There are various kinds of aquarium fish that have their own water preferences. Some fish prefer freshwater while others prefer saltwater. You may wonder if the freshwater fish can survive in saltwater and vice versa. Would the fish adapt easily or would it suffer? Swordtails are common freshwater fish. So, can swordtail fish live in saltwater?
Swordtails are freshwater species and cannot survive in a pure saltwater tank. Swordtails can live in some salt content, but the ideal amount is 1 tablespoon per 2-5 gallons. When you keep freshwater fish like the swordtail in saltwater, they can’t get rid of the salt that gets into their body because they are not used to it in freshwater habitats. This can cause severe damage to the fish’s health. However, most of the swordtail fish that are bred in captivity and are hybrid might be able to tolerate some salinity in the water.
Swordtails thrive in freshwater. Even though we can naturally find swordtails in brackish water bodies of Central and Northern America, they might not be able to survive for long in a brackish tank environment. Swordtails can take small doses of salt or can survive in brackish water, but they won’t be able to thrive in it. Thus, it is better not to put your swordtail in saltwater or brackish water.
Saltwater Vs. Freshwater Fish
Freshwater is water that contains a very less amount of dissolved salts. Water bodies like glaciers, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, groundwater, etc. contain freshwater.
Likewise, saltwater or saline water is water with a high amount of salt in it. Generally, the water from the seas and oceans is saltwater. However, there is also brackish water which is a combination of both freshwater and saltwater.
Now, the fish that thrive in freshwater are freshwater fish. And, the fish that thrive on saltwater are saltwater fish. Freshwater fish have gills that do not allow impurities to get inside the body, and ensure the bodily fluids remain inside the fish. Whereas, saltwater fish lose a large number of internal body fluids through their gills because of osmosis.
Freshwater fish are tougher and hardy and can adapt to change in their environments easier than saltwater fish do. Freshwater fish can be tropical or coldwater fish. But, saltwater fish mostly prefer cooler water.
Since the entire physiology differs between freshwater and saltwater fish, it is not a very good idea to keep freshwater fish in saltwater tanks. Nevertheless, we can find a few species in brackish water in the wild and can thrive in a brackish tank.
Swordtails are freshwater tropical fish. Thus, they cannot live in saltwater.
Can Swordtails Tolerate Salt?
Yes, swordtails can in fact tolerate aquarium salt. Salt is one of the most valuable treatments you will use in a freshwater aquarium. But, make sure to use it in a very low amount.
You might have questions like how can salt be an essential element to freshwater tanks. The reason I said that is because salt can be a great way to naturally and safely treat many types of illness and stress in fish. Salt can be effective against diseases like ich, and other external parasites.
However, the amount of salt to be put in greatly influences the process. One tablespoon of salt per 3 gallons is the appropriate quantity. Anything more than that will make water saline, in which freshwater fish cannot thrive.
Swordtails are considered freshwater fish and they can do just fine in freshwater. But swordtails are found in brackish environments and are hardy too. They do not need salt in their water but a little amount won’t hurt.
Why Can’t Swordtails Be Kept In Saltwater Tank?
Before we get in on this topic, let’s know a bit about the osmosis process. Osmosis is a biological process by which molecules of a solvent moves from a less concentrated solution into a more concentrated one, to equalize the concentrations on each side of a membrane.
Here, the internal fluids of freshwater fish are less concentrated, and that of saltwater is highly concentrated in comparison. So, when you put freshwater fish in saltwater, your fish will lose the fluid inside their body to the surrounding saltwater due to osmosis. The loss of water from the body will cause dehydration and the fish might die.
Freshwater fish like the swordtails can’t be kept in saltwater because it is too salty for them. Your swordtails cannot get rid of the salt that gets inside their body which can cause various infections and diseases.
Your swordtail cannot handle the higher salinity of saltwater for a very long time. Hence, it is better not to put a swordtail in saltwater.
Can Swordtails Live In Brackish Water?
So, now we know that placing swordtail fish in saltwater could be fatal as swordtails are not saltwater fish. But, can they survive in brackish water?
Brackish water is a mixture of both saltwater and freshwater. In the wild, swordtails also swim around in water bodies that are brackish. So, the answer is yes. Swordtails can live in brackish water. Most types of swordtails can tolerate a certain amount of salinity. They can tolerate tank water with a salt content of 1 tablespoon per 2-3 gallons only.
Brackish water can be beneficial for livebearer fish like the swordtails. Although they cannot live in pure saltwater bodies, a few amounts of salt can make their metabolism stronger and increase their immunity. A minimum amount of salt can help your swordtail fight diseases and stress.
