Perhaps they like swords more. Platies and swordtails are actualy quite different. Swordtails get larger for one, females can get to 5" in some cases, while platies average at about 1.5" with females being slightly larger. Platies come in the same hi-fin varieties but don't usualy have the fancy lyre tails of the swords or the typical male 'sword-tail' either. You also get slightly different variations between the two fish with not all the color varieties appearing in both. For example, you get coral blue platies and mickey mouse varieties that you are unlikely to see in pure swords. Similarly, solid black is much more common in swordtails. Then there's the behavioru aspect of the two fish - swordtails are a little more boisterous, males even spar with each other, while platies tend to be quite placid. Or the practical side - both will breed like mad but swords are capeable of producing a lot more fry due to their size. Platies also tend to be hardier fish though swordies can handle more aggression etc... There's plenty of differences to acount for why someone would preffer one over the other. Personaly, I like both. I do think swords are often more attractive or have a little more character but I also appreciate platies for their hardiness and adaptability. Both are lovely fish when kept in the right sort of tank.
As for what to get to fill in the top of the tank, I'd avoid hatchets as you have serpaes. Serpae are fin nippers/bullies while hatchets are prone to being the victims of nippers/bullies - you see the problem.
Some kind of danio would work better. There's also quite a wide selection of top-to-mid-dwelling tetras or rasboras to choose from if you'd preffer them.
i am actull thinking about them, hoe solid a lid do i need?
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