Platy Problem

[minimad]

Hi, I am new to these forums and fish keeping in general so please be nice

Anyways on to the problem, I have recently brought a 60l tank and done a fishless cycle (I believe complete but only have test strips which I have read are not the best) anyway I brought 2 platys at the weekend (Sunday) I believe I have ended up with one male (completely orange) and one female (Silver with a blue spot on the tale fin)
The problem seems to be that the female is 'bullying' the male especially at meal times as she seems to chase him around the tank, I have also noticed that the male has a lazy fine on one side, I think the kids described it best as a 'Nemo fin' as he does not use it much, although we don’t know if this is a problem that he had in the store or a consequence of this 'bullying'

Am I correct in thinking it might be a form of bullying or is it more likely just play or her already being pregnant and just being protective? Or am I missing something entirely? Would it be better to get another Platy to maybe even out the attention?

Please any advice would be much appreciated since I do not want to walk down stairs one morning and find a dead little fishy

 

[seangee]

Hi, I am new to these forums and fish keeping in general so please be nice

Anyways on to the problem, I have recently brought a 60l tank and done a fishless cycle (I believe complete but only have test strips which I have read are not the best) anyway I brought 2 platys at the weekend (Sunday) I believe I have ended up with one male (completely orange) and one female (Silver with a blue spot on the tale fin)
The problem seems to be that the female is 'bullying' the male especially at meal times as she seems to chase him around the tank, I have also noticed that the male has a lazy fine on one side, I think the kids described it best as a 'Nemo fin' as he does not use it much, although we don’t know if this is a problem that he had in the store or a consequence of this 'bullying'

Am I correct in thinking it might be a form of bullying or is it more likely just play or her already being pregnant and just being protective? Or am I missing something entirely? Would it be better to get another Platy to maybe even out the attention?

Please any advice would be much appreciated since I do not want to walk down stairs one morning and find a dead little fishy

They usually recommend 2 females for every male. Are you sure you haven't got the male and female mixed up. My males are always chasing the females. That's why you need more females so they get a break.

 

[minimad]

yes i am pretty sure i have the sex's correct, the blue spotted one has a fan shaped anal fin whereas the orange one has an elongated one

 

[babybell911]

Maybe she's bullying him because he's harassing her too much. I'd try getting some more ladies. That way you can spread out some aggression

 

[5teady_2012]

You need to get more females so the male is not harrasing 1 particluar female all the time, this was it should calm everything down.

 

[levic991]

Hi, I have a question about my Platies. I have one male and two females, Red Wag Tail. I bought them March 29th and I am home all day, every day and have not seen any fries. One of my Black Mollies gave birth today to 17 but the Platies don't even look like they will. The temp runs around 80 degrees, I have a 20 gal. tank, Ph 7.4, Amm. safe. I also have about six Neons and now 17 little Black Molly fries. Any suggestions why they are getting preg?

 

[5teady_2012]

When you purchased them, they would have already been pregnant, females store sperm packets and use them over a 6-8 month period..

They can have up to 6 (possibly more) drops from just one mating..

So... every 4-6 weeks for 6-8 months (ish) the female with drop fry.