However, swordtail fish cannot live in saltwater for a longer time as they are not accustomed to it. Thus, we should be careful to add the only concerning amount of salt to make the water brackish.
Can You Acclimate Swordtails Into Saltwater Tank?
Acclimatization is the process of making an organism accustomed to a new climate or conditions. We have seen many results of acclimating freshwater livebearers like guppies and mollies into saltwater. So, is it possible to acclimate swordtails into saltwater? Can swordtail fish live in saltwater if acclimatization is a success?
Yes, you can try to acclimate swordtails into a saltwater tank. But, they can’t thrive in very strong salinity. A long time of exposure to pure saltwater can deteriorate your swordtail as they are not used to the saline environment.
Swordtails fish can thrive in a brackish water environment. And, I do not think we need to go beyond that. Swordtails are peaceful freshwater fish that thrive in freshwater. It is way easier to take care of fish in freshwater, so why change it?
However, if you have a saltwater tank and want to add a swordtail to it, you can acclimate it. For that, put the saltwater in a bucket or a bag and place your fish in it. Then, leave your fish be in it for a while and monitor their behavior. If they seem to do fine, keep increasing the salinity. If your swordtails fluster, it is probably best to stop trying the process.
Swordtails are pretty hardy and can tolerate brackish water. So, acclimating can be a success. But don’t try too hard. Swordtails are freshwater fish and should stay that way.
What Kind Of Water Do Swordtails Need?
Swordtails come from the rivers and streams of Northern and Central America. The water there is tropical hot with a temperature of up to 68F. The water is acidic with 12-30 GH and a Ph of 7-7.8.
In the wild, we find swordtails in fast-flowing rivers and streams. They are quite hardy and tolerate a wide range of temperatures. Swordtails can tolerate brackish water which means they can thrive in water with low salinity.
However, the sudden change in water parameters; like a drop in temperature, increase in salinity, etc. can affect their reproductive ability and make them vulnerable to illnesses.
Can Saltwater Kill Swordtails?
When we drink saltwater it can kill us, yet the oceans are filled with delightful creatures, giving them life. This is a similar reason why freshwater fish cannot live in saltwater.
In the case of freshwater fish, their blood and bodily fluids are much saltier than the water they swim n, so water flows in through their gills. It is the same for your swordtails. Swordtails intake a lot of water from the surroundings and they urinate a lot to maintain equilibrium.
But, when we keep these swordtails in saltwater tanks, their bodily fluids will be of lesser concentration than their surroundings. So they lose a lot of water and might die. So, in this manner saltwater can kill your swordtails.
However, a very small amount of aquarium salt can be very beneficial for your swordtail to promote fish health. Swordtails can tolerate a low amount of salinity and can thrive in such water. But, too much salt is always fatal for any freshwater species.
FAQs
Is Aquarium Salt Good For Freshwater Fish?
Yes, salt reduces the toxicity of nitrite to freshwater fish. Salts have sodium and chloride. Chloride helps to reduce the nitrite in fish. So, you can add salt to provide fish protection against nitrite and other toxins.
Similarly, concerning the level of salt can also protect fish from diseases like ich and fin rot, etc. salt can help fish recover faster.it also protects freshwater fish from various external bacteria and parasites. Thus, aquarium salt in a certain amount is good for freshwater fish species.
Can Freshwater Fish Eat Marine Fish Food?
The answer to this question is yes and no. Marine flake foods have a different nutritional value than freshwater fish foods. Marine fish have higher needs than freshwater fish. So, marine fish food has greater nutrient supplements. So, you can feed marine flake food to your freshwater fish.
Nevertheless, freshwater food won’t be enough for marine species because such food lacks the proper amount of nutrients that marines need to develop proper growth and development.
Conclusion
Swordtail fish are popular freshwater species and they thrive in a freshwater tank. Swordtail fish cannot live in saltwater bodies for a long period of time as they are not accustomed to it.
The answer to the question can swordtail fish live in saltwater is rather a confusing one. The answer is yes and no. In the wild, we can find swordtails dwelling around brackish water environments in search of food. So, they can tolerate a certain level of salinity.
Similarly, adding salt to freshwater tanks is proven to be profitable to your fish’s health, immunity, and metabolism.
However, longer stronger water with higher salinity can be fatal for your freshwater fish species like swordtail. Therefore, it is probably best to avoid saltwater for freshwater fish. Let them thrive in the water they were born for.
