naughty nipping platys

[rachhnz]

we have 2 platys in our 200L community tank, which when we purchased them, over a month ago we thought one male one female, however in last week or so we have become suspicious that they both males, now a bit bigger and easier to sex. we have swordtails as well, and one we are pretty sure is pregnant, from the activity we have had it would seem a platy is the father!!! just today the two platys are really having a go at each other, tying themselves up in circles, nipping tails and sides of bodies. have seperated them and put one in the guppy trap for a while to let them cool off. are they fighting or perhaps we are sexing them wrong and mating? if we put them back together will they kill each other or happily sort it out between them? naughty platys seem very growly!!!

 

[ADelphi]

I have 4 male platies, my orange micky mouse and calico white seem to have pair bonded and never much leave each others side even though they're males, you can see them together in my sig, the other two which are a tuxedo and a rainbow, sometimes try to break the pair bonded males apart, i came down this morning to see rainbow and calico fiercely fighting, just as you said as in tying them themselves up in circles, nipping bodies and fins. They seem to have sorted themselves out now but for how long, if i had room i would introduce females.

My list of fish in a heavily planted 28 uk gallon. I do a weekly 25% water change and have an internal fluval 3 plus and an external eheim classic.

4 male platies.

5 male guppies.

3 male endlers.

3 queen loaches.

2 zebra oto's.

7 cardinals.

 

[Annastasia]

Sounds like they are fighting. One possible solution to stop this would be to get 4-6 female Platies. However, this will lead to a lot of fry, which I'm not sure you'll want to deal with.

It is possible a Platy is the father. Swordtails and Platies can interbreed.

As for the aggression again...is there anyway you could split them up? Because otherwise it could just get worse. One will most likely become dominant, and stress the other one out by continually picking on it. Another option is getting a few more males, to spread aggression out. Planting your tank, and having lots of hiding places and decorations work well too.

 

[ADelphi]

I've had to take my male rainbow platy out of the tank as he was trying to mate franticly with the white calico male.

The moral here i think is do not keep male platies without females, i've had all these males for a couple of months now and they were peaceful. It seems the calico male is the attention of the others affections. Calico seems to tolerate the orange mm even though he is trying to mate as well.

I don't think having more males is the answer as they all seem to be a bit gay

I'm starting to think its better to let them exhibit natural behaviour, as in breeding, don't forget most of the fry will get eaten so that is not much to worry about.

I'm going to get a couple more tanks but it wont be till after christmas.

 

[Annastasia]

I've sucessfully get all male Platy tanks before, and never had trouble. Some males are just naturally more aggressive. Sometimes it just won't work out. But generally speaking, more males is better, because then if you have a hugely aggressive one, he won't just stress one fish to death.

Getting female Platies probably is the best bet for your situation. Just make sure to get at least 2 females per male, otherwise you'll have the same troubles all over again.

 

[ADelphi]

Calico seemed the object of desire to all, so all the males were interested in him not just one aggressive male which made it difficult. Have you ever seen this behaviour males trying to mate males?

I've taken calico back and will also take orange mm when i can catch him, which isn't easy once they know you wish to do so in a heavily planted tank i did try for an hour an a half. I do not want to stress them. It is horrible having to take them back to the lfs.

I'm going to introduce 4 females. I do have a fry net/isolation pit

I am worried about being over stocked with fish, do you think its a good idea to do 40% weekly water changes instead of 25%.

And Annastasia your advise is always greatly appreciated, i see you often helping us newbies out. I'm also sure i saw you have horses, i've had horses all my life. Now if i had to catch a difficult horse i'd just kneel on the floor till he came up to me *monty roberts*

 

[Annastasia]

Yep. Male Livebearers try to mate with anything! And I mean anything. They will usually try to mate with the weakest one or the one on the bottom of the pecking order though, because the others will just bite them back.

It's good you took him back, because you don't want him getting totally stressed out. However, you may just have the same problem with another fish, once he finds out he's at the bottom. Adding females sounds like a good idea though. Make sure you get at least 2 females per male.

And I do 50% once a week, and don't usually have problems. It's only really a problem if you have fish that can't handle change too well. What fish do you have besides Platies? Or you can always split it up into 25% twice a week.

And thanks. I'm glad to know someone appreciates my helping out. Yep, I keep horses. I have posted some pictures of them in the Household Pets section, and I'll get you the links if you'd like to see them.

 

[ADelphi]

I'll look on the household pets section

I have put my orange mm in the holding pen, took me ages to catch him and i had to remove a few plants too all replanted now and now i don't want to take him back.

I am getting more tanks but not till after christmas, then i can put fry and extra platies in there but until then i'll be over stocked

I have now 4 small females, but i've just noticed one has a bottom lip missing, what has caused this? is it some kind of rot? it looks clean, is it silly of me to ask will it grow back, one of her side fins are damaged aswell poor thing.

 

[Annastasia]

It sounds like she's been the subject of aggression. Her bottom lip will grow, or it should. However, you will need to closely watch it to make sure it doesn't get infected, and doesn't get fungused. And you only have 2 male Platies now? Otherwise you have too few females.

As for your male, why does he need to be trapped now? Unless I am missing something (Which happens...a lot ) Otherwise, you'll need to take him back because he'll get stressed being in a Breeder net/trap.

And if you just leave the fry in with the parents, they'll do a survival of the fittest. I know it sounds cruel, but it's good fry control. And you are left with stronger fry.

 

[ClaireN]

I'm glad to know someone appreciates my helping out.

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Annastasia

In pretty sure that everybody that you have helped out appreciates it , I know I do cause you have helped me out before, we just forget to say thank you sometimes, which is wrong.

 

[Annastasia]

Awww, thanks Claire. I'm glad to know my help is appreciated. Of course, even if it wasn't, I'd continue anyway, because I just love helping. But it's nice to know.

And don't worry if you forget to thank me, it's fine. I'm not going to hold a grudge, and not help you out again or anything!

 

[ADelphi]

I'm going to treat with MYXAZIN just in case it is mouth rot.

 

[Annastasia]

I haven't heard or seen that medication, so I couldn't tell you anything about it, but I'd say just go for one treatment. I guess that's 3-5 applications.

Best of luck with it though! I send my get well soon fishy wishes to her.