Swordtail fish are a popular fish species loved by both veteran and novice aquarium fish keepers worldwide. One of the main reasons for their popularity is that they are straightforward to take care of. For this reason, they are also called beginner fish that are suitable for new aquarium hobbyists. The effortless care is, without a doubt, the courtesy of their very subtle behavior. So, what are the behavioral characteristics of a swordtail fish?
The most prominent behavioral characteristics of swordtail fish are that they are peaceful, amicable, and social. They are small tropical community fish who prefer being in groups of similar kinds.
Although they hang out in groups, they are never seen to form a school or a shoal. Instead, they are friendly freshwater fish that can be an excellent addition to your freshwater community fish.
This article will unveil some of the unique behavioral traits of swordtails, so you better stay tuned!
What Are The Behavioral Characteristics Of Swordtail Fish?
The expected behavior of swordtail fish portrays them as the perfect fish who love to swim around the tank and make new friends throughout. While this is mostly the case, sometimes the fish will break its limit and show hostile behavior.
Here we will talk about the good and harmful nature of swordtail fish that will help you decide if swordtails are a perfect fit for you.
The behavioral characters of a swordtail fish are as follows:
Active Swimmers
If there is one thing that swordtails love to do, it’s swimming (I mean, it’s’ a fish). But, they are very active swimmers, unlike a few of the bottom-dwelling, slow-moving fish.
Swordtails are active throughout the day, and you can always see them on the move. They are out and about in your tank, exploring every corner of the tank engaging with the tank objects and mates.
They are fast swimmers, so providing them with an open space in a large tank would be beneficial to stay active and healthy.
Peaceful Community Fish
Swordtail fish are peaceful fish that live in harmony with other fish in the tank, making them a fantastic community fish. They are compatible with all small fish that like to stay in groups.
Swordtail fish will happily stay in the tank with other small fish species with the same temperament and water requirements.
They usually wouldn’t’ harm or trouble other fish in the tank unless they are stressed, or something’s bothering them.
Sociable
Swordtail fish are amicable and loves to interact or engage with other fish of the same standard. They are friendly and would make an excellent company for any other small fish in your tank.
Swordtails will usually make groups with similar kinds of fish. However, it doesn’t’ have to be only swordtails. If you have some other fish in the tank-like platies, mollies, guppies, goldfish, etc., you can see your swordtails already hanging out with them.
However, they can sometimes turn aggressive and attack their tank mates for reasons like food or space.
Food Scavengers
Swordtail fish are scavengers and will eat whatever they find in the tank. They are usually found scraping off algae from the tank’s surface and eating dead fish, residue, debris, and aquarium plants.
It can be somewhat beneficial as swordtail fish will clean off the excess algae in the tank. But, you should not make this a habit as too many algae can be detrimental.
The scavenging nature does more bad than good to your swordtails as unhealthy food can cause various diseases. Similarly, the scavenging behavior may lead to accidental consumption of eggs and fry in the tank.
Hardy And Adaptable
Swordtails are considered hardy fish. This means that they can adapt to a wide range of temperatures. Their hardiness is a primary reason why they are the perfect first pet for beginners.
They are not picky and will accept anything. So it’s’ your duty to make sure they get a nutritious diet.
The suitable water temperature for swordtail fish is 65- 82 degrees Fahrenheit, making it easier for you to set the temperatures without worrying about dangerous fluctuations.
Fun Loving
Trust me when I say that you won’t’ get tired of watching swordtail fish once you get it. Swordtail fish have a great personality. Swordtails are always on the move, exploring every corner of the tank.
So, the constant movement of these tiny colorful creatures will make them entertaining characters.
Swordtail fish are anxious about everything that surrounds them, so they will be sure to check everything out, providing loads of entertainment for you.
Therefore, these are some of the better behavioral characters of swordtails.
Harmful Behavioral Characteristics Of Swordtail Fish
Swordtails do have some toxic traits too. It’s’ time to look at some dangerous behavioral characters of swordtail fish.
Aggression
Otherwise considered peaceful fish, swordtails can sometimes break and turn aggressive.
