Setting Up A Tank

Question
I'm new to the tropical-community tank area, and I was wondering what fish I can get for a ten-gallon, tropical community, hardwater tank. I'm quite interesting in breeding swordtails, but I don't know how to go about doing this. Any advice that you can give me will be useful, because the only fish-keeping experience I've had is with two comet goldfish in a five-gallon tank. Please help me!!!

Answer
Hi Skyler

I wouldn't recommend swordtails for a 10 gallon tank.  Think they're more suited for a 30 gallon or larger tank.  But, platies are similar, or mollies or guppies would be better suited for your tank size.  Which ever you go with, to breed them, add water and add the fish.  That's it.  All those fish including swordtails are what's called livebearers-meaning they have live babies, called fry, instead of laying eggs like most other fish do.  They are prolific breeders, and can/usually have a new batch of fry every month. The amount of fry varies, anywhere from 1-100, with about 15-20 being the average.  For a 10 gallon tank, you could have 5-6 of those fish, and I would do a ratio of 1 male for every 2-3 females.  

Something else for you to think about....since the females will pretty much have fry every month, you will very quickly become overrun with fish in your tank.  An overstocked tank will lead to poor water quality-even if you do water changes daily, you'll be dealing with poor water quality.  Poor water quality leads to stressed out fish, which in turn leads to disease/parasite infections, and eventually death for the fish.  So, you really should have a "back up" plan as to what you're going to do with all these fish.  Chain pet stores will not take them.  Some smaller mom and pop type of pet stores will take them, some giving you store credit, but you will have a hard time even giving the fish away since they're so easy to breed.  So, you'll definitely need another larger tank or several lol, as well if you do go through with trying to breed them.  

Not sure how your comets worked out, but two comets in a 5 gallon tank....not good.  I would say a minimum of a 55 gallons for them to survive their potential life span of 20+ years and grow to their full potential size of 12+ inches.  

Good luck and let me know if you have more questions.

Christy