best foods for my swordtail fish

[raynigma]

I'm thinking of changing up my swordtail fishes' diet, I don't want to just stick with fish flakes all the time. I've been wondering if it's a good idea to feed them veggies or something similar. I mean, fish flakes can't be that great for them, right?

[raynigma]

I was thinking about the air pump in my tank too. I've got a lot of plants, so I figure it's probably fine, but I still have one just in case. I was wondering, do you guys think swordtails really need the extra oxygen, or is it okay to turn it off at night?

[graye]

I've had the chance to observe swordtails in their natural habitat, and one thing that's really noticeable is the constant movement of the water. The way they're built, with that sleek shape, it's clear they're meant to thrive in environments with some current. A tank without proper filtration just isn't going to cut it for them.

You do have a filter in addition to the air pump, right?

When it comes to food, I've found that swordtails are big fans of bugs. A high-quality bug-based food would be a great option for them. As for veggies, I wouldn't recommend it, but a tiny bit of algae or dried seaweed has worked well for me in the past.

[raynigma]

I've had the chance to observe swordtails in their natural habitat, and one thing that's really noticeable is the constant movement of the water. The way they're built, with that sleek shape, it's clear they're meant to thrive in environments with some current. A tank without proper filtration just isn't going to cut it for them.

You do have a filter in addition to the air pump, right?

When it comes to food, I've found that swordtails are big fans of bugs. A high-quality bug-based food would be a great option for them. As for veggies, I wouldn't recommend it, but a tiny bit of algae or dried seaweed has worked well for me in the past.

Got a filter, thanks for the advice, I'll look into bug bites food, and maybe add some dried seaweed too.

[WildFins]

Fluval Bug Bites are top-notch food, I completely agree. Considering your interest in varying your swordtail's diet, have you looked into frozen options? No need to rely on a local fish store; you can find them at most big pet stores. I think your fish would really enjoy brine shrimp or bloodworms - they're usually a hit.

If you're up for taking it to the next level, live foods are definitely worth exploring. There are some surprisingly easy options to cultivate. If you live in a warmer area, you can try raising mosquito larvae with just some standing water - the fish love them, and you might even find some live bloodworms as a bonus. Grindal worms and brine shrimp are also pretty simple to raise. You can feed baby brine shrimp directly to your fish or grow them out separately. Many people successfully cultivate daphnia or scuds, and it's not as complicated as you might expect.

[raynigma]

Fluval Bug Bites are top-notch food, I completely agree. Considering your interest in varying your swordtail's diet, have you looked into frozen options? No need to rely on a local fish store; you can find them at most big pet stores. I think your fish would really enjoy brine shrimp or bloodworms - they're usually a hit.

If you're up for taking it to the next level, live foods are definitely worth exploring. There are some surprisingly easy options to cultivate. If you live in a warmer area, you can try raising mosquito larvae with just some standing water - the fish love them, and you might even find some live bloodworms as a bonus. Grindal worms and brine shrimp are also pretty simple to raise. You can feed baby brine shrimp directly to your fish or grow them out separately. Many people successfully cultivate daphnia or scuds, and it's not as complicated as you might expect.

I haven't tried frozen foods yet, but I do have some dried bloodworms on hand that I can give a shot.

[sidthy]

I'm thinking of changing up my swordtail fishes' diet, I don't want to just stick with fish flakes all the time. I've been wondering if it's a good idea to feed them veggies or something similar. I mean, fish flakes can't be that great for them, right?

Make sure to soak the dried bloodworms first so they can reabsorb water.

[raynigma]

I might give cultivating daphnia or scuds a shot, seems like it could be worth a try.

[Emeraldsea]

I'm thinking of changing up my swordtail fishes' diet, I don't want to just stick with fish flakes all the time. I've been wondering if it's a good idea to feed them veggies or something similar. I mean, fish flakes can't be that great for them, right?

Swordtails are omnivores, so they'll take to greens and live food. When it comes to water movement, it's mainly the surface that matters - they need some flow there. Having movement in lower regions isn't necessary, but it won't do them any harm either. If you look at the Xiphophorus hellerii, the ones we breed, they live in shallow waters with flow throughout. And as graye mentioned, their body shape gives it away - they're built for moving water. Of course, this isn't true for all swordtail species, some don't have that torpedo shape.

[raynigma]

I'm thinking of changing up my swordtail fishes' diet, I don't want to just stick with fish flakes all the time. I've been wondering if it's a good idea to feed them veggies or something similar. I mean, fish flakes can't be that great for them, right?

Swordtails are omnivores, so they'll take to greens and live food. When it comes to water movement, it's mainly the surface that matters - they need some flow there. Having movement in lower regions isn't necessary, but it won't do them any harm either. If you look at the Xiphophorus hellerii, the ones we breed, they live in shallow waters with flow throughout. And as graye mentioned, their body shape gives it away - they're built for moving water. Of course, this isn't true for all swordtail species, some don't have that torpedo shape.

I've got my air pump cranked up to the max and my swordtails seem to be handling it just fine. I've got a lot of plants in the tank, but I've still seen them gasping for air at times, which is why I got the air pump in the first place. As for feeding, I've been giving them food just at night, and they've been surviving okay, but I'm wondering if that's really the best way to do it - how often should I be feeding them, anyway?