Although we consider swordtails one of the easiest fish to care for, it can be difficult if you have no idea its requirements. Swordtails need great delicate care. One of the major requirements for swordtail fish is the swimming space. Swordtails are active swimmers and need abundance space. So, how many swordtail fish can you put in your tank? Let’s find out!
A single swordtail fish needs approximately 15-gallon tank space. As they prefer living in groups, each additional fish need 5-6 gallons of space to keep them comfortable. One gallon of water for one-inch fish is the general thumb rule to identify fish accommodation in your tank.
An adult swordtail measures about 5.5 inches. So, using the above rule, one swordtail can live in a 6-gallon tank. If you have a 10-gallon tank, and one gallon is occupied by equipment and decors, you can add (10-1)/5.5 .i.e., you can keep 1 swordtail fish in a 10-gallon tank.
I honestly recommend you not go below 9-10 gallons for a single swordtail fish because they are quite territorial, and anything less than 10 can be problematic. However, with proper decoration and conditioned water, swordtail fish can coexist peacefully.
Swordtail Fish: General Description
Before you know how many swordtails you can keep in your tank, here is what you should know about the fish.
| Experience Level | Beginner – Easy to care for, hardy fish, easy to breed, and are undemanding. |
| Appearance | Small and elongated, males have a sword-like tail extension and an anal fin (gonopodium)
Females lack those and have rounded tails. |
| Adult Size | Male Swordtail Adult Size: 5.5”
Female Swordtail Adult Size: 6”(an inch longer than males) |
| Water Condition | Hard, Alkaline water
(12-30dGH) |
| Water Temperature Range | 65-82 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Tank Region | Usually found dwelling along the mid and top section of the tank |
| Tank Size | At least 15-gallon (45L) or larger |
| Temperament | Social, Peaceful, Hardy |
| Food | Omnivorous (Algae, Bloodworms, Baby shrimps, etc.) |
| Lifespan | 3-5 years |
Therefore, Swordtail fish are tropical freshwater fish that prefer being in groups, meaning community fish. They originated from creeks and streams of Central and Northern America. Swordtail fish belong to the genus Poecilia, and about 17 to 18 species are found. They vary in colors and patterns and slightly in size. They are the most wonderful species that you can add to your tank.
How To Calculate The Number Of Swordtail Fish For A Fish Tank?
The swordtail fish grows up to 5.5 inches at most. The females can grow about an inch longer. So, the number can vary according to the type and size of swordtail fish you purchase.
As mentioned above, the golden thumb rule of one gallon per inch of fish even applies to swordtail fish. For that, you have to know the maximum length of your swordtail. Apart from the length of the fish, you also have to consider the volume, surface area, depth of the tank, and the space occupied by added decorations and equipment.
For example, if you have a tank size of 10-gallons capacity, and about a gallon is occupied by equipment, you have 9 gallons of free space. Now,
Number of swordtail fish= gallon per inch, i.e. 9/5.5= 1.63= 1 swordtail fish. I have repeatedly mentioned that a single swordtail fish requires around 15-gallon tank space to swim around freely. But, swordtails can adjust in up to a 10-gallon tank provided proper living conditions.
How Many Swordtail Fish In A 10 Gallon Tank?
As the calculations above, one swordtail is suitable for a 10-gallon tank. However, it would help if you did not keep swordtail fish alone. Swordtail fish enjoy good company and are active and healthy in groups.
To avoid keeping swordtail fish alone, you should get a tank large enough to fit at least 4-5 swordtail fish. However, if you plan on keeping smaller fish or some crustaceans with one swordtail in a tank, that might be possible.
Swordtail fish can live with shrimps and snails. However, they usually hang out at the bottom of the tank so that the swordtail will have the upper region all to itself. In such a case, you can add one swordtail tank to a 10-gallon tank.
Thus, a 10-15 gallon tank can accommodate one swordtail tank with appropriate small or bottom-dwelling tank mates.
