Isn’t it mesmerizing to see your fish swirl around the plants in your fish tank? That’s the beauty live plants provide to your tank. However, that’s not the only benefit of such live plants. So many tropical fish love a planted aquarium. Swordtails are tropical fish that need live plants in their tanks.
Swordtails need live plants in tanks! This is a question that many people are asking themselves. It’s been proven that swordtails love to live in planted aquariums. Live plants are best because they help with filtration and provide food and provide a place for them to hide from predators. Swordtails will eat algae, but the plant leaves offer more variety of nutrients and textures for them to eat.
If you have swordtails living in your aquarium, it is important to make sure they have plenty of live plants to eat and grow on! This article will observe the benefits of keeping your swordtails among the dense live aquarium plants. Keep Reading!
What Are Live Plants?
There are fake, artificial plants. And then, there are live plants with actual leaves, flowers, and maybe seeds. Both types are used for decorating your fish tanks. These plants make your aquariums bright, colorful, and lively.
However, live plants are more than just decors for your tanks. Live plants can remove carbon dioxide from the tank water and add oxygen.
Live plants provide many benefits for the fish, including filtration and food sources. Without live plants, your tank may become dirty or stagnant.
Moreover, these live plants will also provide your fish with shade, privacy, and space. Many fish love live plants in their tank, including tropical fish like swordtails.
Do Swordtails Need Live Plants In Tanks?
Whether you have swordtails living in your aquarium or not, live plants are always a good idea! They provide food for the fish and help with filtration. Simply put, they make tanks better.
If you’re thinking about getting some live plants for your tank to add more color and attract more tropical fish like swordtails – you’re on the right track! Live plants are great for tropical fish tanks and swordtails in particular.
It’s been proven that they love to live in planted aquariums – which is also why it’s best if you give them some of their own environment too. Swordtails need live plants in tanks! This has been found out by observing the benefits of keeping them among the live aquarium plants. They need food and a place to hide away from predators, which these plants can provide.
It’s become apparent that swordtails love live planted tanks – they don’t thrive without it! So the right thing you should do is get some for your tank too. Then, you’ll have happy swordtails and a happy fish-keeper.
How Do Live Plants Benefit Your Swordtail?
Live plants provide shade for the swordtail in your aquarium and are a source of food and filtration. Live plants are best because they help with filtration, provide food sources, offer a place to hide from predators, remove carbon dioxide and add oxygen – all things that make your tank better!
These are some benefits of having live plants in the tank:
Aeration
Live plants can help remove carbon dioxide from the tank water and add oxygen. It also removes ammonia and other toxins in the tank, keeping the water free from poisonous gases that harm the swordtail.
Insulation
Live plants provide shade to your swordtails and other fish in the tank, which can help them get through hot summers. It also protects from predators like cats or dogs (or even pesky neighbors!).
Hiding Spots
Plants provide some space for the swordtails to hide from predators, which is important if they are in an aquarium with other fish. In addition, the plants will give them privacy when they are resting or stressed.
Filter System
Many live plants are used for aquariums because they filter out debris that would otherwise clog up pumps and filters. In addition, live plants help create a healthy environment for the fish, which will also help your tank be more liveable for you!
Food Source
And the best part? The swordtail will also provide food for you! Live plants have edible seeds. So your fish will love to nibble on these plants when they are hungry.
Swordtails must have access to their own natural habitat of plant life. It is not only good for them but also provides many benefits.
Best Live Plants For Your Swordtail Fish
Live plants will keep the water fresh and oxygenated for your swordtail fish. Thus, swordtail fish need live plants in their tank to maintain proper water parameters. In addition, live plants will keep your swordtails active and healthy.
Some of the best live plants for your swordtails are:
- Java Fern
- Anubias Nana
- Dwarf Hairgrass
- Guppy Grass
- Java Moss
- Horn Wort
- Water Sprite, etc.
These plants will add color and texture to your swordtail tank, making it lively for both you and your fish.
Will Swordtails Eat Aquarium Plants?
Yes, your swordtails will eat plants. Swordtails are omnivorous and need plant supplements for a balanced diet. You will see swordtails nibbling on the aquatic plants you have planted in your tank. You can also sometimes see them scrapping off algae in the tank.
Swordtails get vegetable nutrients from flake food, algae, or blanched vegetables. So, although you will find them nibbling the leaves of your plant, they will not cause any damage to your live plants.
Can Swordtails Live Without Plants?
Now, I cannot say that your swordtails cannot live without plants at all. However, adding live plants is highly beneficial for your swordtail.
Swordtails will not fare well without live plants in the tank. Live plants are needed to provide food, shelter from predators, and filtration for your swordtail fish. They also help with the aeration of the water by removing carbon dioxide and adding oxygen into it.
Investing in some live aquarium plants for your swordtails is a good idea and will provide many benefits for your swordtails. First, it is the cheapest way to help maintain your tank setup and water parameters.
If you do not want to add live plants to your tank, it would be best to add tank filters and air pumps that help in aeration and oxygenation.
FAQs
These are some of the most frequently asked questions when people are raising swordtails in a well-planted aquarium.
Do Swordtails Like Floating Plants?
Yes, swordtails are known to enjoy floating plants. The plant will not be eaten and is just a fun way for the fish to play with their food!
Floating plants look good and remove nitrates and ammonia from the water. Floating plants are also easy to care for. Therefore, I would definitely recommend adding floating plants like Duckweed and Frogbit to your swordtail tank.
It keeps the water clean and provides cover for your tank.
How To Care For Live Plants In The Tank?
Live plants need many nutrients to grow, so you must fertilize them. You will want to use a liquid fertilizer every two weeks or with the plant food tabs for dry soil for live aquarium plants.
Sometimes algae can become too much and be harmful to your fish tank setup; this can happen if there isn’t enough light. So, make sure that the plants are getting sufficient lighting by adding a new bulb or increasing your current one.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we know that swordtail tanks need live plants even though it is not an absolute necessity. I highly recommend adding these plants into your tank setup because it helps in many ways.
Swordtails are susceptible fish that need live plants to survive in an aquarium. It is not healthy for them, and they will not fare well without these plants.
If you’re considering setting up a tank, please consider adding some live plants! I cannot stress this enough because swordtail fish love it!
