Swordtail fish is one of the most popular freshwater aquarium fish. They have a unique appearance and are easy and cheap to maintain. We know that swordtails are easy to breed and feed. However, there are some essential facts that all fish keepers should understand before they keep a swordtail. Swordtail fish are seen to have been changing their colors. But why do swordtail fish change color?
The change in coloration in swordtail fish and other similar species occurs mainly due to stress or when they get older. Therefore, when your swordtails suddenly change color, you should be careful enough to take care of them, so they get to keep their beautiful vibrant colors.
Other reasons why swordtails might change or lose their color are genetic defects, diet, tank water conditions, and as such.
This article will discuss why swordtail fish change colors in detail and look for ways to prevent them.
Are Swordtail Fish Naturally Colorful?
Yes, Swordtail fish are bright and colorful by nature, but they can change color at any time.
Swordtails are naturally brilliant fish, so it’s not strange if their colors change from time to time. Their bright color, on the other hand, is what sets them apart from other fish!
Stress, nutrition, water conditions, lighting, and diseases can all influence the colors of a swordtail fish.
Do Swordtail Fish Change Color?
Swordtail fish come in a variety of colors and patterns. It will be a bummer if they lose all the colors that make them so unique and beautiful. But unfortunately, swordtail fish do change color.
Changing colors, losing colors, and going pale is acute sign of stress in swordtail fish. If you see your swordtail fish losing its color around its body, or if there is a change of color along the lateral lines of their tails and fins, then it might be that your fish is stressed.
However, if your tank is well-conditioned, the change in coloration might be a symptom of fish diseases.
Do Swordtail Fish Lose Color?
Swordtail fish’s sparkling color diminishes with time. Only about 5% of the natural color of male swordtails is retained.
Stress is the leading cause of your swordtails’ color loss. Your swordtails may become stressed as a result of poor water quality.
If you keep your swordtails with other fish, the other fish will almost certainly chase or nip at it. As a result of this, your swordtail’s color may shift and become agitated.
Other factors that cause the swordtail to lose its color include diseases and unsuitable water conditions.
Should You Worry If Swordtail Fish Change Their Color?
Any signs of paleness and change in colors and patterns of a swordtail fish are worrisome, and you should look into it.
It might stress out swordtail fish if their color changes due to sudden changes in water parameters, diet, or other environmental factors. Therefore, it would help if you were wary that changing color is a sign of stress and disease, and your swordtail fish needs proper care and treatment for it.
Swordtail fish changing colors is a clue to you that they are not happy in their home. It’s upon you to find out what the issue is, taking proper care of it. Please give them a saltwater bath, give them a proper diet, and consult a vet to help them get their colors back. This will also ensure that your swordtail fish are healthy and happy!
Why Are My Swordtail Fish Changing/Losing Their Color?
Many different reasons can amount to your swordtail fish losing or changing their colors.
Genes, stress, diet, water conditions, and inadequate lightings can all change your fish’s colors. It would help if you always kept a close eye on your fish’s health condition so that it doesn’t lead to untimely death.
Let’s look at those factors in detail:
Genetics
Genetics causes fish to change color. The only way to keep this under control is to produce fish with more appealing DNA.
Stress In Swordtails
Fish that are stressed lose their ability to ingest algae and cannot absorb nutrients via their skin. The fish will get pallid as a result of this, and they will finally die.
When a swordtail is agitated by an aggressive tank mate or by bad water conditions, its body produces more “Tyrosinase” enzymes. Tyrosinase causes the color of the fish to change.
Diet
Because they don’t obtain enough nutrients in their bodies, fish who aren’t provided a sufficient diet will change color. This is why it’s critical to feed your fish only high-quality, vitamin-rich food.
The Water Of Poor Quality
When water quality deteriorates, it can lead to various issues, including poor color, lack of appetite, and fin rot.
Pregnancy
When female fish are pregnant, their bodies change colors to prepare for delivery and protect the fry after they are born.
Inappropriate Lighting
If your tank contains a lamp that releases ultraviolet rays, your fish may lose their color, and it may never return.
Diseases
Diseases can cause fish to change color. As a result, new fish should always be quarantined before being added to your tank. If a fish becomes ill, the best course of action is to treat it according to the severity of the infection.
Abrasive Tank Mates
When you have aggressive fish in your tank, it can cause stress to the other, more passive fish, and if they are not removed immediately, it can lead to death. Also, having only one male in your tank is preferable because they will fight to the death for mating rights.
Substrate
If you utilize a non-inert substrate, the fish’s color will change, especially reds and yellows, which are hazardous. As a result, if you want your fish to stay healthy, you should always use an inert substrate.
Hormone Induced Colors
If you have two females in your tank and one of them is about to give birth, the other fish will start to change colors because her hormones are affecting her body.
Old Age
Aging is an inescapable phenomenon that affects all living things at some point. Your fish’s color will begin to fade as it grows older. As fish grow older, their color fades. This holds for humans as well.
