diff --git a/python/swiftest/swiftest/init_cond.py b/python/swiftest/swiftest/init_cond.py
index ea28bcb8c..1d43fb599 100644
--- a/python/swiftest/swiftest/init_cond.py
+++ b/python/swiftest/swiftest/init_cond.py
@@ -329,7 +329,6 @@ def vec2xr(param: Dict,
     infodims = ['id', 'vec']
 
     # The central body is always given id 0
-
     if GMpl is not None:
         icb = (~np.isnan(GMpl)) & (idvals == 0)
         ipl = (~np.isnan(GMpl)) & (idvals != 0)
diff --git a/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py b/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
index 3f5008bb9..e4d5ff139 100644
--- a/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
+++ b/python/swiftest/swiftest/io.py
@@ -175,11 +175,11 @@ def read_swiftest_param(param_file_name, param, verbose=True):
                 param[uc] = param[uc].upper()
 
         for i in int_param:
-            if i in param and type(i) != int:
-                param[i] = int(param[i])
+            if i in param and type(param[i]) != int:
+                param[i] = int(float(param[i]))
 
         for f in float_param:
-            if f in param and type(f) is str:
+            if f in param and type(param[f]) is str:
                 param[f] = real2float(param[f])
 
         for b in bool_param:
diff --git a/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py b/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py
index cc35103a6..834f6e40a 100644
--- a/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py
+++ b/python/swiftest/swiftest/simulation_class.py
@@ -2045,26 +2045,31 @@ def add_solar_system_body(self,
             body_list.append(init_cond.solar_system_horizons(n, self.param, date, idval=ephemeris_id[i]))
 
         #Convert the list receieved from the solar_system_horizons output and turn it into arguments to vec2xr
-        name,v1,v2,v3,v4,v5,v6,ephemeris_id,GMpl,Rpl,rhill,Ip1,Ip2,Ip3,rotx,roty,rotz,J2,J4 = tuple(np.squeeze(np.hsplit(np.array(body_list),19)))
+        if len(body_list) == 1:
+            name,v1,v2,v3,v4,v5,v6,ephemeris_id,GMpl,Rpl,rhill,Ip1,Ip2,Ip3,rotx,roty,rotz,J2,J4 = tuple(np.hsplit(np.array(body_list[0]),19))
+        else:
+            name,v1,v2,v3,v4,v5,v6,ephemeris_id,GMpl,Rpl,rhill,Ip1,Ip2,Ip3,rotx,roty,rotz,J2,J4 = tuple(np.squeeze(np.hsplit(np.array(body_list),19)))
 
+        ephemeris_id = ephemeris_id.astype(int)
         v1 = v1.astype(np.float64)
         v2 = v2.astype(np.float64)
         v3 = v3.astype(np.float64)
         v4 = v4.astype(np.float64)
         v5 = v5.astype(np.float64)
         v6 = v6.astype(np.float64)
-        ephemeris_id = ephemeris_id.astype(int)
+        rhill = rhill.astype(np.float64)
+        J2 = J2.astype(np.float64)
+        J4 = J4.astype(np.float64)
+
         GMpl = GMpl.astype(np.float64)
         Rpl = Rpl.astype(np.float64)
-        rhill = rhill.astype(np.float64)
         Ip1 = Ip1.astype(np.float64)
         Ip2 = Ip2.astype(np.float64)
         Ip3 = Ip3.astype(np.float64)
         rotx = rotx.astype(np.float64)
         roty = roty.astype(np.float64)
         rotz = rotz.astype(np.float64)
-        J2 = J2.astype(np.float64)
-        J4 = J4.astype(np.float64)
+
 
         if all(np.isnan(GMpl)):
             GMpl = None
@@ -2098,7 +2103,8 @@ def add_solar_system_body(self,
                                  J2=J2, J4=J4, t=t)
 
         dsnew = self._combine_and_fix_dsnew(dsnew)
-        self.save(verbose=False)
+        if dsnew['npl'] > 0 or dsnew['ntp'] > 0:
+           self.save(verbose=False)
 
         return dsnew