Swordtail fish are a type of freshwater tropical fish that people keep in aquariums. They come from South America, and they need relatively warm temperatures to survive. So, do swordtail fish need a heater to survive?
Yes, swordtail fish need a heater in the aquarium to survive if you live in cold temperatures. The ideal temperature for swordtail fish to thrive is 65-82 degrees Fahrenheit. If your surrounding goes lower than 65, it is best to add a heater in your swordtail tank.
Swordtail fish are also very cold-sensitive and require a heater to survive in certain climates.
This blog post will discuss whether or not swordtail fish need a heater to survive in captivity.
Heater In Swordtail Fish Tank
A heater will ensure that the water temperature in your fish tank is always warm enough to support life. It is a requisite for all fish species found in tropical reasons and need optimum water temperatures to thrive.
Before setting up a heater, it is essential to know the ideal water temperature for your swordtail fish.
Fluctuations in temperature can have fatal consequences to your swordtail fish’s health. Thus, a water heater comes in handy as it keeps the temperature constant.
The types of heaters available are a type of metal wire coil, ceramic heaters, and resistors. Choosing one depends on which kind you currently have or need for your tanks, as well as what size they are.
For instance, a larger tank would need a more powerful heater to maintain the desired temperature.
What Is The Ideal Temperature For Swordtails?
A lot of people are wondering the best temperature to keep their swordtail fish at. To answer this question, you need to know what kind of water your swordtail lives in naturally.
Swordtails hail from Southeast Asia, and they inhabit slow-moving waters where it is usually warm year-round with a range between 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
Swordtail fish naturally live in warm water year-round, ranging between 75 degrees Fahrenheit and 82 degrees Fahrenheit at its average temperature of 76 degrees Fahrenheit.
Swordtails are naturally able to adapt to colder water and are not harmed by the change in temperature.
Swordtails can live comfortably at temperatures as low as 65 degrees Fahrenheit, but be aware that their color may become less vibrant or even start fading if you take them below this range.
Do Swordtail Fish Need A Heater?
Swordtails are tropical fish. They like warm water. Therefore, swordtails need a heater in their tank to keep the water warm enough for them to live in it.
You need to heat the water for your swordtails unless you live in tropical regions where the temperature does not drop under 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
To calculate the watt you need, there is a rule of 5 watts per gallon of water. So, for example, a single swordtail needs around 15-20 gallons, which means the preferred heater wattage should be around 100W. With this setup, you will be able to heat your aquarium water to 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Different rooms in your home will have different temperatures. Your tank water won’t heat up as quickly as the air temperature where you keep it. Make sure to change the temperature of your tank water so that it is close to the air temperature.
Do Swordtails Tank Need Two Aquarium Heaters?
Yes, swordtails do require heaters. Have two placed in the tank for best results. Aquarium heaters are recommended for any fish, and having 2 is always recommended with tropical fish like swordtails.
To protect against fluctuations in aquarium temperature, one heat pad is not sufficient, so you should use two.
If you have two heaters in your tank, one will always work. If another heater is damaged or faulty, the other will turn on right away to take care of the fish. It is up to you if you want this backup system for your fish’s safety.
Types Of Aquarium Heaters For Your Swordtail Fish
The most common type of heater is a metal wire coil heater which is what many people use in their homes because it heats up quickly and doesn’t cost too much for installation. It can also be used in small tanks but will require being replaced every few years as they get weaker.
Ceramic heaters work best with larger tanks because they are made from stone material, which takes time to warm up before working.
For those who don’t want a metal wire coil heater that will need replacing every few years as it gets weaker, the other option is an infrared or glass tube heater like you see in retail stores. These heaters will cost a little more than the metal wire coil, but they are long-lasting and do not require replacement as often.
For those without the budget for glass or infrared tube heat, another option is an electric aquarium heater that has been on the market since 1987. This type of heater will cost less, but it does require electricity, so it may not be the best option for those living off-grid.
Other than that, you have submersible heaters that sink into the tank, immersible heaters that suspend from the top of the tank, filter heaters that work as both filter and heater, or inline heaters.
