Are swordtails fin nippers

Would like to put some swordatails into my tank. 20 gal.
However, I have six danios and finding out that they are real fin nippers, also have a small angel.
Don't want to get another fin nipper, and don't want him to get that pretty long tail nipped at either.
don't know if I really hold on to the danios for this reason.
So if someone could please let me know if they are fin nippers or aggressive, it would be appreciated.
Thanks, Sharon

 

No, not typically. I have green swordtails in with a neon blue dwarf gourami, corys and an Oto and they are fine together. Just be sure to outnumber your males with females....So for every male you get have at least two females or the males will never let the females rest. They also breed quite readily so get ready for baby fish! It's also not wise to house more than one male unless you've got plenty of female companionship as the males like to butt heads.

Danios and angels should be fine with them. I'm surprised that they're nipping at the angels.

 

In general, livebearers are very peaceful, although the males of some species may fight without girls to distract them.

 

to Omorrokh,
What do you do about the babies, I don't want to breed, I just want to have a pet/pets.
I don't really want to set up a breeding tank I don't have the room, and my tank is only 20 gal. so I don't know about putting up the breeding box or a seperator.
Some people say let them mate and when they give birth they will eat their young, but I have a hard time stomaching that, no pun intended.
Thanks Sharon

 

If you have both genders they will breed. There is no 'let them mate'--if you have them, they will mate, unfortunately for some people. :-\ And, unless you step in and raise the babies, they will eat them--although note that more than likely a couple fry will survive and one day come out of nowhere. If it is too hard for you to let fish get eaten, then the only thing you can do is just not get the male. Females may not have swords or as much color, but they are just as awesome.

 

Thank You. Some of the females are not bad though, have been looking at them at the LFS, and some do have the bright colors and are very active. I love platys too, they look so happy.
Maybe, I will try the breeding box we'll see.
Thanks again, Sharon

 

I have a breeding box in a 15g....I now have 13 fry.....As they get larger I will be bringing them to my local store and trading them for credits to be used on supplies of future fish or plants.

They don't take up as much room as you might think. Also, you can provide floating plants where fry could hide if they are not netted and put into the breed-n-show box. They're pretty clever for little fish. Survival instincts take over faster than you'd imagine.

In my opinion, if you weren't interested in having baby fish, I would opt for the platys or mollies as they have the same basic body shape. I would think that the reason you like the swordtails is because of the extension on the male's tale and obviously you won't have that with female swords and their colors aren't as vibrant.

 

Great idea about the box and the floating plants. And I really like the idea of doing the credit thing with the LFS, this little hobby has turned out to need a little credit here and there, becoming a real little addiction.
I love plants in and out of the tank and all that are in the tank seam to be doing really well so this is a real viable option.
I love platies too.
Mollies are interesting, but I've heard that they can be nasty to smaller fish.
Thanks, Sharon

 

And even if you don't raise them and let the female have the babies in the tank I'm sure your angel will have a feast.
Mollies are fine wit small fish

 

Another thing you might want to take into consideration is that the danios and the swordtails usually swim in the same area of the tank, so you will have a lot of traffic in the middle of your tank. Have you considered adding cory cats or loaches instead?

 

Have decided to get rid of the danios. They go after each other, fin nipping way to much for my own comfort. Have two nice long finned leopard danios, and their fins have been a friends snack.
So they are just making me to uncomfortable, want that relaxing tank.
The one thing that I am hoping is that the angel is not doing this while I sleep. But would a fish really do this? And since he got rid of the other angel he's been pretty mellow and not really going after anyone.
Thanks

 

The one thing that I am hoping is that the angel is not doing this while I sleep.

Remember that fish sleep too. While you sleep, so do they, so I doubt there is anything going on at night.

 

Thanks Omorrokh, very appreciated.