Trouble Keeping Female Swordtails Alive

[Nicomarie]

Hi all, this is my first post on here but I always come on when needing some advice. On this occasion I can't find what I need.
I just can't seem to keep female swordtails alive in my tank for more than a few weeks.
Stats are good ammonia 0 nitrite 0 nitrate 10 ph 6.8-7.2 temp 26 (using dip sticks for testing).
Fish
5 cherry barbs
3 Tigre barbs
5 penguin tetra
4 phantom tetra
4 mollies
1 male swordtail
30g planted (all unknown) tank fishless cycle then running 11 months with fish.

Other than f swordtails no new fish since Nov 13 and no deaths/disease/illness since Dec 13 (2 Tigre barbs unknown cause).

My male swordy is very shy and stays hidden unless feeding, the only other thing that brings him out is the girls but I just keep losing them 9 in total. I bought him in Oct(ish) with 3 fems , the girls all died one after the other over a week so in Nov I bought another 3 fems within a month again one after the other all dead. Then a week ago I thought I'd give it another shot, bought them on Fri, Sat morn first one dead, Mon second then today Thurs last one gone. Each occasion bought from different stores. Each one of them hogged the surface gasping before they reached their ends no other visible signs of issue.
What could be going on here?

 

[attibones]

Gasping at the top sounds like a water quality problem. Can you use a liquid test kit? They are far more accurate than the strip tests.
 
You're also really stocked.
 
I, personally, wouldn't put a tiger barb in anything under forty gallons. With only three, they are likely bullying some of the fish or do it while you aren't looking. Cherry barbs are very active, and while they aren't nippy, they do occupy the same space as both species of tetras which really need larger schools. But with the four mollies and swordtails, that is a lot of fish for one tank. If you cycled your tank, the ammonia itself shouldn't be an issue, I would just worry about the problems which occur with overcrowding. 

 

[Nicomarie]

Thanks for the info, I do agree I'm quite full up but everyone in there seem to be happy and like I said there's no health issues or water quality issues. Tigre barbs were really feisty when in bigger group (there was 6 when tank was first done) but they just keep together and mind there own business and I don't think there is any bullying going on nobodies nervous of them and there's no sign of war wounds.
It still doesn't explain though why I have problems with just female swordtails.

I would like to change to liquid tests but there just so expensive...something I might just have to save up for

 

[attibones]

You can find them at a fair price on the internet. 
 
Do you have any females in the tank currently? I wouldn't add any more to the tank. Fry would not be the best thing for your tank I fear.
 
Oh, almost forgot. Welcome to the forums!

 

[vespabloke27]

i would check the water parameters..
 
 
maybe try an air line if not already got one?..

 

[rms]

everyone in there seem to be happy

 
 

My male swordy is very shy and stays hidden unless feeding,

 
This doesn't sound like a very happy sword tail to me. Agree with attibones that the stock is a bit high and to me your best bet is to find a way to move your tiger barbs on. Probably not what you want to hear, but they are not suitable both in the number you have and the size of your tank... 

 
Also agree that you really do need a liquid test kit. Strips do not give a correct reading. The cost is well worth it.
 
As for the females dying I have no clue, sorry. 

 

[Nicomarie]

Fish herder... No, no female swords in there and I don't plan on getting any more for a long while, but when the day comes I would like to know if I'm forever going to be wasting money.

Fish fanatic... Before posting I tested water and the results are in my 1st post, I have an air pump running also.

Fish crazy... I've wanted to rehome the tb for a long time but haven't had much luck, and now they are a lot bigger it's even harder, I'm looking for a 75g tank atm, 2nd hand so it's just a waiting game for one nearby to appear on one of the various sites, until then my options are to leave all as is or move someone/something to 20 litre QT tank.

 

[the_lock_man]

It could be that the tiger barbs are nipping at him. A combination of that plus the stress of living in a an envrionment similar to a rush-hour bus could be the problem.
 
It would also be interesting to know how hard your water is. You say pH is around neutral (7.0), although I'd be happier if this were conducted using a liquid test, same as with the ammonia/nitrite/nitrate tests. (Paper strips are notoriously unreliable, and you may have an issue with water quality without knowing it.) Livebearers need hardwater, their bodies need to absorb some of the minerals from hardwater, and if your water is soft, the fish can't get those minerals and so suffer. Having said that, the same applies to mollies too, which you don't appear to have a problem with.
 
Interesting one. I'd strongly suggest getting your water tested by your LFS (assuming they use liquid tests) and get them to write down the values (not just say "Yeah, that's fine), then post the results back on here.

 

[Nicomarie]

I've ordered API freshwater master test kit hopefully should be here in mornings post. Will post results ASAP

 

[rms]

Would an LFS take them as a donation? Or maybe Ebay (collection only)? Sorry if these ideas have already been tried. 
 
Nice one on the test kit 

 

[Nicomarie]

Quick update!! My test kit eventually turned up TODAY! My readings were spot on ammonia 0 no2 0 no3 10 ph 7.4.
Since last wrote I have rehomed the tb's, 2 mollies and a pair of the phantoms & as suggested the tbs must have been causing trouble as my male swordy is out and about all the time. I will be holding off for quite some time before getting him a couple of girlfriends maybe never if he's now happy.
Thanks for the help getting my tank in a happier state