Swordtail

[bigfish]

hi

I bought a orange male Swordtail and a female from the same tank a week ago, the female is fine but the male still isn't eating any of the food that i put in the tank, I'm beginning to wondered whats up with him. He appears to be healthy good colour, fins all erect and not clamped in any way. He tries to eat the flakes that i put in but all he does is spit them out and swims off. He usually stays at the back of the tank and looks at himself in the reflection of the glass.

I noticed today that he has some kind of red markings (not spots as such abit like streaks) on his top dorsal fin which i don't think is part of his make up. He looks really sorry for himself.

I have checked water chemistry and it is zero ammonnia and nitrite and .5 nitrate and PH is 7.6 everyone else is 100% in the tank.


So why aint he eating? i have tried flakes, algae disc's and blood worm but just isn't interested.

 

[Alien Anna]

If he's refusing bloodworms he must be sick Sometimes the stress of transport can let infection in. Have you got salt in there? You definitely should add some if you can, plus I'd add some Melafix. Keep an eye on the temperature - it should be warm enough to be comfortable for him, but not too hot.

The significant thing about the tank parameters are not so much that they look OK for his species on paper, but how do they differ from the LFS? Sometimes even putting a fish from dirty water into clean water can stress them out (ungrateful piscians!). If there's one thing fish hate, it's change. Also, fish can be injured during transit.

Is it likely that anything is biting him? Keep an eye on his tankmates to see if anyone's having a go. Not eating is a natural way fish reduce the stress on their bodies when sick and he can go a long time without food (unlike we warm blooded mammals). Make sure he's got some plants or whatever to hide in, so he can rest without fear of predators (yes, I know there aren't any, but fish aren't that bright).

 

[lordmoose]

I wouldnt worry too much. Most of my livebearers take large amounts of food then spit out a load cos they've (excuse the pun) bitten off more than they can chew.

Ph sounds about right for swords, but I'd try and lower your nitrate a bit (damn hard I know mines always hovering just above zero).

I agree with anna on the biting...could be a cause of the red marks.

 

[bigfish]

well i have seen him beening nipped by the other male sword i have. As i have 2 males and 2 females because i bought them from two different shops and came as pairs.

Do you think i should move him to another tank to see if it brings him out of his shell a little.

As i have seen him eat anything and is really jumpy to be honest. i picked him as he has fabulous finnage, has like long feelers underneath his body. He just stares into the glass like as he wish he was back at the shop.

 

[lordmoose]

It might be a good idea to put him in a hospital tank for a while.

If I were you I'd add more females, that may well stop the nipping. With livebearers you should always keep more females than males.

 

[bigfish]

Ok i will done that, do i need to add any meds at all, or do you think it will be ok without?

 

[lordmoose]

I dont add meds unless Im pretty sure of the problem but some metafix might help.

 

[devinf]

I'm with lordmoose... add a few more females or move one of the males to another tank.

I've always had luck with a 2 or 3 female to 1 male ratio. It really did help in keeping the fighting and nipping down...

Devin

 

[bigfish]

Ok thanks i have found out what was bothering him, his sword and abit of his bottom fin has a tiny bit of fin rot on it, so i have just added some Interpet Anti-fungus and fin rot treatment to the tank.