Aggresive Platy

[mercedesruiz]

i have a 20G tank with 1 male platy and 1 chinese algae eater, i bought a new male platy 6 days ago but the old one is always bothering the new guy, and the poor new one has to hide in a castle ornament always, because as soon as he gets out the other start to chase it, it's so bad with the new i think is a territorial problem .

I bought new ornaments to distract it but no success, I feel too bad not sure what to do…either bought females or another fish specie

Please help!!

 

[greenmumma141]

2 male fish of the same species will always lead to aggression issues if there are no females. I would suggest getting female platies in there. you should have 3 females per male at least.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I had the opposite, I had two females and my new female bothered the old female (older one was younger LOL). I added more females to try and work it out but it never worked out and grumpy miss platy moved into my other tank with guppies and neons and is perfectly happy.

I'd do something similar to above... though I'd return one of the males and get a few females instead.

 

[greenmumma141]

I had the opposite, I had two females and my new female bothered the old female (older one was younger LOL). I added more females to try and work it out but it never worked out and grumpy miss platy moved into my other tank with guppies and neons and is perfectly happy.

I'd do something similar to above... though I'd return one of the males and get a few females instead.

There always seems to be the grumpy female doesn't there? heehee

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Yeah, the one I've had the longest and the two new ones all get along like lifelong friends now... along with all the babies from miss grumpy platy. LOL

 

[greenmumma141]

When I had my first tank, I kept platies, and I actually miss them a lot. They're really easy, and theyre not messy and I miss finding babies and helping them hide in the tank lol In the end, I want something that schooled more, but I do miss them

 

[mercedesruiz]

Thanks for all the replys,

What if i don't wanna have babies? because if i introduce female, soon i'll have a lot of babies!! ohh no!! what am i going to do with all of them? my tank is only 20 Gallons and i don't want to over-stock it.

Do you think it will help if i introduce another fish specie? and if so what do you recommend? what fishes are compatible with platies?

Thanks!!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Well... if you could find a breeder who separates them early on you could buy all females (and would have to re-home your males though).

I keep guppies and neon tetras with Miss Grumpy platy, they all work well together. Would be the same issue with guppies though (re-breeding). I have kept, in the past, all male guppies in one tank and all females in another. Male guppies are less aggressive and mostly follow each other around trying to show off and breed.... LOL

 

[greenmumma141]

Platies are pretty easy in that they can be kept with most other species. I actually cannot think of a single community fish that shouldn't be kept with platies. The options are limitless

 

[Concaj1]

I would suggest you return the new male and swap for females, if you dont want babies make sure there are no hiding places, the babies will then provide protein for your existing fish!
If you only buy females, be aware though that many females are already pregnant when you buy them, the other option is to have lots of males and no females, that way aggression will be shared amoungst the group, and with no females to fight over this does help keep things calm, I have a large Malawi set up and this method works for me.

 

[mercedesruiz]

Thanks!!

How long do i have to wait between adding new fish to the tank? i don't want to mess with the nitrites, i read that i have to add fishes one by one, but not i'm not sure what is the waiting period.

Thanks!