random06

I introduced two swordtails into my tank last week, one male and one female. They are alive, but very inactive. The female sometime swim around, but the male just stay at the bottom of the tank, literately stay on the gravels, even during the feeding time. They don't seem to eat much too. All the other fish, tetras, mollies, are fine and seem happy. What's wrong with the swordtails?

FishKing

They may still be getting used to the aquarium. keep updating us. Also can you give us a little more info such as water parameters and any other behavioral changes.

random06

The water seems to be good, 24°C, 0ppm NH3 and NO2, pH is around 7.5. Not much behavioral change the whole week. The male just likes to hide in some decoration at the bottom of the tank. When he is out of hiding place, he just stay on the gravels. I will keep you updated. I hope they can make it. They are the mickey mouse swordtails, very cute.

COBettaCouple

How did you acclimate them to the tank? Have they ever shown more activity since being added to the tank?

Internal parasites could be what's going on.

random06

It's sad to tell you that both of them died in last two days, male first and female the next day.
To answer COBettaCouple's question, they had been like that since I introduced them into the tank. I acclimated them this way: Float the bag for ~20 minutes and then add 2/3 cup of tank water into the bag every 10 minutes for 4-5 times (can't remember exactly how many times I did that). After that, I netted them into the tank. During the acclimation, I shut off the tank light, and fed the fish inside. Just before introducing the swordtails, I moved the tank decoration around a bit. So, did I miss any thing in the acclimation?
I have a feeling it's the fish. Because when I bought them, they told me it was the first time they had this kind of swordtails. After a week I went back there for something else, I found all the same swordtails (had 5-6 left after I took those two) were gone, either people liked them very much or they died.
Anyway, I'm sad.

Shawnie

aww sorry for the loss... sounds like it mite have been the fish...cause all your actions and water were perfect...as cobettacouple said, it mite have been a parasite also...but I dont feel it was anything you did...

COBettaCouple

Yea, everything was done fine. I'm sorry you lost them but they were probably sick when you got them.