Bullying

[DonnaQ]

Ive just recently got a tropical fish tank...got it all set up and added 2 platty fish a week ago. The bigger of the 2 is bullying the smaller one. how do you stop this? The smaller platty now hides all day and only come out for feeding. The larger platty chases the smaller fish all around the tank. HELP!!! im not sure if this is normal...its quite sad to look at

 

[DonnaQ]

Any1

 

[Doph89]

How many other fish do you have? If not many then get some more to help spread the aggression. Also, when you add the new fish move all your decorations/plants around as much as possible to destroy any territories the bully feels are his. This should help, it's what I have done with success in the past - let me know though

 

[ian]

it does take time to answer thread Donna!! Be patient...

as for the bullying, do you have a male and a female, it may not be bullying it may be you know what...got any pics of them and we'll tell you if they are male or female.

 

[DonnaQ]

How many other fish do you have? If not many then get some more to help spread the aggression. Also, when you add the new fish move all your decorations/plants around as much as possible to destroy any territories the bully feels are his. This should help, it's what I have done with success in the past - let me know though

Sorry Im a little impatient

Its only a small tank i have (30L) the guy at the pet shop gave me 2 males altho 1 is a lot smaller that the other. At first it was th esmaller one that was very lively but now its a shrinking violet hiding away. Do you think adding other fish would help?

Sorry Im a little impatient

Its only a small tank i have (30L) the guy at the pet shop gave me 2 males altho 1 is a lot smaller than the other. At first it was th esmaller one that was very lively but now its a shrinking violet hiding away. Do you think adding other fish would help?

 

[Doph89]

30l is plenty of space for a few plattys, I have a 25l that has been running (fatality free) for 2 yrs with 7 guppies, 5 zebra danios, 2 female bettas, a tiny anchor catfish and a pleco. The water is very stable and I have no health/behaviour issues.

If you're putting a few more plattys in I would aim for a group of 6 or so, that way if the bully still bullys the aggression is spread over more fish so one particular fish is less likely to suffer extremely.

Also, try moving the plants/decorations around just before you add any new fish because this means the bully will have to redefine any territories he has established, but he will be in competition with more fish so may end up further down the pecking order. If you just throw a few more fish into his territory he is more likely to be aggressive toward them aswell as the one he is already bullying.

Hope this helps, I have tried it in the past and it's always worked for me

 

[DonnaQ]

Thanks very much for all your help Im gonna re-arrange my tank today and see if that helps. I wasnt too sure if i could add any more fish just now as i had just got the 2 plattys a week ago. tTis is all new to me so really appreciate all your help I'll keep you posted on how its all going

 

[Doph89]

I would test your water before you but any more in, if you don't have a kit your fish shop should do it for you (mine charges a pound per test, but some do it for free).

If everything is within safe levels (ie. nitrates, nitrites and ammonia either very low or undetectable) then put some more in, 1 or 2 at a time is normally best in smaller tanks so you don't overload the filter. Then leave a week or so and test the water again and you can add 1 or 2 more.

http/badmanstropicalfish.com/profiles/profile4.html for a bit of basic info.

 

[DonnaQ]

Hi

Thought i would give you a wee update. Moved th plants around and the bullying was still carrying on so changed my water got it tested fro free at pets@home and added 2 female platty's. The bullying seems to still be going on but definatley not as much as before. Thanks for all your help on this one.

Got another little problem tho...now i have 4 platty's and the smalledst one (the one thats getting bullied) is not coming up for food and the 3 bigger plattys are now eating all the food. The smaller platty is really really small compared to the other ones and it needs the food to grow i assume..any advice???

 

[DonnaQ]

Hi

Thought i would give you a wee update. Moved th plants around and the bullying was still carrying on so changed my water got it tested fro free at pets@home and added 2 female platty's. The bullying seems to still be going on but definatley not as much as before. Thanks for all your help on this one.

Got another little problem tho...now i have 4 platty's and the smalledst one (the one thats getting bullied) is not coming up for food and the 3 bigger plattys are now eating all the food. The smaller platty is really really small compared to the other ones and it needs the food to grow i assume..any advice???