Female Platy hiding

[BridgetteP]

one of my female platies is hiding all the time. she is the smaller of 3. I hve seen the male platy chasing her. Why is he being aggresive? Do I have too many girls for one boy?(10 gal.) any suggestions?

 

[tstenback]

Welcome to the forum BridgetteP
There are never enough girls for one boy platy . The males of this species are relentless. How long have you had these fish? The female may actually be hiding from the male as he may be constantly chasing her. If the fish are new then this combined with the chasing would surely make her hide.
Also are these the only fish in the tank and has the tank cycled?
The answers will better enable the people here to help you and your platy.

 

[BridgetteP]

Ok, I have had them for about 2 weeks. there are also some balloon mollies in the tank(1 boy 3 girls) its interesting because they kind just now started grouping togather with their own kind. but it seems both groups have left out the smaller females(platies and mollies) I made the usually beginner mistake of not letting my tank cycle without fish (only 1 week without fish) but I have been making 20% water changes since on a regular basis (every few days) have a pinquin mini with bio wheel. put aquarium salt in with initial setup and then 1/2 a tablespoon after 2 water changes(4gal changeout) Actually the little balloon molly looks really fat! alot fatter than the other females. Maybe she's going to give birth, she's not hiding just hanging out at the surface and not being social.

 

[tstenback]

Where this is a new tank that is probably still cycling i would watch the fish carefully and do a 15% water change daily with dechlorinated water. Do you have a test kit to measure the levels of ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? If not it would be a great thing to get as soon as you can. It is often the only way to really determine what is going on in your tank. In the mean time feed lightly and do your water changes and if you get those readings post them so the good people here can offer advice based on the best information on your tank.

 

[BridgetteP]

Thanks for the advice!!! what testing kits are good , there are soo many!!!

 

[tstenback]

I personallyuse the liquid tests as i find they are more accurate at the lower end of the scale, but they do take a little more time(few minutes) and effort to do. The dip tests are easier and faster but are more expensive and the scale (at least the on the ones i used) leaves large gaps which leaves room for guessing.
So my recommendation would be to go with the liquid ones. You can buy them individually or you can get a master test kit (but you may have to buy a separate nitrate kit as these quite often do not come in the master kits). HTH