stressed but not stressed

[panboy]

i have a platy in a 46, he is male and there is 1 more male and 2 more female platies, 4 total. he was being picked on a lot by the other platy, and would hide behind a plant and not move, unless it was eating time. so i took the "mean" platy out to see if it would get out behind the plant, and he has not. he is still there, his fins are not clamped either... what do i do with him?

 

[snowyangel]

A pecking order often will get established between fish and you can't prevent it. What you can reduce is the amount the victim gets picked on. Add more plants for the male to run to and hide in. Also, increasing your male/female ratio will distract the more dominate male onto the newly added females. I used to have this problem with my male guppies but after awhile they settle down. I find its the worst when they first get introduced, but as time passes the other males start to learn who's the leader and will respect and give him space.