I have had a female swordfish in my 2.5 gallon tank for about 2 months. It has always been really twitchy, everytime i come near the tank, it darts around like it's really scared, I have never had a good close up look of it without scaring it.
The other night, I noticed that it had settled to the bottom corner of the tank (nothing unusual) but was still about .5cm above the bottom. I took closer look and the fish did not dart around the tank like it usually does. I even tapped at the tank and shook it a little bit to see if the fish would react. By this time it had completely settled on the bottom of the tank. The only thing i noticed was that it's tail seemed to be curved to the right, it seemed theat the fish was tense or something.
I thought it was going to die, but after a few minutes it started to swim around, then it reacted to my presence by darting around the tank again.
can anyone tell me whats wrong with my fish? I noticed similar behaviour yesterday afternoon...
2007-07-19 15:15:44 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
First of all your tank is way to small for swordtails, you need at least a 10 gallon tank
And what you're doing is freaking and stressing your fish out
The only thing your fish does is resting, nothing to worry about
I also hope that you turn the light off at night for 12-14 hours and leave it only for 10-12 hours on during the day
Good luck
EB
2007-07-19 20:53:26 · answer #1 · answered by Kribensis lover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Definitely, the tank is too small for this kind of fish. Also, it may be an issue of water quality. It would be very hard with a tank that small to keep the water quality where it should be. Right now, you should probably do a water change - about 1/4 of the water in the tank, and again tomorrow. (I'm hoping that you do know how to do a water change, and have the right stuff to condition the fresh water before adding it to the tank.)
And consider getting a larger tank ASAP.
2007-07-19 15:40:22 · answer #2 · answered by L H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
so small of a tank, and certainly tapping on the glass and shaking the tank doesnt help.
Swordtails arent small fish, i went on a trip to mexico a few years ago to see wild swordtails and some of the wild swordtails were over6 inches long, and these were females. The males are alittle smaller.
The problem is, your freaking the fish out, and this is a problem. Stress = more prown to illness.
The fin is nothing, so dont worry about it.
You should upgrade your tank to at least 20 gallons, and then fix it up nice and your fish wont freak out anymore,
Because what your conditions and actions are now, are frankly unexceptable.
2007-07-19 15:20:39 · answer #3 · answered by Coral Reef Forum 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That tank is too small for that fish. Swordtails (not Swordfish, Swordfish are saltwater) get about 4 inches long. Such a small tank is probably causing it constant stress (causing twitching). If you can get a 10 gallon tank or find a new home for it, that would be best.
Nosoop4u
2007-07-19 15:22:38 · answer #4 · answered by nosoop4u246 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those are just as you said fear responses. Nothing you have said really points to a disease, so I would suggest she is trying to hide. Possibly another fish in the tank and bullying her, or she is just fearful of activity around the tank. Give her some additional plants and such for hiding places and see if she doesn't get more comfortable and relaxed.
MM
2007-07-19 15:23:06 · answer #5 · answered by magicman116 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its tired, the fish has to go to sleep or rest at night usally for around 7 to 8 hours like us.
And you should get a bigger tank because they are active swimmers. A 5gallon with good filtration and circulation will be better.
2007-07-19 15:24:08 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
particular, if one fish is ill they are going to all fall ill. the only ailment i've got ever considered take over a tank (and it happened as quickly as I presented a clean fish) became little white spots began to look on him a pair days later. Then the different fish have been given it and died too.
2016-12-14 14:09:44 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not knowing the size of the fish, it could be the tank. But it could be something physically wrong with it, if you can take it to a pet store for them to look at it or at the very least go to a pet store and tell them what's going on and they should be able to suggest water treatments.
2007-07-19 15:24:35 · answer #8 · answered by riotgrrljanessa 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
first you need to see if any fish are bullying it if not he is probably sick or just wants to get gout of the small tank you should buy a bigger one so he can swim around more and hsve more hiding room
2007-07-19 15:53:18 · answer #9 · answered by br1an767 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
my fish did the same thing... it would swim around like normal then it would just sink to the bottom and not move. after a couple minutes it would swim around again....
then it died. :(
2007-07-19 15:24:12 · answer #10 · answered by Mel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