Manic male swordtail

[fatguppy]

My son has a 16 UK gallon/72 litre tank with 3 swordtails (1 male, 2 females), 3 cherry barbs (same gender ratio), 3 rosy barbs (same gender ratio), 4 corys (differing types).

His male swordtail has taken to some odd behaviour. We also have a tank with swordies so are used to the "normal" behaviour of swordtails. This one of my son's has taken to hurtling around the tank at speeds not seen before, dashing up to the top and splashing, and generally behaving in a manic fashion. He continues to pester his females as normal and they appear to be unstressed and acting as normal.

All other fish are behaving as normal. Water parameters are good - 0 nitrites/0 ammonia/10 (approx) nitrates. Temperature is stable.

Apart from this all fish are eating normally. Fed on mixtures of flake/frozen bloodworm/frozen daphnia etc.

As I said, we also have a tank and I can honestly say I haven't seen this behaviour in any fish particularly something as relatively peaceful as a swordtail.

He aslo has no signs of any disease and the tank has been happily cycled for 4 months.

Any suggestions welcome.
Is he just horny?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Swordtails can be realy skittish fish somtimes, if he is new he may just be settling in, but if he isn't i would just take is as part of his personality; i would just make sure there is plenty of planting in the tank and no sharp ornements/rocks that he could bump into and hurt himself on

 

[fatguppy]

Well he has been in there for about 3 months and it appears to be new behaviour - however, of course he may be maturing as he was only small when he was purchased. oln enough to have a sword however, but I take your point and we'll keep an eye on him. Thanks