swordtails

[sweetdest]

Does anyone here know how to take care of swordtails? I cant keep mine alive longer than 3 months dont know what im doing wrong.

 

[OrangeCones]

If you could provide more information, we can try to help you pin down the possible problems.

What sized tank are they kept in? What fish (number and type) live in the tank?

Is the tank cycled? What are the readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?

 

[sweetdest]

Its a 55g tank & it has 6 or 7 swordtails,2 platys, 1 giant danio, 4 von rio tetras, 1 albino tetra & 2 loaches. My fiance changes 20 to 25% of the water every 2 wks. We can get tetras & giant danios to live for 2 or 3 yrs but can only get the swordtails to live 3 months i dont get it. Do i need to b changing their water more often?

 

[OrangeCones]

You never said what your readings are for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Those readings will dictate how often you should be changing the water.

 

[sweetdest]

Dont know what they were when we got them tested @ the fish store all she asked was how are your other fish cause the nitrates were a little high. Ive noticed when we get our water tested either its fine or the nitrates are a little high

 

[OrangeCones]

Please find out what the numbers are instead of 'fine' or 'a little high.' The best thing to do would be to get your own test kit.

I don't know how to help you with the information provided. Swords are very hardy fish and I don't know why they would be constantly dying. Some of the more 'inbred' fish (special colors, shapes, etc.) are less hardy than the normally produced fish. I don't know what kind of swords you have had, ratio of male/female, etc.

 

[sweetdest]

My fiance says hes gonna get a test kit, hes the one that takes the water to petsmart to get tested & he always tells me the water is fine nothings too high that its gonna kill the fish, i dont know. Ya my guess is they're inbred fish, cause i always like to get the pretty colors. Well i usually have 2 or 3 males & id say 6 or 7 females.