Swordtail fish are small freshwater fish that all aquarium hobbyists love. They might be small, but they are highly active and love to swim around the tank. Their exploration makes them fun to watch. But sometimes, you might notice that your swordtail fish isn’t as active as usual. So, why isn’t your swordtail fish moving?
There could be a few reasons. For example, diseases, pregnancy, stress, bad water parameters, bad tank mates, inadequate diet, sleeping, etc., can be the reason that your swordtail fish isn’t moving.
However, if your fish stays still without moving much in the tank even when the water is well-conditioned, and you have been providing sufficient nutrients, then I’m sorry to tell you, but your fish might also be dead.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about the reasons why swordtail fish stop moving, along with some measures to prevent it from happening.
Why Is My Swordtail Fish Not Moving?
The swordtail fish is one of the most popular aquarium species. If you have a swordtail fish tank, your primary concern maybe when they aren’t moving around much.
There are a few reasons why your swordtail fish isn’t moving, which I’ll go over in more detail below. However, before we go any further, I’d want to remind out that if your swordtail fish isn’t moving, you should check your water conditions first.
Read: How To Take Care Of Swordtail Fish
Bad Water Quality
The most common cause of fish lethargy is poor water quality. The swordtail fish likely stopped moving because it was confined in low oxygen levels or weak osmotic pressure. If this is the case, you should perform water changes as soon as possible and see how your pet fish reacts.
Diseases
Swordtails are easy to care for, although they are susceptible to a variety of diseases. Some of these diseases will cause the fish to stop moving and eventually die. If your swordtails have completely stopped swimming, you should check them for external parasites such as Ich or Fungus.
If the fish have white patches on them, they are most certainly infected with Ich. You can treat this disease by adding aquarium salt to your tank and increasing the temperature.
It’s also crucial to keep the water in your fish’s tank clean since diseases like fin rot can develop when the water contains too much ammonia.
Pregnancy
Pregnant swordtails often hide in the corner of the tank, so don’t be alarmed if your female looks like this. When they are resting on their side near the bottom of the tank, however, it is not a good sign because something may be amiss.
It would help if you examined your swordtail fish for a few minutes without disturbing it to figure out what’s wrong with it.
They may be about to go into labor and need a safe place to deliver. Or they could simply be taking a break.
Stress
Swordtails are vulnerable fish; therefore, be cautious when picking them up or touching them, as they can quickly become stressed and perish due to the shock.
Inappropriate Water Parameters
If your tank water parameters are not suitable, it may cause your swordtail fish to stop moving.
Water Temperature
Swordtails prefer water temperatures between 65 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Any higher or lower temperature than this is harmful to your fish, and they may slow their movements.
Ph Levels
Swordtails require a pH of seven to eight in their water. If the pH of your water falls below seven, your fish will become sick, and they will be less active.
Oxygen Deprivation
If your tank isn’t well-oxygenated, your swordtail fish will become lethargic. Low oxygen levels are dangerous to swordtail fish because they can suffocate if the concentration is too low for a lengthy period.
Ammonia Poisoning
Swordtails are fragile fish, so if your tank water has a high ammonia level, it’s likely that all of their bottom-dwelling companions, such as worms and snails, have died. If this is the case, you may notice that your water has a cloudy appearance.
Staying Away From Aggressive Tank Mates
Swordtails are friendly fish, although they don’t always get along with other fish with similar body shapes. As a result, it’s crucial not to keep the fish together with aggressive fish because the swordtail will constantly try to hide from them.
Incorrect Feeding
Swordtails are greedy feeders, and you must provide them with food daily, or they will starve to death. Make sure you don’t give them any human snacks, such as bread because this can hurt their digestive systems.
Sleep
It’s usual for swordtail fish to sleep in the bottom of their tank because they prefer to lay on the ground and rest every night, but if your swordtail is sleeping near or in a plant, it could be trying to hide from lousy tank mates, such as other species of fish.
Thus, this might be the reason why your swordtail fish might not be moving.
How To Deal With Inactive Swordtail Fish That’s Not Moving?
