Fish Switch?

[Kairi]

We bought what we *thought* were mollys... crazy people at Petco don't know what they are talking about. They are calico Platys. Anyways, that said- there are 3 males and 1 female. One male is aggressive, one is stressed out, and the other seems normal. Regardless, I'm not diggin' the mean one... he's picking on the other fish; and the stressed one, I feel bad for him- he just doesn't look happy.

Now, today I'm headed to the store b/c I need to get a filter for the bettas tank, and a couple other things, and if need be, I can take these fish back w/ me and change them for either two females (take two males back) or take all 4 back for a different type of fish... what do y'all think? I'm attached to these little guys and would feel bad for taking them back, but honestly, I can tell that one is not enjoying life, and their male to female ratio is out of whack as it is.

 

[Annastasia]

If you're enjoying them, then the best thing to do would be to take some back and get the male to female ratio right. If you don't, the males can get very aggressive towards each other, and the female will get very stressed out. So it would be best for all to exchange them for some females.

 

[Kairi]

We looked last night, and they didn't have any more of this 'kind' of fish though... well, they did, bu they were all males- and there were only 3- none of which were swimming around. Can I trade them for marble mollys? Will that bug the platys?

 

[Bloo]

Mollies get quite large - and some of them 4". Are you planning on putting them in your 10 gallon

 

[Annastasia]

Well, if they are going to go in the 10 gallon, then no. Unfortunatly, Mollies will get too big to be happy in a 10g. Depending on the kind, some can get to 6". Maybe just take the males back, and wait to see if they get more females in?

 

[Kairi]

they say the adult size is only 2.5 inches... (well, on the ones we were looking at)

 

[Annastasia]

Were they Balloon Mollies? Because those are the only kind that I can imagine they'd say get to 2.5". They usually get to more around 3 1/2 - 4" though. And regular Mollies will get to 4-5". Sailfins to 6". None of them can really be happy in that tank for life, so I'd suggest you don't get them.

 

[Kairi]

Ok. Will the one male and one female left be ok?

 

[Annastasia]

Hmmm...for a bit, I suppose. How long until you can get more females, do you know? And I'm plant the tank up, and decorate it very well so the female can have places to hide. If it's going to be more then a few days, I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Kairi]

I think I'm just going to take all 3 of the males back today... she's being annoyed by the other two males. Poor girl.

 

[Annastasia]

Yeah, that's probably the best. You don't want her getting too stressed out. If you ever see anymore females, you can always get another male if you want.