Bullying/breeding Swords

[fish-rookie]

A question on my swordtails:

I have six orange and black swordtails in my 180L tank. Just recently the females starting getting swollen bellies and with the water testing well and no other signs of trouble I assumed it was part of their breeding cycle i.e. swollen with eggs. About the same time the three males went from all being fairly equal and showing off to each other and the females, to the situation I have now: One male rules the roost, the other two hide in the plants all day long and instantly get chased back in if they venture out. I'm a little worried about the future health of the two males.

Is this something that will come and go or are the two males in need of rehousing etc?

Incidentally I noticed a single fry the other day, I assume it was a swordtail and I'm pretty sure its been eaten now along with any siblings it had.

F-R

 

[cichlid-mad]

i would rehome thwm 2 males or they could die

tyron

 

[dwarfgourami]

Livebearers should always be kept in a ratio of at least 2 females per male, as the males are so oversexed, and with swordtails sexual aggression runs so high that it is best to only keep one male per tank.