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Post by demfish on Oct 7, 2008 13:18:50 GMT -5
Went by the LFS their going to take a bunch of my baby snails ;D Will be for trade... but hey I'm looking for something for my 30 gal anyways. All I need to do is get them a little bigger! Did pick up 4 more Otto's tho! Just can't seem to get out of there without something How about Red coral Swordtail's? Their kinda of nice. Are they easy to take care of?
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Post by sammiesam on Oct 7, 2008 13:58:08 GMT -5
swordtails are easy to take care of them but they're best in groups cause they like to school. I've had one single male swordtail for almost two years now, but I am getting him some friends finally this week to make him happier since I finally have a big enough tank. They're cute lil buggers and very peaceful.
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Post by demfish on Oct 7, 2008 14:01:38 GMT -5
Cool really kinda of thinking along that line...How big of a school, don't have to much room , till I get rid of some snails!
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Post by sammiesam on Oct 7, 2008 14:45:34 GMT -5
Well...I'm not really sure, but I do know that the males like to creat a hierarchy of sorts, meaning that they liked to create a ladder of dominance. I've been told alot of things though, like getting another male friend for my male sword, but also being told they would fight etc. It really depends on the individual fish and personality.
But a warning, swords are like guppies...they will mate and you will have babies. If you don't want this I'd just maybe try two males and see if they get along?? Someone else might have some better advice.
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Post by sammiesam on Oct 7, 2008 14:45:45 GMT -5
how big is your tank btw?
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Post by demfish on Oct 7, 2008 15:02:47 GMT -5
30 gals
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 7, 2008 16:01:41 GMT -5
Hey Darlene! swords are beautiful and community oriented - platys go good w/ them as do whitecloud minnows - the minnows will give you sone activity and stay small from what I have red and the platys will give you some color - swords also come in a variety of colors - bear in mind like Sam said though, they will breed worse than rabbits - males of swords and platys are more colorful than the females so you might try a few males only of each to start - good luck and have fun!
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Post by 8 in the Corner on Oct 7, 2008 16:28:05 GMT -5
No, swordtails are not fish that school together. They are OK in groups, but they do not swim in a school (as a unit). Schooling fish are like zebra danios that all swim in one direction and then turn around and swim in the other direction. None of the livebearers, to my knowledge, are schooling fish.
They do form a pecking order as was stated earlier and the larger the group, the easier it will be for the non dominant males to get by.
They are jumpers, though, so make sure you have a lid on the tank.
John
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 7, 2008 18:02:32 GMT -5
ok, I was wrong in terminologly, sorry - I sit corrected.....they are a great community tank fish - you're right 8, livebearers are not true schoolers - sorry for the misinformation Darlene - the are more "aggressive" then platys are too imo
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Post by goldenpuon on Oct 7, 2008 18:34:25 GMT -5
I think guppies are schoolers, at least according to how mine act, they always school unless their need to search for food overwhelms them. lol
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Post by sammiesam on Oct 7, 2008 19:08:55 GMT -5
the only time i've ever seen my sword get agressive was when he was getting picked on my the loach. Then he got fed up and started like torpedoing the fish, like ramming into it. But that was it, when the loach backed off he went back to being his happy go lucky self.
He's actually kinda friends with the loaches now, he is always at the bottom of the tank and they play tag, chasing each other around the tank.
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Post by eve on Oct 7, 2008 19:46:44 GMT -5
I think guppies are schoolers, at least according to how mine act, they always school unless their need to search for food overwhelms them. lol yes they do school together, but they're not true schoolers like danios, rasboras, tetras,... are
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Post by Carl on Oct 7, 2008 20:54:37 GMT -5
I have seen Guppies move in groups similar to schools, but are not true schoolers as Eve noted.
I think many good points have been made to the temperament of swords, I think John’s original point: “swords are beautiful and community oriented” was meant to mean that they due well in community tanks. Yes they can show aggression and have pecking order and even pick of weak fish, and yes they do not school, but I personally like swords and find that they adapt to quite a few different fish grouping environments with little problem.
Carl
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 7, 2008 21:01:52 GMT -5
thanks all, poor choice of words on my part - truly didn't mean to set off a debate or make people take a position - this ais a FAMILY oriented sire remember - it is/was the least of my intention s to cause a hassle - I am sorry for the confusion and thank you all who raise live beares for your support
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Post by 8 in the Corner on Oct 7, 2008 21:13:05 GMT -5
ok, I was wrong in terminologly, sorry - I sit corrected.....they are a great community tank fish - you're right 8, livebearers are not true schoolers - sorry for the misinformation Darlene - the are more "aggressive" then platys are too imo John, I don't see that you were wrong in saying they are good community fish. They are. They do get kind of nippy with slower moving fish sometimes, but most fast swimming fish do.
I agree, too, that they are more aggressive than platys. The red tuxedos are my favorites, right after the Montezumas.
John
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 7, 2008 23:34:49 GMT -5
thanks 8, am typing slow - have a major inflammation on the backs of of my hands now - fingers and hands are very swollen and my typing is bad - gasoline poisoning they think......wear gloves when treating my tanks, what's left of them after selling them all - LOL - didn't mean to hit nerves, just have raised platys and swords forever and have experienced all kinds of behavioral characteristics.....will be bugging you soon for help w/ blue rams and electric yellows - too painful to type more - fingers are huge - sorry all - might be off for a while - Murdock
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Post by demfish on Oct 8, 2008 10:39:38 GMT -5
thanks 8, am typing slow - have a major inflammation on the backs of of my hands now - fingers and hands are very swollen and my typing is bad - gasoline poisoning they think......wear gloves when treating my tanks, what's left of them after selling them all - LOL - didn't mean to hit nerves, just have raised platys and swords forever and have experienced all kinds of behavioral characteristics.....will be bugging you soon for help w/ blue rams and electric yellows - too painful to type more - fingers are huge - sorry all - might be off for a while - Murdock WOW sounds terrible! Hope you feel better John take care of yourself!! Thanks for all the info folks really do appreciate it!!
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Post by Carl on Oct 8, 2008 11:50:17 GMT -5
thanks 8, am typing slow - have a major inflammation on the backs of of my hands now - fingers and hands are very swollen and my typing is bad - gasoline poisoning they think......wear gloves when treating my tanks, what's left of them after selling them all - LOL - didn't mean to hit nerves, just have raised platys and swords forever and have experienced all kinds of behavioral characteristics.....will be bugging you soon for help w/ blue rams and electric yellows - too painful to type more - fingers are huge - sorry all - might be off for a while - Murdock I am sure others understand! I contantly keep you in my thoughts/prayers and hope the coming days are better. Carl
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Post by goldenpuon on Oct 8, 2008 15:34:25 GMT -5
I hope you feel better soon Murdock. I aslo got a hand problem too yesterday once it was from cutting a plastic fish container with scissors. I think my finger nmay be infected but of course it is pretty minor and will heal fast.
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Post by murdock6701 on Oct 8, 2008 17:20:38 GMT -5
I think you should post pics of your tank w/ your new fishies! congrats!
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