Posture recommendation
The green swallowtail is a very often kept ornamental fish. He owes his popularity to iridescent color. In addition, it is less aggressive than other damselfish species. Therefore, it can also be kept in a small swarm.
The Green Swallowtail is one of those Damselfish family. Visually, it is strongly reminiscent of the black-axed swallowtail. The only difference between the two species is a dark spot at the base of the pectoral fins.
The swallowtails are particularly common in the coral reefs of the Pacific before. Their natural habitat stretches from the coast of East Africa to the islands of Oceania. They move through the coral in large swarms.
The fish are constantly looking for food. They prefer to eat zooplankton. During the day they eat continuously. For this reason dovetails need fed several times a day become.
Due to these eating habits, the swallowtails are not easy to keep. A feeding machine that provides the animals with food every 60 minutes is therefore recommended for working people. Unfortunately, feeding them two or three times a day is not enough.
When threatened, the fish retreat between the branches of the coral. A dangerous predator is, among other things, the tufted perch. After a few minutes the young fish appear again, the older animals follow later.
In the aquarium should be one Reef construction with live rock and plenty of hiding places. In addition, the swallowtails like a lot of swimming space as well as individual rocks and corals. The more variety the fish are offered, the more peaceful they behave.
Adult animals reach a size of seven to nine centimeters. Keeping them alone is not recommended, at least one male and one female should be purchased. At group husbandry care must be taken that there is only one male in the group, otherwise there is a risk of territorial fights. These often end fatally.
gender differences
Unfortunately, there are purely optical differences between the sexes no differences determine. This is often a problem. It was found, however, that the males look light and spotted during courtship.
The Breeding
In the case of the green swallowtail, that takes over Males take care of the brood after spawning. The male’s job is to fan the eggs with fresh water and clean the clutch.
Small larvae hatch from the eggs after just three days. After the larvae have spent some time on the bottom of the cave, they then swim to the coral as juveniles.
Unlike other saltwater fish, the Green Swallowtails can also be in one Aquarium offspring receive. But the animals need optimal conditions for this.
socialization
Swallowtails get along relatively well with other fish in large aquariums. But it’s best to let them go with you corals, anemones and shrimp socialize because they do not attack them.
It is very important that the animals get enough food. If there is a lack of food, the competition will be fought and, in the worst case, killed. Lots of food, enough space to swim and plenty of hiding places ensure peace in the tank.
Difficulty level: medium
Keeping Green Swallowtails is more for people who have a lot of time and can feed the fish almost non-stop. Unless a feeding machine takes over this task. In this case, there are only minor problems with keeping them, since swallowtails are relatively peaceful.