Is Swordtail beginners fish? Can I keep Swordtail fish in a bowl?
Swordtails need simple care
because they can adapt to a variety of aquarium conditions. Swordtails are from
the same family as Guppy, Platies etc. They are livebearers, which means they
give birth to babies directly instead of laying eggs. Babies swim freely out of
the bellies of mothers.
Swordtails can adapt to a variety
of conditions & they don’t need special equipment. You can simply keep them
healthy. They can tolerate common mistakes usually made by beginners so
Swordtails are good for starters who have little or no experience of fish
keeping. However, like other freshwater fish, Swordtails have their own
requirements too.
How to setup an aquarium or bowl for Swordtail fish?
The initial consideration should
be to select an appropriate tank size for Swordtails. Usually aquarists suggest
a 15-gallon aquarium for Swordtail but if you want to keep multiple Swordtails,
then go for a 30-gallon or bigger aquarium. If you are keeping Swordtail fish in a bowl then you can choose a 10-gallon fish bowl for keeping few Swordtails. Swordtails are active fish &
they love swimming so if you provide a large open area, then they will appreciate
it. Aquarists usually keep Swordtails in community aquariums that contain
different types of fish due to the small size & peaceful nature of
Swordtails. Community tanks are large, & Swordtails live happily with other
peaceful freshwater fish. I have kept a few Swordtails in a 15-gallon fish bowl, & they started breeding so I shifted the babies to a separate tank. My Swordtails performed well in a bowl because I offered them plantation with enough open area for swimming in a 15-gallon fish bowl. Swordtails love plants, & they hide in them when they are stressed.
Lifespan of Swordtail:
The average lifespan of Swordtail
is from 3 to 5 years. If you keep your Swordtail in ideal conditions, then it
can live a longer life.
Swordtail fish like aquatic plants:
In the wild, Swordtails like
living in streams with heaps of aquatic plants. Swordtails like abundance of
aquarium plants, & plants can help filter waste, leftover food & other
debris in Swordtail aquarium. Aquatic plants absorb CO2 produced by fish &
provide oxygen for fish during the day. Swordtails need hiding spots & they
love to hide in aquarium plants. When Swordtails are hiding, they are not
stressed. If there are no or less hiding spots in the aquarium, then your
Swordtail will be stressed.
Add a filter to the Swordtail fish tank:
Swordtails also need a filter
that wipes out fish waste as well as other detritus. New fish keepers should
consider adding a filter in their aquarium as the filter traps solid debris
particles that would otherwise rot & release ammonia. Another role of
filters is to remove ammonia & other toxic chemicals from the water using
biological filtration media. I have setup a power filter in my bowl that keeps it clean. Swordtails are small fish so they do not make big mess like bigger fish.
Add a heater to the Swordtail fish tank:
Swordtail fish need to be kept
ideally in warm water that has a temperature range between 65 °F – 82 °F. In
the wild, Swordtail fish live in warm streams. A heater is mandatory for
Swordtail if you are living in a cold region. You can avoid a heater if your
area temperature is within the ideal temperature range for Swordtail or if you
have setup your aquarium in a warm room. I have used a heater in my bowl as Swordtails are tropical fish, & they need warm water for survival.
Water Parameters for the Swordtail fish tank:
- Temperature Range: 65 °F – 82 °F
- pH Range: 7.0 to 8.4 (little alkaline)
- Hardness: 12 - 35 dGH (very hard)
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