Meet the Swordtail Fish! Here’s How to Keep Them in Real Life
It’s no surprise how swordtails got their name! That long tail fin makes these wet pets some of the most popular fish you’ll find at the pet store, and that’s not even the best part. Swordtails come in a wide range of colors, including green, yellow, orange, red, and sometimes even combinations! Swordtails are easy to keep in an aquarium. Here’s everything you need to know about how to take care of them:
Step 1: Set Up Your Swordtail Aquarium
You’ll need an aquarium that’s at least 20 gallons to make sure your swordtails have enough space to live and explore. Before buying any fish, here’s what you’ll need to set up your aquarium:
- Aquarium heater: Check the box before buying a heater to make sure it’s strong enough to heat up the size of your aquarium.
- Aquarium thermometer: Most aquarium thermometers have a suction cup that sticks to the inside of the aquarium.
- Filter: A filter helps keep the aquarium water clean, and many aquarium kits come with one.
- Fish food: Flakes will do.
- Gravel: Ask your parent or guardian to wash the gravel before adding it to your aquarium.
- Gravel vacuum: This tool will help you remove gunk from your tank and keep the water clean.
- Plastic plants: Swordtails come from tropical pools, and giving them some plants will help them feel more at home. You can also add aquarium decorations!
- Water conditioner: Available in a bottle, this liquid helps make tap water safe for fish.
After your tank is set up, it’s time to fill it with water. With an adult’s help, use a pitcher or hose to fill the aquarium with tap water that’s about 77°F. (Water that’s too hot or cold can make your fish sick.)
Step 2: Add Your Swordtails to the Aquarium
Once you pick out some swordtails at the pet store, you’ll need to “float” them in your aquarium. Your fish will be given to you in a sealed plastic bag filled with water, and you should place this bag in your aquarium as soon as you get home. This will help your swordtails get used to your tank’s water temperature. After 15 to 20 minutes, gently untie the bag and let your fish swim into the aquarium—their new home!
Step 3: Take Care of Your Swordtails
Swordtails are usually very strong and healthy fish. As long as you follow the steps below, you’ll be helping them live happy lives!
Daily Jobs
- Feed your fish: Only give your swordtails as much as they can eat in 30 seconds. (Overfeeding can make them sick.)
- Check the temperature: Make sure the aquarium water stays around 77°F. If it gets too cold, your aquarium heater can help raise the temperature.
- Monitor your fish: If you see white spots on the body, sores, or faded color, your fish may be sick and might need some medicine from the pet store.
- Turn the aquarium lights on/off: Fish generally need 8 to 12 hours of light each day.
- Inspect the equipment: Make sure your filter is running and the lights are working. If something is wrong, ask an adult for help.
Monthly Jobs
- Vacuum the tank: Fish waste and uneaten food build up in every fish tank over time! With some help from an adult, follow the instructions on your on your gravel vacuum to remove this gunk.
- Refill the water: Draining some water and replacing it with fresh water can help keep your fish from getting sick. Once you finish vacuuming the tank, ask an adult to help you refill the water with a bucket or hose. You’ll need to use a water conditioner to make the water safe for fish. Just follow the instructions on the bottle!
- Replace the filter cartridge: Most aquarium filters contain cartridges that remove junk from the water, and they generally need to be replaced once a month.
Step 4: Find Friends for Your Swordtails
If you have a big enough tank, you can give your swordtails some friends—or as we like to call them, tankmates! Here are some great freshwater fish to keep with swordtails:
- Angelfish
- Mollies
- Platies
- Zebra danios
Swordtails Are Fin-tastic Pets!
Swordtails look awesome in groups, and they love to swim around in the middle of the tank. Whether you want to keep swordtails on their own or mix them in with some other great fish, they’re lots of fun to watch!
