Why are my Platties so mean??

[cat-fish]

Hi,
Last night I brought a new male guppy home to my recently started tank (7-4-04). In the 10 gl tank there are 3 female guppies, 1 female platty and 2 male platties. One of the male platys went berserk harassing him. First I isolated the offending platy, then isolated the new male guppy when the other fish turned on him, in the morning the guppy was dead. I would very much like to bring more platys and guppies into my tank to equalize the boy girl ratios a little. Will the new fish be safe? How come my peaceful fish got so mean? Any help for this newbie would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[vetra70]

I dont have an answer but that is very strange and uncommon. Never happened to me.Keep posting.

 

[Guppylover]

...this sounds like a territorial problem to me...
What's the size of your tank?

 

[cat-fish]

I'm still learning how to use this site so I'm not only a newbie with fish, I'm also a newbie to posting on the internet. Thanks for responding to my question and for the moral support. Next time I think that I'll introduce more than 1 fish. If that same platty gets another attitude with them he may have to have a "time out" in the breeding box for a day or two.

 

[Wisperian]

disconfigured... are you sure the other fish aren't somehow harrasing the offending male? :wuv: i just LOVE livebearers for they're cannabalism lol *blushes* j/k

 

[suspectdebbie]

I am also new to fishkeeping. When I asked recently I was told the better ratio for platys is 1 male to 2 females, so maybe they are beeing territorial.

 

[cat-fish]

Thanks again for the suggestions. Tonight I added 3 new female platties and another male guppy. That brings my total to 1 cat fish, 2 male platties, 4 female platties, 3 female guppies and one male guppy in my 10 gl tank. So far everyone seems to be doing fine. I think this is a good number to stop at. Thanks again everyone.