swordtails

[conorandlucy]

needing some advice! we bought what we were told was a platty but he seems to have turned into a swordtail (! shop got it wrong) but trouble is he seems to be chasing everything in site - platties , dwarf gouramis and mollies all alike!
do we need to get a fellow swordtail for him to play with or look at removing him from the tank?

 

[Nyte]

How big is your tank?

If space allows it I would get 2 female swords to distract him.

If you don't have the space I would consider returning him. Fish that are bullied a lot are constantly stressed, which could lead to disease or death.

 

[DeepSeaFishin]

If there is other males in the tank, and if he is a male (check to see if he has a gonopodium), he will chase and attack the other males, usually there should be 1 swordtail male and about 3 females, im sure if you purchase about 3 females, he will start to leave the other fish alone. If not, take him back.

 

[paulthegreat]

Swordtails are usually quite mellow but if he has no girls to chase he may be lonely so as before get 2-3 females. Make sure they are females and full grown. It can take four to eight months before they change into males so do not buy a couple of juvenile swords since they are all females and still may change. If you have two male swordies then you are going to need at least five females to keep them a peace.