Swordtail Dietary Needs.

[Eines]

I have two swordtails and I'm wondering what to feed them. I currently feed them frozen bloodworms every few days and fish flakes the rest of the time. I also give them frozen algae, frozen beef heart, fresh veggies and daphnien every now and then. I'm not sure how great this diet is though. Some places say swordtails need more greens, while others suggest more meat. Are there any experienced swordtail keepers out there with some tips?

 

[helterskelter]

Beef heart is to rich for them so i would not feed that, but every thing else is fine.
Live foods are best and greens, if you can feed newly hatched brine shrimp this is the best stuff u can feed.

 

[Eines]

thanks. Do you have to culture your own brime shrimp to do that, or can you buy freshly hatched ones right at the store?

 

[helterskelter]

You need to buy the eggs from a LFS or off ebay, and hatch them in a brackish water mix and a strong air mix.
You then have to syphone the hated shrimp off after 24 hours, you firstly turn off the air and leave to settle for 3-4 mins. unhatched and hatched eggs float and the hatched shrimp move towards the light and usually on the bottom.
How ever you will always get some eggs in the mix but if feed to much of this it can lodge in the stonach and kill smaller fry. However most livebearers are fine with it.

 

[Eines]

Okay, thanks, I'll give it a whirl!