Advice Needed On Controling Swordtail Population

Riso-chan

Riso-chan

The Blue Girl
Jan 17, 2005
322
0
0
41
Florida, USA
I have 1 retail shark, 6 zebra danios, 13 white clouds, 4 kuhli loaches(might add more), and 5 swordtails, 3 of which are fry still. The two males are almost half grown now. I think I'd like to keep the little ones and let them grow into their own instead of handing them off to a petstore that might not be so kind to them.

The problem is, when they start breeding again I don't want to be overun by fry. The solution would have to be a decent planted community fish that would help take care of this issue for me. Suggestions?~Angela
 
Get one killie fish or a pair if you want to breed them, they ate my friends guppy fry haha. And other then that they seem pretty calm towards other fish.
 
If you leave the fry in the tank, the swordtails will normally eat them. As well as the RT shark. If you have room, add a small school of barbs. They are very active and voracious eaters.
 
I was thinking about adding a male betta, after a trip to the petstore yesterday. Seeing them in those cups makes me want to save one. A betta may help the problem, but I also realize the shark could pose a threat to it. Do you think it would be possible to keep a betta in a 55 gallon with these other fish?
 
With bettas in a community it is almost always hit or miss. I have had a betta with a RT Shark and zebra danios with no prob, but that doesnt mean you wont have a problem. If you really want a betta, try it. Just make sure you keep a good eye on them and that he has a place to hide if need be. If you have probs, just pull him out of there. You can always buy a small tank for the betta if need be. They have 1g at walmart for like 10 bucks.
 
as long as there's plenty of places to hide and the shark is good with your other inhabitants the betta should be a good fish for you

of course with bettas it always depends on the betta and his personality how he'll get along with your other fish- but it sounds like you have a lot of room so i think you've got a good chance of it working out

i have a round tail betta in my planted community until his new tank is cycled and he's doing very well with neon tetrsa swords and corys- hasn't taken a taste of any of them.

i love bettas so i recomend them - great personalities and i've never had a problem with them in community tanks they've all done great

cheers
 
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