Aggressive Female Platy

[slimeneo]

I got 2 female bumblebee platies around two weeks ago. At first they were ok, it was clear that one of them (Naomi) was more aggressive than the other tankmates. But it wasn't anything terrible (at first anyway), and the other bumblebee platy (Genesis) was pregnant so I guess Naomi followed her around all the time so she could eat the fry. Well, I wasn't there when Genesis had the babies but I did find 2 and they are happily living in a breeder net in the tank.

I have a good amount of plants, both real and fake. So they shouldn't have problems hiding, but the thing is, Naomi will have random temper tantrums and start chasing all the fish who come close to her. She'll charge at them for no reason! She chases Genesis, and because she's the same size as Naomi, she'll nip back. Genesis is pregnant again, so I don't think Naomi is helping

Owen (red platy I've had prior to Naomi) is the smallest platy in the tank and he's been nipped on his tail and dorsal fin. I did a salt dip for him today and he seems to be much happier, fanning out his dorsal fin and anal fin much more. However he's still being bullied by Naomi

Tank stats: 10 gal, 2 gold barbs, 2 red platys, 2 bumblebee platys, 2 platy fry. I know it's a bit crowded...

I would be willing to exchange Naomi for another at the petstore, but is there anything I can do for her so she stops trying to kill everyone in my tank? Could it be that she just wants to mate? The 2 red platys (male) are not fully developed and don't have a gonopodium yet.... so basically there are no males in the tank. Could that be why she's so aggressive?

 

[KittyKat]

Puntius semifasciolatus grow up to 75 mm SL (i.e. longer including tail) and are a schooling fish, so need a much larger tank (at least 90 cm/3 ft long) and at least 4 other companions of their own kind, and ideally 8+ others of their own kind. It is possible that they are picking on the platys when you are not looking, as keeping shoaling fish individually does affect their behaviour, this is more obvious with tiger barbs, but also applies to other shoalers.

Platys are naturally moderately aggressive, and you are keeping them in a tank that's not exactly huge. How is the decor? Do they have plenty of plants and other things to hide behind/in? What sex is the other red coloured platy?

 

[slimeneo]

Yeah, I used to have 6 gold barbs but then something came over my tank and they disappeared (probably died then eaten by the platies), now I only have 2 left and I clearly don't have enough room for more >.< but they seem to be ok, not stressed or anything... or attacking any fish.

I have a lot of growing moneywort, some other assorted plants with lots of big leaves to hide in (dracaena? I can't quite remember the names) a spiral bamboo (leaves out of the water) and 4+ fake plants, so they have plenty of places to hide. And also a spongebob pineapple house.

The red platies I believe are both late developing males (http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/403621-platy-male-or-female/page__p__3397788__fromsearch__1#entry3397788), they don't try to mate with the females.

 

[snazy]

Platies are not aggressive at all, well not mine anyway. It must be something bothering her. Are you sure Naomi is not a male?
It could be also because she is stressed herself, or she is pregnant as well. Some of them can get angry when pregnant. Or the water conditions maybe...? It could also be temporary and they are just establishing who's the boss. How long have you had her for?

I have quite a few female platies in one tank and they are getting on along great but they are all sisters and their mother.
I do have 3 males in another tank though. Two of them(the red ones) have become friends and are inseparable, the third(yellow) one is always chased away and is not accepted which I can't understand why. No nipping involved but the two reds charge at the yellow if he tries to swim with them. The tank is huge for them though, so they have their own space. I can't explain why they don't get along, the only reason is maybe the colour difference, or because the two reds are brothers and know each other from birth and the yellow grew up in another tank as he had a different mother. I actually put the reds to keep company to the yellow male as he was the only platy in this tank and thought he was an albino cory, but not to be Poor loner

 

[slimeneo]

Haha, yea the 2 red platies I have are pretty close, and I believe Naomi and Genesis are sisters or at least somehow related because of their very close coloring. I'm positive that Naomi's female. I've had Naomi and Genesis for 2 weeks now (approx) and her aggression only started getting really bad recently. I'm pretty sure she's not pregnant, but I could be wrong... Water conditions are fine, 0 amm, 0 nitrite, 5-10 nitrate, 74 deg F.

It's interesting though, I think they do separate each other based on color... well except Naomi, she just hates everyone @_@ she's calmer now, but out of nowhere she'll have another tantrum Earlier today when it was getting bad, I put her in "time-out" in a little plastic container for 5 minutes until she seemed sort of calm, then put her back in. It was effective for about 2 minutes

 

[snazy]

As long as she doesn't do damage to the others, I'd give her time. She should calm down eventually. I have a very old video of when I got an albino koi swordtail female. She used to chase the hell out of my corys but stopped eventually, though they got separated afterwars for other reasons.

Here is a link from the video I uploaded(turn off the volume!!! sorry for the noise ). But it gives you an idea how bad she was:


http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRR5hZErhfc

 

[slimeneo]

Haha, that's cute. Well Owen's fins have been bitten and I'm assuming it was Naomi, but I'll give her some time. It's funny, I just saw one of my gold barbs try to school with one of the bumblebee platies (I guess because they are the same color) and started following her around and copying all her movements. Clearly she wasn't enjoying it but I found it really entertaining haha.