How Many Swordtail Fish In A 20 Gallon Tank?
One swordtail fish requires a 10-gallon tank, which means you can accommodate around 2 swordtail fish in a 20.
There are certain things you need to keep in mind when you keep 2 swordtail fish together, and most of it has to do with the gender of the fish.
Swordtail fish should be kept in groups of 4-5, properly arranging the male-female ratio. Male swordtail fish are aggressive and can fight with each other when kept in only pairs. Likewise, if you keep a male and female pair, your male swordtail will harass your female swordtail.
For that reason, I would not recommend keeping two swordtail fish in the same tank unless it is two female swordtail fish.
However, if you fulfill all tank requirements and take care of the diet, filtration, and temperature, 3 swordtails can survive in a 20-gallon tank, given you have 1 male swordtail with 2 swordtails female fish.
How Many Swordtail Fish In A 30 Gallon Tank?
You should keep swordtail fish in group 4 at a minimum, including 1 male and 3 females. A 30-gallon tank can comfortably accommodate 4 swordtail fish.
I have mentioned above that a single swordtail needs around a 15-gallon tank and each additional fish will require roughly 5 gallons more. Hence, you can keep 4-5 swordtail fish in a 30-gallon tank.
The number of fish to be added to a tank also depends on the length of the tank. For example, swordtail fish generally swim in the middle region of the tank. So, if you have a long tank, you will have more length, and the swordtail will get more swimming space. However, if you have a high tank, the middle region decreases, and swimming space may be compromised.
Thus, the number of swordtail fish you can keep in a tank depends on the length of the tank, the fish, and the environment you provide therein.
Things To Keep In Mind Before Keeping Swordtail Fish In Your Tank
Swordtail fish are freshwater, very energetic fish that demand plenty of room to swim. They enjoy clean water; therefore, keep the tank in a location where there isn’t much noise or movement from people or pets, as this may agitate them. The foundation
Before you put swordtails in your tank, there are a few things to think about:
Tank Size
Swordtails are one of the most popular freshwater fish, and they may be kept in a variety of aquarium sizes.
However, before you go out and buy swordtail Fish, make sure your tank has at least 30 gallons of water so that all of the occupants may swim around freely.
When determining the number of swordtails, you may keep in your tank, keep in mind that these fish are more active than other fish and require a lot of space. If the tank’s water level is reduced, there will be insufficient oxygen for all residents, resulting in death from asphyxia or food deficiency.
Size of the Group
It’s also vital to understand that single swordtails will become stressed and lose their color if you keep them in your tank.
Swordtails are highly social fish, so keep them in groups of five or more if possible. The number six is great for individuals who want to diversify their aquarium’s fish.
Lighting And Temperature
You should leave the light on for eight to 10 hours every day. The temperature should be between 65 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Because swordtail fish are native to Central America, they enjoy warmer temperatures than other freshwater tank residents, therefore maintain your swordtail fish in an aquarium with a temperature of 75°F or higher.
Condition of the Water
You should also make sure your tank is thoroughly cycled. This indicates that there are sufficient bacteria in the water to allow fish to survive and breathe normally.
Decorations
If you want to decorate your tank with plants or pebbles, stay away from sharp materials because they can be dangerous.
Live Plants
It’s essential to maintain live plants in your tank because they help keep the water clean, but make sure that all of your plants are non-toxic and healthy for swordtails.
Because gravel can damage their teeth while swimming around the tank, the substrate should be made up of either pebbles or sand.
Gender
Keeping two male swordtail fish in the same aquarium is not recommended since they will fight. If you want a group of swordtails, though, it’s ideal to have only females because they’re placid and kind creatures who won’t pick on each other if there’s enough room.
What Happens If There Are Too Many Swordtail Fish In A Tank?
If you overcrowd a tank, the fish may become anxious and lose their color.
If the water quality isn’t good, a shortage of oxygen can lead to death or insufficient nourishment for the entire population.
When you overcrowd a fish tank with swordtails, the water becomes hazy, lowering the overall quality of the habitat.
