive in very cold water that goes below 15 degrees.
Not to mention that even this temperature might be too low for your swordtail. It might not be ideal and your swordtail can be susceptible to various diseases. Not only that, when you keep swordtails at such low temperatures, they become inactive and stop breeding.
So, if you are planning on keeping swordtails, I would recommend you to adjust temperatures that suit their tropical characteristics.
Can Swordtails Eat Tropical Fish Food?
Swordtails eat a wide variety of foods in the wild, including algae, insect larvae, shrimps, etc. However, in a home aquarium, you need to take extra care of their diet.
Markets have designed various quality flake foods for tropical fish like the swordtail. Feeding them quality food can help them grow properly and enhance their metabolism.
Frozen fish foods for tropical fish are easily available at stores and include various nutrients in their diet. Swordtails are tropical fish and will have no problem consuming tropical fish food.
Make sure to feed them 3-4 times a day in a smaller portion as they are small fish. Feeding them quality food supplements will help them flourish.
What Other Tropical Fish Can Live With Swordtails?
There are various freshwater tropical fish that can be a great addition to your tank. Swordtails are tropical fish with peaceful temperament can live with many similar passive species.
Other freshwater tropical fish that swordtail will enjoy living with includes Guppies, Platies, Dwarf Gouramis, Angelfish, Neon Tetras, etc.
you can find these fish in tropical regions in the wild. When you keep these fish together, you will have a freshwater tropical community tank. The fish will enjoy each other’s company. It will also be easier to take care of your tank as all fish prefer similar parameters.
Conclusion
Swordtails are tropical fish species that enjoy freshwater with tropical temperatures. They are also sturdy so they can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. These characteristics make swordtails one of the most popular choices of pet fish, for both beginner and old-time keepers.
Freshwater tropical fish are easy to care for in an aquarium. They do not need much except warmer water that can easily be provided by tank heaters. If you are planning to add a new fish to your tank, a swordtail will be an excellent choice.
