Single Swordtails

[@ombomb]

Do Swordtails mind being the only fish of their kind in a community?

I inherited a single male from a friend of mine and it's really proving to be a pest. It tries to eat EVERYTHING that comes anywhere near it, flakes and bloodworms are fair enough but earlier it was bothering my dwarf gourami. Not in an agressive way, just the way it might try and nibble a leaf that floats past it. The gourami didn't seem too worried as it wasn't being chased, just followed.

I have decided that this fish will be rehomed this weekend, when I'm going to the fish shop anyway, but was curious about wether all swordtails are as greedy as this, if I just have a particularly hungry one or if it's because he's on his own.

Other than that, I'll file under the "Extremely Dull" section along with the Platties I had when I first had a tank. Eat, poo, eat & poo, poo, eat, poo, eat & poo, eat, poop etc etc...

 

[wrs]

livebearers males are like that. If you got 2 girls for him he may settle down.

 

[Polardbear]

He's probably lonely and would be a totally different fish with some female companionship. As for "Extremely Dull", what do you expect from your fish? He's not going to sing and tap dance but I find my swordies to be quite entertaining.

 

[Jen21]

I agree that he needs a few females, he might be more happier

 

[thrdwatchfan]

He definately needs friends of his own kind... That's probably why you think he's dull
I know mine are great to watch

 

[@ombomb]

Well then he should be much happier once he's nicely homed at the fiish shop. I just don't find it an interesting fish, it doesn't seem to have much of a personality, unlike my Shark and my Gouramis, which I could sit and watch for hours.

 

[cheekeyarab]

I have a male swordie called Fly and am replying on his behalf because he is most offended.
He is a beautiful fish. Okay so he doesn't fly around the tank like my batty gold zebra loach does but he is a fantastic fish anyway.
He is one of the most graceful and elegant fish I have ever seen and his tail is starting to grow now which is very exciting. I thought he might get grumpy with the others as he got older but he is the perfect community fish in there, the best of them all in fact.

Realise this is my opinion but just had to defend my baby!

 

[@ombomb]

I'm sure that they're not all as anti-social as the one I have and actually feel quite sorry for it as it's fully grown and the last remaining survivor of a group of 6 swordtails.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Funny the way different people react differently to fish's personalities.

I have always found platies (and the maligned guppies) the most engaging fish I've kept because of the way they go around exploring every nook and corner of the tank, and always come up to the glass to investigate if someone comes near. They even nibble my fingers when I do things in the tank. But then I keep quite an interesting tank for them with plenty of things to swim into and under and round, so that does make it more fun to watch.

Swordtails I did find less engaging, but realise now it was because I kept them under less than ideal conditions: too small a tank (2 feet, 60 ltrs) to give them much swimming room, and the male could probably have done with two females (I had this idea about pairs). Can't remember any actual problems though, just a vague feeling that something was not perfect. When I can afford a bigger tank, I shall try again.

Then again, this has got to be a personal thing to some extent, too: I have to confess (after which I shall leave the country under an assumed name) that I was never that keen on our betta. Don't think there was anything wrong with him or the way he was treated; we just never hit it off. I have a problem with fancy godlfish too.

 

[Angry_Platy]

As for "Extremely Dull", what do you expect from your fish? He's not going to sing and tap dance but I find my swordies to be quite entertaining.

Swordies are not boring, not mine anyways. I like them a lot that I have been considering converting my 75gal cichlid tank to a swordie tank/shrine