Swordtail Hiding

[mrp3]

My pineapple swordtail is hiding near the bottom of my tank behind a plant and only eating the flakes that floats over there what does this mean?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

How big is the tank and what are your water parameters?

 

[mrp3]

It's a 29 gal and how do I tell water perimeters

 

[Dieses Madchen]

You used to breed but do not know how to check for ammonia and nitrites?

 

[mrp3]

I know how just don't know what you mean by ohhhhhh you meant test my water!!!!!!

Ok
Nitrites 5
Nitrites 0
Ammonia0.05 ppm
Ph 7.2
Temp 75F. 25C

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Well then he must be a shy fish, as your water parameters are good, so that rules out water quality affecting his behavior. How long have you had him> If you have not had him long, then he may still be adjusting to his new environment. If you have had him awhile and this behavior recently started, you may want to watch for possibly bullying

 

[mrp3]

Well when I first got him about 2mos 3wks ago he was the ruler of the tank but last week my other swordtail male marigold wag died and then he started right now he's swimming around a bit def more than when I posted this

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Was the other male "close" with him? Did they swim around together often and kind of "pal around?" He may be sad over the loss of his friend. I had a male platy die from broken heart when his lady passed away. He died a week after she did. I am in no way saying that your fish will die. I am just saying he could be depressed. Fish do have emotions

 

[mrp3]

Well actually the one that died I think died because this swordtail bullied him he is 3 inches and the other one was 1.5 I think the smaller the dead one was bullied by the larger because I always saw him nipping at him and when he died his tail had a bite out of it

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Well actually the one that died I think died because this swordtail bullied him he is 3 inches and the other one was 1.5 I think the smaller the dead one was bullied by the larger because I always saw him nipping at him and when he died his tail had a bite out of it

I guess he is just shy then. If he was the ruler of the tank though, and all of a sudden is hiding, something must have happen to stress him out. As for the one that died, fish do eat the bodies of dead fish if you do not remove the body fast enough.

 

[mrp3]

Well he's doing better now he's not hiding but not going around attacking people and he's swimming slowly so he's better