Sword Tail

[XeroTolerance]

Hello everybody. I was wondering if I could keep 1 Velvet Wag Sword Tail in my 10 gallon tank. I will have 5 Flame Tetras, 1 Ghost Shrimp, and 2 Mystery Snails. Will it be overstocked? If not would a male be okay. I wouldn't want a female because of fry.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Louiseness]

I wouldn't, they get over 4 inches, plus they're fast swimmers and jumpers.

 

[Fishy friend2]

I agree

 

[XeroTolerance]

What if I were to add one Red-Wag Platy? Would that be okay? If not, do you think I would have room for two?

 

[Louiseness]

A platy would probably be more suitable, since they're half the size. But I don't really know how suitable they are for keeping alone. Hopefully someone else in one of your earlier platy threads will know.

 

[XeroTolerance]

I think I'll add one platy first. If its lonely I'll get a second one. Someone on my previous thread said I would have enough room. Should I get two males or two females?

 

[minnnt]

2 females would be fine i reckon, but you probably stand the chance of them already being pregnant...

 

[XeroTolerance]

Would two males be fine or would they fight? I hear females can store the males fertilizer for over 6 months. They could even get pregnant on that many times.

Thanks for your help.

 

[minnnt]

You would probably be ok, but i reckon i would get two females just to be on the safe side and let nature take its course if any fry does appear.

 

[XeroTolerance]

Good point. There are plenty of spots to hide in my tank ( The hollow tree trunk). I guess the survival of the fittest will be the ones who live. I just don't know what to do with the fry who live though. The only fish store in my area is a Petsmart and they don't take fry or anything.

 

[minnnt]

Advertise them for sale locally, even if it's for next to nothing or free, at least you get the experience of breeding them and watching them grow up.

I had moved away from breeding live bearers, but have recently brought a trio of Platy's, so will see what comes from them. Not expecting to keep them, but i will probably wimp out just before she pops and put her in the fry trap.

 

[XeroTolerance]

I might just keep one of them but I don't think I'll have the nerve to choose one and let the rest die. If my platy is pregnant should I put her in a fry trap or is she fine giving birth normally. Do you think the flame tetras will bother her?

I know the flame tetras will keep the fry numbers down.

 

[minnnt]

I wouldn't have thought so. Fish sometimes sense what is happening so will follow her around hoping for a free meal. I always say that i am just going to leave them this time... Then i put her in the trap at the last minute.