It is a well-known fact that swordtail fish reproduce like crazy. Swordtails can give birth to 100 fry at a single time, conceive every three to four months. This tells us that swordtails give birth to thousands of babies in their lifetime. Moreover, we also know that swordtail fish eat their babies. But, will other fish eat baby swordtails?
Yes, many other fish in your community tank will eat baby swordtails without hesitation. Swordtail fry is tiny, weighing about 0.25 inches at birth. So, any other fish will see baby swordtails as a live food source and chase them to feed themselves.
Much predatory community fish like Betta, Angelfish, Gouramis, Mollies, Platies, etc., will happily devour swordtail fry along with the parent swordtails themselves.
This can be a good thing and a bad thing. Swordtail fish overpopulate the tank very quickly. Hence, if you are not looking into breeding swordtail fish, these fry-eating fish can be beneficial to reduce the fish population. On the other hand, it will be hard to save your fry from these fish if you are a serious breeder.
This article will learn why other fish will eat baby swordtails, control the swordtail population, and save the fry from falling prey.
Will Other Fish Eat Swordtail Fish?
Yes, almost all fish in your community tank will eat your swordtail fry. Swordtail fry looks like the perfect meal for all fish in your community tank. They are tiny, perfectly fit into the mouth, and look like live food that a fish can devour within seconds.
Fish like Bettas, Angelfish, Pufferfish, Guppies, Mollies, Platies, Goldfish, etc., will eat your swordtail fry. If you want to save a swordtail fry and breed them into adults, make sure to keep the fry separated from the main tank.
Why Do Other Fish Eat Baby Swordtails?
Swordtail fish makes a beautiful community fish because of their peaceful temperament. However, community tanks can turn out to be the worst nightmare for innocent baby swordtails.
Other fish in the tank prey upon swordtail fry because they are a good source of protein beneficial for their health.
Another reason why swordtail fry fall prey to other fish in the tank is “survival of the fittest,” along with fish’s trope of eating whatever fits in their mouth. Swordtail fry is weak and cannot swim around correctly. So, any fish will naturally try to eat these innocent creatures.
What Fish Will Eat Baby Swordtails?
Here’s a list:
Bettas
Bettas are territorial fish and can be very aggressive. You can keep swordtails together with bettas, but the fry isn’t safe in the tank.
Angelfish
Angelfish are not considered the best tank mate for a swordtail fish because they are bigger, naturally devour tiny swordtail fry.
Pufferfish
Pufferfish are aggressive and territorial. So, keeping swordtail fry in the same tank will be a suicide mission.
Other Livebearers
Livebearers are fish that give birth to live babies. But, unfortunately, they lack parental instincts and end up eating their offspring. So, it is evident for any live-bearing fish like guppies, mollies, and platies to eat baby swordtails.
How To Save Swordtail Fry From Other Fish?
All bigger fish will try to eat the tiny baby swordtails. There are some ways in which you can save the swordtail fry. They are as follows:
Separate The Swordtail Fry
The best option would be to separate the swordtail fry into a separate aquarium until they are big enough to fend for themselves.
You can shift the pregnant swordtail into a breeding tank so that they can peacefully give birth to tiny fry in a separate tank where they are free from all predators.
Separating the fry can also be a great advantage as you can look after the fry closely, which will help them grow quickly.
However, if you wish to keep them in the primary tank, here are some ways that can help them survive:
Avoid Aggressive Fish
In a community fish where swordtails stay, you should not add aggressive fish. Swordtail fish have a peaceful temperament and will hate to live with predatory animals under constant stress.
Aggressive predatory Ffishwill chase and kill your baby swordtails, so you should not keep swordtail fry with predatory Fish like Barbs, Sharks, etc.
Add Hiding Spots
Another preventive measure would be to add a lot of hiding spots in the tank. Swordtail fry would love a densely planted tank because it provides them a haven from deadly predators.
Along with living plants, you can also use fake ones, driftwoods, air stones, shells, and rocks to hide from adult fish when threatened.
How To Control Swordtail Population?
Swordtail fry reproduces like crazy, so they certainly overpopulate the tank in a short time. So, keeping predatory Ffishthat eat swordtail fry can be a good thing. The bigger Ffishwill help you control the tank population if you are not looking into breeding baby swordtails.
Another way you can avoid overpopulation in a swordtail tank is by separating male swordtails and female swordtails so that they cannot mate.
What Fish Won’t Eat Baby Swordtails?
Although almost all Ffishwill is happy enough to prey upon baby swordtails, some fish will not trouble your swordtail fry.
The Fish that are less likely to eat baby swordtails are Corydoras, Catfish, Kuhli Loach, Chinese Algae Eaters, etc.
FAQs
Can Swordtail Fry Survive In The Main Tank? How To Keep Them Alive?
Swordtail fry could survive in the main tank if you look after them closely. Some swordtail fry are born strong and can survive in the main tank.
Moreover, giving them proper hiding spots, the best water quality, a nutritious diet, and unaggressive tank mates will help them stay alive.
What Does A Swordtail Fry Look Like?
Swordtail fry is tiny and measures about half an inch long. They are transparent and grey at birth and slowly start to develop colors after six to eight months.
The sexes aren’t separate, and they lack a tail. Instead, they gain all these features as they grow on to become juveniles.
Also Read: Swordtail Fish Growth Stages
Conclusion
If you want to breed swordtail babies, it is best to keep them away from aggressive adult fish because they will eat them. However, if you are not a severe breeder and overpopulation in a swordtail tank is a problem, many Ffishthat will help you solve it.
You should always look after your pets and keep them happy and thriving in your tank no matter the situation.
I hope this article helped you understand if your baby swordtails are safe or beneficial in the habitat you have provided for them. Feel free to comment in case of any queries.