Here are some ways in which you can bring your happy and active swordtail fish back:
Make Water Changes
Water changes are the first step, as they will eliminate any excess pollutants from the tank and ensure that your osmotic pressure levels are where they should be for your fish’s health.
If it still doesn’t move after a couple of water changes, your swordtail fish may be suffering from anything more serious. For example, your pet could be in labor or suffering from a condition causing its lethargy.
Maintain Water Conditions
First, let’s talk about keeping water in good condition for swordtails. It would aid in maintaining PH levels between 77 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit (25 to 28 Celsius).
The tank’s osmotic pressure should be between 0.41 and 0.59 to keep your fish healthy and strong enough to give birth in a safe setting.
Although unnecessary, you can obtain an aerator for your tank to guarantee that enough oxygen is flowing into the water and that your pet’s gills are getting adequate oxygen. If there aren’t any bubbles in the tank, very little osmotic pressure will be able to get into the water, and your pet may get an osmotic shock.
Check And Treat Diseases
If your swordtail fish becomes ill, you must treat it for the disease it has acquired. You can use a broad-spectrum antibiotic to treat bacterial infections. However, you should be aware that some antibiotics are only effective against certain types of bacteria, so do your research before using one.
The last thing your pregnant pet fish wants during pregnancy and labor is a bully in the tank who will knock around and stress her out. If there’s anything else in the water with your pet, they may be causing problems as well.
The best thing you can do to ensure that your pet starts moving again is to keep it secure from danger and stress.
Oxygenate Your Tank
If the fish stops moving, you must oxygenate the water in the tank to help it survive. You may connect airline tubing to tubing that runs into your aquarium by using an air pump.
Because many bubbles rise from below to above, bursting as they reach the top of the tank, this will allow for more surface area in the tank. It’s crucial to keep the tubing away from any electrical equipment since it can catch fire.
If you don’t have sufficient ventilation, the air pump should not be placed directly up to the aquarium cover. This could result in carbon dioxide poisoning. Instead, to achieve the best results, set an air-stone near one of your tank’s corners.
Keep Friendly Mates
Finally, it’s critical to maintain positive tank relationships. You don’t want to add a new fish into your tank that will harass or nibble at your swordtail’s fins. This can create discomfort and illness in your pet, as well as halt their movement. The easiest way to avoid this problem is to ensure that any other fish you put in your aquarium will not bully your swordtail.
All types of pets must have pleasant company, especially when they’re ones you want to keep healthy! Maintaining proper movement throughout your pet’s life begins with keeping them happy in their surroundings.
Is Your Swordtail Fish Dead Or Just Not Moving?
It’s tough to tell whether your fish is dead or simply not moving due to stress or other circumstances. If the tip of your finger, for example, does not appear to terrify your fish and the fish reacts by moving away, likely, you have merely scared the fish.
If, on the other hand, your fish does not react at all or appears confused and lethargic, with its fins clamped against its body, you may have a problem on your hands.
FAQs
Which Part Of The Tank Do Swordtails Swim In?
Swordtail fish are active fish that wander around the tank all day, exploring various regions. They are middle-dwellers who prefer to hang around in the tank’s center. Healthy swordtails are mostly found actively swimming along the middle part of the tank.
Why Is My Swordtail Fish Staying At The Top Of The Tank?
If your swordtail is floating or staying at the top, it is unhealthy and requires medical attention right away. Swordtails remain at the top because they are worried or sick due to poor tank conditions, infections, or pregnancy.
Why Is My Swordtail Lying At The Bottom?
If your swordtail is lying motionless at the bottom of your tank, something is wrong with it, like disease, stress, fear, etc. It’s probably their death bed if your swordtail fish is at the bottom of the tank.
Conclusion
Your swordtail fish isn’t moving for a variety of reasons. So even though the water conditions appear to be okay, there is no guarantee that it will resume normal swimming behavior. Also, if ammonia levels in the tank become too high, you should check for infections or do a partial water change.
If you’re concerned that the situation is becoming more serious, do some study on common fish diseases and how to treat them before they get out of hand. This way, if something happens to your fish, you’ll be far better prepared to deal with the problem.