Male swordtails tend to be a little aggressive compared to female swordtails. However, aggressive behavior is mainly seen when swordtails are ready to mate.
If you have a mixed swordtail tank, you will notice that the male swordtail will constantly chase and harass the females around for mating.
Territorial
Swordtail fish are territorial. Especially the alpha male tends to mark their territory in the tank.
Swordtail males won’t’ like it if some other fish try to invade their marked territory and resort to fighting to protect it.
The fighting and aggression can be a significant issue if you have a territorial male in your tank. Therefore, it is better to look for these types of fish and manage a larger tank that provides plenty of room for all fish in your community tank.
Fin Nipping/ Biting
Swordtail fish are fin-nippers, so they will nibble on the fins or bite the tail of other fish in the tank. Fin-nipping is one of the prominent behavioral characteristics in swordtail fish when they are aggressive.
They will first chase the other fish around and eventually proceed to biting and nipping as a sign of fighting in aggression.
Therefore, it is better to separate the bully fish to prevent possible injuries.
Stress And Hiding
Swordtails might be hardy and adaptable, but drastic changes in water parameters will instantly stress them out. Stress is the most basic syndrome for any disease in swordtail fish.
Likewise, swordtails hide a lot when they feel insecure and unsafe. The hiding behavior is also prevalent during pregnancy and delivery.
Since swordtail fish hide a lot when stressed, you should add a lot of hiding spots like live plants and other decors.
These are some of the harmful/ toxic behavioral characteristics of swordtails.
Genetic Characteristics Of Swordtail Fish
All the characteristics that have been discussed above are behavioral and occur as per the environment. However, swordtails also have some genetic characters that stick with them for a lifetime. These characters are almost identical in all fish except those with genetic disorders.
A few of the characters to mention are:
Breeding
Swordtail fish are prolific breeders. They reach the age of sexual maturity at three months and keep breeding until they are old.
If you have a male and a female swordtail in an identical tank, mating takes no external initiation. Instead, the mating takes place super fast, and you might even miss it if you’re’ not looking closely.
Swordtails can also inbreed, i.e., breed with their siblings. It’s’ not a big deal in the world of fauna, but you can prevent it by separating the fish.
Swordtails can also cross-breed with Platies as they are a close family.
Growth
Swordtail fish also proliferate. They grow from baby fry into adults in the time of 12 weeks.
If you have more swordtails in your tank, it might be difficult to contain them as they grow up very soon, and the tank might not be sufficient.
Swordtail fish growth takes minimal effort and so they are the perfect beginner fish for any novice hobbyists.
Gender Change
Swordtail fish are among those species that are known as protogynous hermaphrodites. Therefore, swordtail fish can change gender.
Swordtails have a complex process of sex determination because it also depends on environmental factors.
This means that swordtails can change their genders when needed to maintain the population.
Thus, these are the most prominent behavioral characteristics in swordtail fish that all swordtail keepers must be aware of.
FAQs
How To Tell If Your Swordtail Fish Is Happy?
It’s difficult to determine if a swordtail fish is a content, but one method to tell is to observe their behavior.
Excessive hiding or swimming towards the water’s edge to avoid being in it for long periods could be signs of an unhappy swordtail.
Swordtails will not come and tell you that they are happy, but clear eyes, shining scales, and good eating habits.
A joyful and happy swordtail fish is more active and spends more time swimming through the water column. They’ll also swim to the surface for oxygen now and again.
Another indicator that a swordtail is a content is if they are continually following or attempting to attract the attention of its owner.
Paying attention to your pet’s color is another way to tell how it feels about its surroundings.
If your swordtail’s coloring is dull or grayish, they may be unhappy with the habitat you’ve created for them. A healthy and happy pet, on the other hand, will have brilliant colors in its scales or tail fin.
If any of these symptoms appear, it may be time to make some changes to your swordtail’s surroundings.
Conclusion
To summarize, swordtails are an enthralling fish for both seasoned and rookie aquarists. Swordtails are an excellent addition to the tank because of their intellect, hardiness, adaptability, tolerance, and colorfulness.
This guide should be helpful to anyone selecting swordtails as their primary tropical aquarium fish.
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