For both novice and experienced aquarium keepers, breeding black swordtails can be a thrilling and fulfilling experience. These vibrant, lively fish are a popular choice for home aquariums because of their eye-catching appearance and active lifestyle. But you’ll need to be aware of a few essentials if you want to breed them effectively.
It’s essential to comprehend their requirements for good breeding. Every element contributes to your fish’s wellbeing, from providing the correct kind of food to setting up the perfect habitat. You can take pleasure in seeing your black swordtails flourish and proliferate in your aquarium with a little perseverance and the appropriate methods.
In this piece,
In an aquarium, raising black swordtails needs a good environment, healthy food, and careful attention to detail. Give them a balanced diet of premium flakes, pellets, and live or frozen foods in a well-planted tank with clean, warm water. The secret to keeping your swordtails healthy and having successful breeding is regular water changes and observation.
- Description of a black swordtail
- Appearance
- Habitat
- Character of the fish and lifespan
- Caring for black swordtails
- The minimum volume of the aquarium for swordsmen
- Care requirements and conditions for keeping swordtails
- How to feed?
- Video on the topic
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Description of a black swordtail
Thanks to the efforts of breeders, the black swordtail aquarium fish—which originated from the Geller (green swordtail)—was created. Its unusual black color is the species’ defining characteristic.
Appearance
What characteristics allow you to identify a black swordtail?
- the body of the fish is elongated, the average length is 7 cm, the maximum is 9-10 cm;
- white eyes with black pupils, the iris is light;
- the fins are very developed, transparent, can be veil;
- the body color is uniform black (only the sides can have a slightly lighter shade), the presence of lightened areas or spots of blue-green color is acceptable.
The caudal fin’s elongated ray is a prominent "sword" on male black swordtails. Most of the time, only one, but some people grow two or even three. Some fish are devoid of rays.
Habitat
The black swordtail is descended from a family of green fish that inhabits the Atlantic coast of North America (Central strip). It can be found in nearly all bodies of water, including bogs and streams in the mountains.
Due to selection, the black swordtail itself is absent from the natural world.
Character of the fish and lifespan
Swordsmen are peaceful, serene fish. They will occasionally chase smaller individuals, but this is usually the result of a group that was improperly chosen based on sex or aquarium volume limitations.
Fish that can support life, like the following, get along particularly well with black swordtails:
- pecilia and minors;
- mollies and angelfish;
- barbs and danios;
- tetras.
Swordtails coexist calmly and subduedly with catfish.
A swordtail cannot be kept in the same aquarium as:
- cichlids, this is dangerous for black fish;
- goldfish, cockerels, because. . the swordtail can bite off their fins.
The average lifespan of fish includes the black swordtail. They can live up to five years if you provide them with adequate care and comfortable surroundings.
Caring for black swordtails
Though there are some minor variations, maintaining a black swordtail in an aquarium requires similar conditions to other fish. Even a novice aquarist can grow to detest the fish given them.
The minimum volume of the aquarium for swordsmen
Due to their size, swordfish cannot be adequately supported in small aquariums. For a single harem family consisting of one male and three females, the minimum tank capacity should be 50 liters (perhaps a little more).
An aquarium should have a capacity of 100 liters.
It is preferable to design a living space in the natural style; for example, the aquarium should feature driftwood, natural stones, and animal plants that are positioned close to the walls. It is thought that while vegetation can serve as a haven for fry, fish do not require it.
Algal soil is best suited with sand or small pebbles.
What more ought to be included in the aquarium:
- filter;
- compressor;
- thermostat;
- dim lamps;
- plants floating on the surface of the water, such as hornwort, pistia, riccia.
Care requirements and conditions for keeping swordtails
Maintaining the aquarium’s ideal water parameters is the primary way to take care of the swordsmen:
- Optimum temperature. Fish need warm water – +24-26 degrees. Critical mark for fish is +16 degrees.
- Acidity. The level should be about 8 pH.
- Water hardness. The range is very scattered – from 8 to 25 pH.
- Water movement. Weak or moderate
- Salt. Permissible value up to 15 g per 1 liter.
When buying a black fish, take into account a few factors:
- Need aeration and water filtration. Change 1/4 of the volume of aquarium water once a week. Swordsmen do not need a lot of oxygen, so replacement once every two weeks, but provided that the biobalance of fluid is stable.
- Cover the aquarium with a lid, t. To. Fish swordsmen are active and nimble, they can jump out and die.
Standard practices like cleaning up organic waste and maintaining the aquarium’s equipment are all part of care.
How to feed?
Food’s black swordsman is unassuming, capable of consuming nearly anything, and prone to overindulging. Fish prefer foods that are dry and freeze-dried in particular:
Tetramin, a carefully curated blend of highly nutritious functional ingredients, vitamins, minerals, and microelements for daily complete nutrition of fish, is the primary food used by many aquarists.
Carotenoids-containing compositions as an extra feed.
Giving live or frozen food to swordtails is not advised as it is deemed unbalanced and increases the possibility of introducing pathogenic microorganisms into the aquarium. Plant-based products should be included in the diet as they aid in the digestion of dry foods.
Feeding black fish should only occur twice a day at most. Each portion is calculated separately, so you should pay attention to the timing. It is best to eat it within five to ten minutes.
Aspect | Details |
Feeding | High-quality flakes, live or frozen food like bloodworms or brine shrimp |
Tank Requirements | 20-gallon tank, plants for hiding, gentle filtration |
Water Conditions | Temperature 72-82°F, pH 7.0-8.0, regular water changes |
Breeding Setup | Separate breeding tank, lots of plants, low current |
While it takes careful attention to detail, breeding black swordtails in an aquarium is a rewarding experience. These fish can flourish and procreate if given the correct conditions and care.
Provide them with a well-rounded diet consisting of premium flakes, live, and frozen foods to guarantee they get the energy and nutrients required for robust development and procreation. To improve fry survival rates, it’s also critical to keep the water clean and provide hiding places for the fish.
You can take pleasure in the lively appearance and energetic behavior of black swordtail fish in your aquarium for many years to come if you adhere to these guidelines.