Molly Bully?

[Robin66]

Hi folks

I'm new to building a community tank. Right now we have a ten gallon tank with a heater, a filter, two imitation plants, a large decoration (castle) and a small one (bridge). We started with three platies, and a while later added a molly and a cory, as well as a golden apple snail. There are now three platy fry who are a few weeks old and nobody seems to trouble them.

They all seem to eat fine, and get along... with one recent exception. The molly has been getting aggressive with the other fish. He seems to be constantly poking at one fish or another.

Is this common? We chose the fish we did as I read that they are all quite agreeable to cohabitating with the others.

I'm not even really sure if this is a problem, but it does seem to me that the molly is harassing the others.

I can't figure out if there is anything that I can do. A stern talking-to doesn't seem to have helped.

Any suggestions?

Thanks
Robin

 

[Nikkig85]

I have got a bully Molly!! She is a nightmare but the other fish don't seem to care!
The other molly has somehow managed to get close to her and she's pregnant!
If the other fish start to look stressed it may be a problem.

I'm new so no expert.. others will probley help more. Ihave been told that the males are normally the bullies.

Is the bully in your tank male or female?

 

[Jazzzz]

Your tank is only 10gallons and this is being reduced further by a large castle and bridge.

It simply is not big enough for her to get on.

The cory though is your biggest problem as they like to be in groups. 1 on his own will be shy and stressed

 

[lilfishie]

what sex is the molly, if its male then its probably trying to mate with the platies nothing will ever happen there but don't tell him that

if female, could be pregnant, i have found mollies to turn nasty during late pregnancy

 

[always4lora]

i got given a sailfin molly by my parents as it didnt get on with anything in her 10-12 gallon tank , put it in my 4' an it harrases my kissing gourami's which are about 4 inch so double to size of the molly. doesn't bother anything else just the gourami

 

[Robin66]

what sex is the molly, if its male then its probably trying to mate with the platies nothing will ever happen there but don't tell him that

if female, could be pregnant, i have found mollies to turn nasty during late pregnancy

I think you nailed it, lilfishie. The fish has settled down, but in the last week looks a lot... larger. Particularly the bottom half. So... I guess that mean's she's a she, and she's pregnant! That's my current theory anyway. We'll know eventually!

Thanks!

Thanks also for the comments about tank size and the lonely cory.

 

[OldMan47]

Welcome to the forum Robin. If you are not sure of the molly's gender there is a clear picture here http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=13664 that shows how to tell them apart in a platy. Platies and mollies have the same basic look to males and females.