What Do I Feed My Red Swordtail Fish?

Swordtail fish are peaceful community freshwater fish that give birth to live fry. They are popular pets and bearing fish because of their coloration and personality. They are active swimmers and do best in a tank 20 gallons or larger. There is no variation in food types for the Red Swordtail; it eats the same diet as all other Swordtail fish. These fish do best with a varied diet and eat once to twice a day.

  1. Flakes

    • The easiest filler for Red Swordtail fish is regular fish flakes that can be bought at any fish or pet store. These flakes provide dried nutrients to the fish without taking up maximum room in their stomachs. The flakes are lacking in a few vitamins necessary for Swordtails, though, so be sure to supplement their diet with greens and live food when available. Check your fish's output to be sure they're getting everything they need out of their diet. If their excrement is a color other than green or black, you'll need to vary their diet more.

    Worms

    • The nutrients found in earthworms speed the breeding process.

      Live earthworms are a good food source for Red Swordtails at any time, but owners tend to up the fish's intake of this bait when they want their fish to breed. The nutrients in the worms speed up the breeding and fertilization process and provide for maximum fry output. If live earthworms are not available, frozen worms will work almost as well.

    Algae

    • In order to thrive to an old age, Red Swordtail fish need green food regularly. Algae can be grown within the tank system as part of the fish's natural habitat. Use dimmer lighting and increase the water temperature slightly to induce first growth. As the algae takes hold, the fish will be able to graze on it at any time without your help. When combined with brine shrimp, algae can make Swordtail fry grow rapidly and show their adult coloration early.

    Brine Shrimp

    • Brine shrimp and other frozen fish foods introduce variation into your fish's diet with minimal stress. The Swordtails love the small shrimp and will eat it readily. These shrimp are also used for feeding the Swordtail fry. At that young stage in their lives, the shrimp contain enough protein and other nutrients to increase growth markedly. Brine shrimp can be easily found at any store that sells aquatic pets.