Adult platy chasing baby platy

[SnowQueen]

I have an adult mickymouse platy in a 10 gallon tank. I decided yesterday it was time to add another fish. I went and bought another mickymouse platy that from what I can see is still a baby. (Such a tiny little thing compared to the adult) Anyway, the adult one keeps on chasing the baby. The baby tries to hide behind the heater, but the adult still goes after it. It doesn't happen constantly but it happens enough. Any thoughts of what I can do? I do have a breeder net that I just put the baby in it just a few minutes ago. Now, since the breeder net is hanging in the tank, the adult seems to be stressing out along with the stressed out baby in the net. Please help!

thanks in advance

 

[aquarius]

i think the fish is just being territorial plus if the new fish is still a baby, the bigger one thinks he can chase it around. maybe you can add another platy that's bigger. to take the attentuion off the baby. or just give it time. the fish might get used to each other. of course if the bullying continues and the little one will look stressed out, you'll might want to return it

 

[yhbae]

I imagine the larger one is a male?

Same thing happened to me - the male started to harrass its own fries when they started to approach 1 to 1.5 inches long. It was especially bad during feeding time when he almost rams into other fries which gets near him.

I moved him out of the community tank, and everything is peaceful again...

I do have another slightly smaller male and he seems much better behaved, so perhaps in your case (just like mine), you have a bad mannered male...

 

[SnowQueen]

thank you for the replies everyone.

The both fish are females. Maybe they do need time to get use to each other. I just put the poor baby in the tank yesterday night. It's not constant chasing but enough for me to be concerned. The adult doesn't hurt the baby, she just chases her. I released the baby out of the breeder net abuot 2 hours ago. I have noticed that at times they swim with each other like right now as I look over at the tank. I am going to keep the breeder net close by incase I need to put the baby back in.

Thank you again everyone!

 

[SnowQueen]

Just an update incase this happens to someone else:

Problem solved!

I bought an aquarium divider. My 10 gallon tank has turned into five gallons per fish. I didn't have the money or the space at this time to set up another tank. This way, it works out great. When the baby gets older, I will take away the divider.

 

[yhbae]

In the long run, you could alo grow some java moss in the tank - it's super easy to grow one of these, and smaller fishes really like them. They shoot into the plan when a larger fishes chase them...

It also provides more O2, and keeps nitrate level in check...