Suggestions for food to feed my swordtail fishes

[RainGamma]

I want to feed something else other than fish flakes for my swordtail fishes. I feel like just feeding them fish flakes isnt that good, could I feed them vegetables or anything like that?

 

[RainGamma]

Also do you guys think swordtail fish need an air pump? I got tons of plants in my tank, so I think its okay but I have one anyways. Just wondering if its fine to turn off at night

 

[GaryE]

I've been to swordtail streams, and the water is in constant movement. If you look at their shape, they are built for speed, and for water movement. A tank with no filtration is not good for them.

Do you have a filter, other than the air pump?

Foodwise, they like bugs. You can feed them a high quality bug bites type food. For veggies, no, but a tiny bit of algae or dried seaweed always worked here.

 

[RainGamma]

I've been to swordtail streams, and the water is in constant movement. If you look at their shape, they are built for speed, and for water movement. A tank with no filtration is not good for them.

Do you have a filter, other than the air pump?

Foodwise, they like bugs. You can feed them a high quality bug bites type food. For veggies, no, but a tiny bit of algae or dried seaweed always worked here.

Yes I have a filter

 

[sharkweek178]

Fluval Bug Bites are an excellent food.
Have you tried frozen foods? If you don't have an LFS, you can get them at any big box pet store. Your fish would probably love brine shrimp or bloodworms.
If you want to take it a step further, you could also try live foods. There are some very easy ones to cultivate. If you're in a warmer climate, all you need for mosquito larvae is some standing water. Fish go crazy for them (and as a bonus, you might find some live bloodworms too). Grindal worms are very easy. So are brine shrimp. You can feed baby brine shrimp directly to your fish or grow them out in a separate space. A lot of people cultivate daphnia or scuds. It's not as difficult as you might think.

 

[RainGamma]

Fluval Bug Bites are an excellent food.
Have you tried frozen foods? If you don't have an LFS, you can get them at any big box pet store. Your fish would probably love brine shrimp or bloodworms.
If you want to take it a step further, you could also try live foods. There are some very easy ones to cultivate. If you're in a warmer climate, all you need for mosquito larvae is some standing water. Fish go crazy for them (and as a bonus, you might find some live bloodworms too). Grindal worms are very easy. So are brine shrimp. You can feed baby brine shrimp directly to your fish or grow them out in a separate space. A lot of people cultivate daphnia or scuds. It's not as difficult as you might think.

I haven't tried frozen foods, but I do have dried bloodworms I can try to feed them.

 

[Ichthys]

I haven't tried frozen foods, but I do have dried bloodworms I can try to feed them.

Make sure you soak them first to reabsorb water.

 

[RainGamma]

I'm going to look into cultivating daphina or scuds, sounds interesting

 

[emeraldking]

I'm going to look into cultivating daphina or scuds, sounds interesting

Well, they're omnivores. So, greens and live food will be accepted by them.
About the movement in water. Most important is that they have water movement at the surface. There's no actual need for water flow in lower regions. But it won't hurt them either. If we look at swordtails from Xiphophorus hellerii (what breeding forms are), in the wild they live in shallow waters. Therefore, the water flow is in all layers of the water they live in. And as already stated by Gary, the bodyshape already tells you that they live in moving waters.
We can't say that this goes for all kinds of swordtail species in the wild. For there are some swordtail species that don't have a torpedo shape as a body.

 

[RainGamma]

Well, they're omnivores. So, greens and live food will be accepted by them.
About the movement in water. Most important is that they have water movement at the surface. There's no actual need for water flow in lower regions. But it won't hurt them either. If we look at swordtails from Xiphophorus hellerii (what breeding forms are), in the wild they live in shallow waters. Therefore, the water flow is in all layers of the water they live in. And as already stated by Gary, the bodyshape already tells you that they live in moving waters.
We can't say that this goes for all kinds of swordtail species in the wild. For there are some swordtail species that don't have a torpedo shape as a body.

Oh okay, well I set my air pump to the max and they don't seem to mind it. I have a lot of plants but sometimes I would see them gasp for air so I got an airpump. Also one question, how often should I be feeding my swordtail fish? They been surviving for quite a while with me just feeding them at night but maybe thats not so good.

 

[RainGamma]

Also is it fine to leave my air pump off at night? Gets pretty loud

 

[emeraldking]

Oh okay, well I set my air pump to the max and they don't seem to mind it. I have a lot of plants but sometimes I would see them gasp for air so I got an airpump. Also one question, how often should I be feeding my swordtail fish? They been surviving for quite a while with me just feeding them at night but maybe thats not so good.

Well, you should feed them when it's still light. If the lights are off, those fish can hit the rest stage and won't eat (there are exceptions that they will still seek for food during the dark). But when it's still light, they can digest their food better.

Also is it fine to leave my air pump off at night? Gets pretty loud

That shouldn't become a problem.

 

[Tyler777]

I want to feed something else other than fish flakes for my swordtail fishes. I feel like just feeding them fish flakes isnt that good, could I feed them vegetables or anything like that?

My swordtails love bloodworms, brine shrimps n zucchini. ALL my fishes from top swimmers middle area swimmers n bottom feeders eat the zucchini. I put a piece 3 to 4 inches long around 5 pm n by the morning is totally gone