Killer Male Swordtail (Bullet)

[tetraguppy]

The other day I bought a black male swordtail. I bought him with a bristlenose catfish and he's killed almost all of my red swordtails! I noticed he was killing them in size order, whether it's male or female. My red swordtail tank is really healthy, and my fish in there only die of old age! I moved my remaining swords into my neon tetra community tank (they're only a little bigger than them, they're not fully grown) and I just bought 2 females who are bigger than him and come from the same shop. I usually have problems with bought and wild fish mixed together, so please help!

PS: to all you who think I'm a newbie, I'm not. I have 2 small empty tanks for quarantine and cleaning, and 2 main tanks. Oh, and I should mention this- If you want pics, I'll give them to you.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

What is your m/f ratio? It may be a dominance issue.

 

[tetraguppy]

It's not a dominance issue, there was 1 sickly male and 1 young one along with the black one, but he killed a female, and 2 males. I had heaps of females, in fact the day before i got him the oldest one died of old age. I just got 2 bigger pineapple females for him from his shop.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Maybe he is mental? I have never had aggression issue with my swordtails...i don't know what to tell you. I am sorry. You might take him back and try and get a more docile one.

 

[tetraguppy]

oh and the tanks are about 20-25 L. Filter, plants, rocks, I have beautiful tanks. the only problem is my community tank gets algae VERY quickly. I just put my catfish (aka bristlenose pleco) in there. She is a great cleaner.

NO refunds, but he was fine on his own, I was going to hi-fin platties or sharks, but
mom insisted on 2 big females he can't kill. BRB, I'm going to check on him.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

you tank is nowhere near big enough for sharks so its a good thing there, and it is barely big enough for swordtails. how many fish do you have?

 

[tetraguppy]

I just checked on him... he seems less mental. I've noticed that shop fish are bigger than pond fish. A similar problem happened when I owned guppies.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

How many fish do you have in this little tank. I swordtail should be in at least a 20g. You tank is about suitable for a betta and some snails. that is about it.

 

[tetraguppy]

Well my community tank has and odd 20 fish, but they're all VERY small...

Only have 3/4 fish in my swordtail tank now.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Way overstocked. what kind of fish?

 

[tetraguppy]

Oops, I forgot it was 20 GALLONS not 20 LITRES. Sorry for the mistake!

But so you know, I'll take a pic. I won't be too long, I promise.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Oh okay! You scared me there hahaha

 

[tetraguppy]

almost ready