This is why you should avoid overstocking your tank because doing so will only result in negative consequences for your fish.
Aggression
When it comes to hostility, these fish are very peaceful and won’t pick on their tank mates.
If you add additional fish that can be aggressive or territorial, the swordtail will become agitated due to this behavior.
Diseases
Too many swordtail fish in the aquarium can also cause diseases like fin rot, which is extremely difficult to treat.
If your tank’s water quality is poor or there are sharp things in it, you may lose some of these fish.
In this instance, it’s advisable to treat them by raising their temperature and oxygen levels for a few weeks to strengthen their immune system.
Overcrowding
Overcrowding can be particularly dangerous for swordtails in a too-small tank since they require space to swim and stay healthy. Additionally, because these fish are tropical, it’s recommended to keep their tank temperature between 65°F to 82°F to keep them comfortable in the water.
Swordtails are very social fish, so if you keep them in a tank with other fish, make sure they have plenty of room to move around and that all of these species can live together peacefully.
If not, overcrowding causes stress in your fish, which affects the color of its scales and body.
The Battle for Food
When Swordtails are overcrowded, they will often compete for food, leading to aggression among the residents.
In this situation, you’ll want to make sure there’s enough food so that all of the fish in your tank has a chance to eat properly without fighting over scraps.
Oxygen Deficiency
You can have a low quantity of oxygen in your tank if you have too many fish if the water quality isn’t high enough.
In this scenario, it’s ideal to figure out what’s causing the issues and address them as soon as possible so that your swordtails can enjoy happier and more trouble-free lives. Adding an air pump can be a solution.
When It Comes To Tank Size, Does The Swordtail’s Breeding Matter?
Yes! It would help determine whether or not you wish to breed your swordtails while selecting the tank size. They have the capacity to produce 10-150 juveniles. If a 30-gallon aquarium is required for five swordtails, we can only picture the size of the tank required for 100 swordtails. Be cautious when selecting a tank size unless it is for business use.
If you wish to breed your swordtails or if they mate on their own, keep a watch on them.
FAQs
Here are some related questions on the matter
How Many Swordtail Fish Can You Keep Together?
It’s recommended to keep swordtail fish in groups of four to six. A single swordtail fish requires about 15 gallons of tank space. As a result, double-check that you have enough room for each of your swordtail fish. They despise being alone; therefore, they keep a group of four swordtails together at all times.
Another consideration to make when keeping swordtails together is their gender. Male swordtails are territorial and should not be housed together. If you wish to keep numerous swordtail males together, make sure you outnumber them with female swordtails. 1:4 is the ideal male-to-female ratio.
When Is The Best Time To Add Fish To Your Aquarium?
It’s safe to add new fish at any time of year as long as your tank is properly cycled and has no ammonia or nitrites, but if you’re adding more than one variety of fish, it’s better to do it at different seasons of the year.
Can Swordtails Live In A Fish Bowl?
No, swordtails cannot thrive in a fishbowl because they require a large area to swim and grow. Furthermore, swordtails produce a lot of waste, which a fishbowl can’t handle. If a swordtail is placed in a fishbowl, it will begin pecking at its own fins until infection or starvation kills it.
It may sound exaggerated to say that little fish like swordtails cannot live in a fishbowl. They may be able to survive, but will they be able to thrive? No. Why? Because a glass bowl can’t accommodate all of the swordtail’s needs.
Conclusion
Swordtails are beautiful pet animals. If you pay attention to the number of swordtails you have in your tank, you’ll be able to enjoy seeing these gorgeous kids grow.
Overcrowding is an absolute no-no. I hope that this post has helped you decide whether or not to add the swordtail to your tank. No matter what tank size you have, just because it’s bigger doesn’t mean you should throw swordtails in it. It can be dangerous not just for them but also for your other fish.
Swordtails require space to swim freely and stay healthy, and their placid attitude allows them to be put to tanks with other fish.
