Aggresive Swordtail

[tmwalden]

I had originally posted this message on another forum, but I did not get any responses. I have copied it to this forum exactly as it was posted on the other forum. I need to know how to handle this swordtail.
Hello, I am very new to aquarium keeping. I have had a ten gallon tank for a little over a week now. The cycling seems to be going well. I started with two male guppies, one female guppy, and two male swordtails on the advice of the fish department at Meijer. I have already lost the two male guppies. I figured out too late that one of the swordtails was attacking them. I have also witnessed the same sword tail being aggressive to the other male swordtail. I bought a tank divider to separate the aggressive swordtail from the peaceful swordtail and the female guppy. The female guppy was not being attacked to my knowledge. I am going to buy a bigger tank, probably a 30 or 40 gallon. I have read that if I had more female swordtails than males, say 4 females and two males, the aggressive swordtail would calm down. I went to what I would consider a better pet store and talked to a guy in their fish department. He said that even with a bigger school of swordtails where the females outnumbered the males the swordtail would still be aggressive. I wanted to come here and get an opinion on how to handle the situation.
Thank you,
Matt

I posted this message and then I went to lunch. When I got home for lunch my docile swordtail was dead. I pulled him out of the water and examined him. He was missing a lot of his tail fin and his whole sword. I believe that I might not have separated him from the aggressive swordtail on time. Is there any hope for this aggressive fish to be in a community tank? I don't think he would attack the female guppy, but my girlfriend thinks he would. I have not removed the divider between the male swordtail and the female guppy.

Thanks again,
Matt

 

[pinballqueen]

Most of the livebearers I have come into contact with (guppy, sword, molly) have been notorious for picking at my other fish... I have never owned a purely community tank, so I don't really mind a fish that can defend itself against another fish with a temper, but in a community setup this may not be ideal

I don't think there is any way to "change" the temperament of the aggressive fish. I would, however, suggest a bit larger tank if you plan on keeping livebearing fish because they will multiply and crowd your tank.

 

[demon_surfer]

put in a lot of female swords should spread out his aggresson.

a friend of mine had a male sword kill off everythign in his tank once!

 

[rodney10954]

get a female swordtail
i have a male and female and the male chases the female all over
i also had a gold fish and the male sword tail chased it around until it died
so i think you need a female maybe send back one male
i had my sword tails for a month and they already had little fish
got 3 on the way

 

[tricksterpup]

A 10 gallon tank is pretty small for sword tails, They are a pretty large live bearer and they need the room. I know some people would be shocked to hear me say this and disagree but like mollies, i wouldn't keep them in anything less than a 40 gal tank. I think a 40 breeder would be perfect for them, give them plenty of swimming room to move around.
The male will be aggressive but some fish are like that, but placing him in a larger tank will mellow him out a bit. More females will keep him busy from pestering other species. He will less aggressive to other fish.

jim