Throughout their lifetimes, swordtail fish will change color. They start with brilliant solid colors that fade as they get older. That’s why they’ve dubbed “the poor man’s betta” by many hobbyists. Depending on how quickly they age, this process can take weeks or years.
Thus, these are some reasons that prompt your swordtail fish to lose its color.
How To Maintain And Regain The Colors Of Swordtail Fish?
If you see your swordtail fish slowly losing its color, or they seem paler than usual, you should look for the correct diagnosis right away. Timely treatment will help your swordtails regain their beautiful vibrant color.
Other than that, it would help if you always were careful about the environment swordtails are kept in so that you can easily maintain the colors until they get old.
You should maintain water conditions, keep the tank clean, feed them a nutritious diet, and add all items that a swordtail requires in its tank-like lots of plants and other equipment swordtails need.
Here are some ways in which you can help swordtail fish regain their colors:
Maintain Water Quality
It would help if you kept the tank clean to preserve ideal water conditions. This entails changing the water regularly, performing weekly minor 50 percent adjustments, and checking ammonia levels every other day to ensure they are at 0 ppm. You should also vacuum gravel with a siphon hose or remove visible debris from surfaces daily and wipe the glass now and then.
Maintaining water conditions by keeping the tank clean, performing weekly small 50 percent changes, checking ammonia levels every other day, vacuuming gravel with a siphon hose or removing visible debris from surfaces daily, and cleaning the glass once in a while can help your swordtail fish return to their vibrant color.
Feed Nutritious Food to Your Pets
It would be beneficial if you fed your swordtail fish nutritional food as well. For all phases of development, including fry or baby fish through adults, this entails a high-protein diet comprising live, frozen, and flake meals.
Adapt The Lighting
Changing the lighting, if necessary, is another approach to bring out the brilliance of their hues. Swordtails are naturally bright fish. Therefore they require at least medium-intensity light in their tank, which you may provide with the appropriate lighting fixture. If it doesn’t work, try changing the color of your aquarium gravel or ornaments, as long as it’s not harmful to them.
Upgrade To A Larger Tank
If your pet fish feel trapped and confined in a limited space, they may become stressed. Moving them to a larger tank will give them additional hiding spots and let them feel more at ease in their new home aquarium setting.
Eliminate Stress
Another technique to bring out their brightness is to remove as much stress from the mix as possible. This means only feeding them twice a day and not changing anything in the tank or touching their water.
Also, to prevent infections from spreading, avoid overcrowding your fish by leaving at least one inch of space between each fish and performing regular maintenance every other day.
Treat Swordtail Fish Diseases
The most excellent technique to bring out the brilliant hues of the swordtail is to address any disorders that are causing the shift. Diseases can cause your fish to appear ill, pale, or to change color. However, your swordtail’s natural color will return in no time if you treat it with drugs.
Peaceful Tank Mates
Making your swordtail’s tank mates nice and peaceful can also help bring out the colors. This is because stress causes fish to appear dull and sickly, which causes them to shift hues.
Add Plants And Decorations
Plants make an excellent addition to any aquarium or fishbowl! They serve as natural accents, bringing out the color in your swordtail. They’re also fantastic for reducing stress!
In such ways, you can bring back the vibrant colors in your swordtail fish. But, likewise, start early and follow these steps to prevent your swordtail fish from losing its color.
How Long Does It Take For A Swordtail Fry To Develop Their Color?
The length of time it takes for a swordtail fry to mature or exhibit color is unknown. Various circumstances influence the development of colors in swordtail fry, and individual fry may develop colors at different times.
A swordtail fry’s colors begin to develop when it is 1 to 6 weeks old. Around the age of four to six weeks, swordtails begin to display color. Depending on the strain, your swordtails will be fully colored by the time they reach the age of 8 to 10 weeks.
However, keep in mind that this time frame is not set in stone and varies depending on the fry and how the tank and water conditions are maintained.
FAQs
Here are some related questions on the vibrant colors of swordtail fish.
What To Feed Swordtail Fish And Fry To Help Them Maintain And Develop Colors?
There are a variety of healthy nutrients that can help you modify the color of your fish. Bloodworms, brine shrimp, daphnia, and other creatures are among them. Just be careful not to overfeed them or offer them too much food, as this will result in an abundance of waste that will compromise your water quality.
Does Color Define Gender In Swordtail Fish?
Yes, one way to identify a male swordtail from a female is by color. Male fish are more vibrant and beautiful than female swordtails.
Male fish may attract females by displaying vivid colors, flaring their fins to get the female’s attention, and even dancing! They use their brilliant colors to attract the female fish’s attention and make her want to mate with him.
Conclusion
Finally, swordtail fish are naturally colorful, and their color can change based on their surroundings. Hormones, infections, and other variables can all modify the color of a swordtail fish. To keep your fish looking their best, make sure you take good care of them.
We hope you found this blog post helpful, and be sure to come back for more excellent material like this!