How to Feed a Swordtail Fish

The male swordtail fish has a long fin protruding from it that looks similar to a sword. These fins make swordtails easily distinguishable from other fish in an aquarium. These fish come in a number of color variations, including red, black, neon green and tuxedo. Feeding a combination of flake food and freeze-dried food, as well as knowing how to appropriately feed fry, keeps your swordtails happy and healthy.

Things You'll Need

  • Flake food
  • Freeze-dried brine shrimp
  • Bloodworms
  • Cup
  • Fry food
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Instructions

  1. Adult Feeding: Foods and Treats

    • 1

      Sprinkle one to two pinches of dry, flake food on the top of the water. Use only as much food as your swordtails will eat in a three to five minutes. Use a commercial dry flake food intended for swordtails or general tropical fish.

    • 2

      Repeat feedings twice daily.

    • 3

      Sprinkle one to two pinches of freeze-dried brine shrimp over the top of the tank once every two to three days as a treat for the fish. Use only as much as the swordtails consume in three to five minutes. Alternatively, offer your fish freeze-dried bloodworms instead of brine shrimp.

    Fry Feeding

    • 4

      Place 1/4 cup water from the fry's aquarium water in a small cup.

    • 5

      Add two to three fry food pellets into the water. Allow them to soak for one minute. Increase the number of pellets depending on the number of fry you are feeding.

    • 6

      Pour the water with the pellets into the aquarium. Soaking the food first makes it sink. Since swordtails feed in the middle of the tank, this lowers the food to the fry's feeding level.

    • 7

      Repeat feeding four to five times a day. Only feed as much as the fry eat in three to five minutes.