Hi everyone,
I got 6 X.montezumae at my local auction almost a week ago. They are very beautiful fish. There are 3 males and 3 females. I have them in a 55 gal. I have plants on the left and right side of the tank and the middle is open. I also have plants that cover the surface and the temperature is around 80. I see them swimming every now and again but they mostly hide a lot and they are very skittish and jumpy. I have researched them and from what I have gathered they are known to be jumpers and can be skittish. I was wondering if there is anything I can do to make them feel more comfortable and come out more? I do water changes weekly. I have also read they like salt. Should I add aquarium salt? Thank you very much!
Chris

... the temperature is around 80. I see them swimming every now and again but they mostly hide a lot and they are very skittish and jumpy.

Ixnay the 80 degrees-ay. Montezumas hate the temperature that hot. Take your heater out and let the tank water be room temp. They'd be much more comfortable.

Also, the montezuma sword is a rare fish in that the dominant male grows a sword (and a gonopodium) and then represses all of the rest of the males from differentiating. They appear female for as long as the male remains dominant. How is it that you have three "males"? Do they fight all the time? Please upload photos of each of your fish so I can get a better idea of what's going on.

And add caves. My favorite cave is this one http://www.aquariuml...coration/87.asp but the fish also seem to like these sorts of things http://i8.photobucke...-Slatecaves.jpg and the vertical equivalent of those horizontal dark tubes. You can also submerge terra cotta flower pots. Here's a picture of a submerged broken terracotta pot in one of my own tanks: http://img.photobuck...imiru/028-1.jpg

But really, your main problem is that the temp is Waaaaay too high. I've kept monties, and I've bred swordtails for years. They don't jump and aren't skittish if they're comfortable. Proof: On this website they document an entire batch of swordtails jumping through a tiny hole overnight because they were newly introduced to the tank and uncomfortable: http://aqualandpetsp...rer, swords.htm Versus in my aquarium, where I don't even have a full lid right now and I have zero jumpers. Not a single fish has jumped out. Because they're comfortable. Picture: http://img.photobuck...imiru/006-2.jpg

Edit: And yes, that is a terra cotta pot you see in my tank. You can actually see three different caves; one terra cotta pot sideways, one upside down with a little space, and one gray rock with a vertical tube in it. Those caves are mostly for the male bettas (you can keep male bettas together without violence as long as everyone gets their own cave) but male montezumas would appreciate the ability to hide from the dominant male, too.

Also, what are your pH and GH? And what was the pH and GH of the water your fish just came from?
You would only add salt to raise the salinity if you wanted to match the waters they came from. If the water you have is different from that they came from, it would make them uncomfortable. This is why I always advocate that people test the water body they're collecting from and emulate it in the home environment.
If your GH is too low, add some crushed coral to your substrate. If your salinity is too low, add some salt. Find out what they came from, and match it.

Edit #2: I notice that you mention weekly water changes but not what your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate concentration are. You do own test kits for those, right? And you know that the only time you have to perform a water change is when the nitrate is above 30 ppm? I test my water weekly but do not change it weekly. Buy a nitrate test kit if you don't already have one. And read this: http://www.fishkeepi...ing-article.htm

Edited by EricaWieser, 22 October 2010 - 10:02 AM.

Great advice Erica. I do disagree with your Edit #2 however. Water changes are not performed solely to reduce(dilute) nitrates. There are many other toxins that may accumulate in the tank water that need to be removed or diluted, including tannins from wood, pheremones from the various fish, chemical leaching from the plastics(phthlates, etc.) and sealants, and several others. I would heartily advise the poster to continue making weekly water changes. He may be able to reduce the size of the change, but the frequency is commendable.

If you read Diana Walstad's book, Ecology of The Planted Aquarium, she presents some interesting research studies that advise against weekly water changes. I thought she was deranged when I first saw her theories (and still kind of do) but she does make some valid arguments. It's definitely worth a look.

And I do tend to agree with Diana in regards to a well planted, deep substrate, well established tank. Todd C.(Farmertodd) has done some great work and presentations with his tank of this sort and it will certainly work and work extremely well with little to no water changes. In a typical tank with relatively shallow substrate and minimal planting, I would still advise to continue to change the water often and weekly does not sound, to me at least, excessive.

Thank you guys very much! I greatly appreciate it! I will for sure lower the temperature. I feed them a variety of foods. I have veggie flakes, tropical flakes, brine shrimp, and some other frozen foods. I have not tested my water or had a water tester in a while. Thought I have felt I shouldn't need one due to the fact that I do regular water changes and all of my fish are doing great!I have Ameca splendens, Xenotoca eiseni, Xenotoca variata, and Endlers and all are doing great so since I have not had any problems with these I have felt that I shouldn't change a thing. I don't have heaters with the goodeids but with the Endlers I do. The ph is 8.2. I am not sure where they came from. They were tank raised though. I would imagine they were kept in similar water as I have. They did have fry. I have about 12 fry and they are all doing good. The adults come out and look and act great but are skittish. I don't see them fight at all just swimming in groups. I will look into getting more plants and add a cave or so. I have some driftwood and rocks would that help? I study my fish very closely and everyday and haven't seen anything out of the ordinary. I know what to look for and how to treat problems naturally. I stay away from medications and use Prime for all of my tanks. Thanks again! I greatly appreciate it!