more swordtail questions!

krish

all right, about 10 days ago, i posted a thread about swordtails in my 29 gallon tank. most people recommended about 3 females and 1 male. Will this already fill my 29 gal tank? i was planning to have a bushnose catfish, neon tetras(8), 2 kribs, and a number of swordtails, but I'm not sure...help!

MinaMinaMina

There are some problems. Stocking wise, you're maybe a little high. Not too bad if you're planted, never miss a 50% weekly water change, have peaceful fish, and are heavily decorated... BUT then you have a fish that gets really aggressive when spawning. So in already tight quarters, this could be big trouble. The genders on your Swordtail fish are fine, if you don't mind fry. But you're mixing soft water fish (like the Neon Tetra) with hard water fish (like the Swordtail), and this can be terrible. Good for you for taking the initiative and learning about your critters!

Byron

I concur. Swordtails are basic medium hard water fish so I would keep them on their own. As noted in our profile, they will attain 4-5 inches, and that is a fair size. A small group of swordtail in a 29g is going to fill it. Some substrate fish would work, perhaps a Whiptail Catfish, or one of the common (meaning tank-raised species) cory in a grop of 5.

Byron.

krish

so just to make sure... the 4 swords will practically fill my tank up so i can't put anymore in? that sucks. i thought swordtails were pretty cool.