These heaters are appropriate for your swordtail fish. But, which one is best?
Which Heater Is Most Beneficial For Swordtails?
Submersible heaters are best-suited for a swordtail fish tank.
Submersible heaters automatically maintain the ideal water temperatures for swordtail fish as they have a low volt thermostat. The heater also has an indicator that notifies you of its workability.
Besides, submersible heaters take less space, and you will have plenty of space for other tank decorations that swordtails require.
Effects Of Temperature Fluctuations On Swordtail Fish
Swordtail fish require a heater so that the temperatures in the tanks will remain constant and not cause any fluctuations.
Let’s see what happens when there is constant fluctuation in your swordtail fish tank temperatures.
Builds Stress
Whenever the water temperature in an aquarium is too low, the swordtail fish tends to feel unusual. A fluctuation in water level means a sudden change in their environment where they get difficulty adjusting promptly. They sense something is not right in their habitat, which makes them anxious and uncomfortable.
As a result, the swordtail fish will build immense stress that eventually hampers their mental and physical health.
Trouble In Growth
The reason behind maintaining a proper tank setup is to provide a healthier life to the swordtail fish. Here, lack of any requisite can bring problems in their endurance.
Similarly, the drop in water temperature creates hazards to the swordtail fish by affecting their growth. Especially in a cold water degree, the extension of swordtails stops totally. As a result, they become dull and inactive, where the possibility of their development seems uncertain.
Sickness
As the water temperature gets colder in the aquarium, different mental and physical obstacles exist for the swordtail fish. They will be battling through their stress also their physical health gets into a declining phase.
The swordtail fish cannot keep their bodies firm during too cold water temperature. They slowly lose their strength and potential to fight against any obstacle as their body already becomes dull. It will eventually make their immune system weak day by day.
As the immune system of swordtails gets weaker, there raises more chance of getting affected by parasites and different kinds of fish diseases. Thus, it will make the swordtail fish sick and weak.
Itching
Since different kinds of parasites and diseases may infect the swordtail fish, the fish tend to have itching issues constantly. As a result, they feel difficulty in every inch of their body. In addition, it puts them under more stress, resulting in more health issues.
Inability To Reproduce
For the reproduction process, the swordtail fish mainly requires warm water. If the water temperature drop in a tank, it means the water is getting colder. It makes the fish unable to reproduce as they build more stress due to a bad environment.
In the swordtail fish’s natural habitat, they move to warmer water areas for the reproduction process. But sadly, in an aquarium, the shifting option is not possible. Instead, they have to rely on the current water temperature, which happens to be colder due to fluctuation in water degrees.
Therefore, lowering of water temperature makes the swordtail fish unable to reproduce. Here, the unfulfillment of mating desire can create a different obstacle too.
Oxygen Fluctuation
The swordtail fish require warm water in a tank. Here, a balance between oxygen and water temperature must be accurate. If the water temperature is too hot, it can affect oxygen levels in an aquarium.
If the water temperature exceeds 30 degrees Celsius, the oxygen level in water slowly decreases. Lowering the oxygen means suffocating the swordtail fish.
Moreover, a frequent oxygen fluctuation makes fish unstable as they become unable to breathe in air rightly. It will affect swordtails as there creates the possibility of them suffocating in the aquarium.
For these reasons, you should add a heater to your tank.
FAQs
Here I have answered some of the most frequently asked questions on swordtail fish.
Are Swordtail Fish Tropical Fish?
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.
Can Swordtail Survive In Cold Water?
Swordtails are tropical fish and need warmer water to survive. They can live in water up to 15 degrees Celsius, but icy water can be too cold for them. At this temperature, they might become inactive and stop breeding.
Conclusion
Swordtail fish are peaceful fish that requires a warm temperature to thrive in an aquarium. Therefore, maintaining a correct degree of warm water is significant for them.
Thus, installing a heater can be a great idea to prevent fluctuations and maintain consistent water temperatures.
Therefore, swordtail fish need a heater in the aquarium to flourish. A heater will help your swordtails live a happy, healthy life.
