Odd Behavior In Swordtail

[BettaBum873]

Ok first off, my tank stats are

size:10g
ph: 6.8
Nitrite: 0
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 10
temp: 76 degrees


Ok, one of my female swordtails has been acting strange. I noticed the other day that she was sitting at the bottom breathing heavily, her finns were clammped. She was acting like she was giving birth, but she kept acting that way for about 3 days but she was skinny and did not look at all pregnant, no gravid spots ect. So I quarantined her, by the next day she looked a million times better, she was breathing normal, her fins weren't clamped and she was swimming around quite happily. I couldn't see anything wrong with her. She was eating ect. So i put her back in the main tank and as soon as I did she went right back to sitting at the bottom and gasping for air with her fins clamped. All of the other fish are perfectly fine and my stats are good, so I have no idea what might be wrong with her! Please help!

 

[blitztidus]

Is there any other fish picking on her/ bullying her. That could be it. Watch the tank from a distant for about 10 minutes to a half an hour if possible to see if anything happens to her in the tank.

 

[BettaBum873]

Shes in a tank with 3 guppies (1 m 2 f) 2 platies (2 f) and 2 other swordtails (1 m 1 f) the male sword will chase her around a bit, but he spreads his aggresion between the 2 swordtail girls and the 2 platies. Plus I've had her with these same fish for 2 months now and she just started acting like this.

 

[blitztidus]

I would just keep her out of that tank for now until we find out what it is, it has to be water or the other fish ???

 

[dwarfgourami]

She is hardly under ideal conditions in that tank- a 10 gallons is too small for swordtails at the best of times (they're more like 30 gallon fish IMO), and here she is with a male she cannot escape should he decide to devote his attentions to her. The tank is also overstocked, looking at your fish list. Even if your filtration can cope, it still does not give her a lot of space to herself. Also, the ph is really on the low side for swordtails.

 

[blitztidus]

Sorry, missed that, Yeah, I would upgrade to a 20 g +

 

[BettaBum873]

Ok seriously, all of the fish are perfectly happy!! Last time I checked 8 fish isn't exactly overstocked expecially when the water stats are good, and out of those fish only 2 are males, not very agressive males. AND I have plenty of plants and hiding places for my females should the males become aggressive! Now, that stated. the problems with my female swordtail are a RECENT development. That tank has been up and stocked like that for months now.