Aggressive Livebearers

[TF Keeper UK]

I just wondered which out of the mollies, platies and guppies is the most aggressive?

I have a tank born black molly (Sooty) who is aggressive to all other occupants in the tank. She coming up to a year old and is about 2inches long.

She's the 1st to the food and will bully the other fish for food.

Every now and again, I put her in isolation for the sake of the other fish. When she's released back into the community, she's as good as gold for a week or so then she starts again.

Is this behaviour normal for a molly or is she missing her own kind?

 

[Annastasia]

Out of those, I'd say Mollies.

Mollies will sometimes be aggressive. It sounds like you got one of those. I also think there's a lot of fish in that tank, and she feels threatened about getting food. I doubt adding more fish into that would help her. Is there anyway you could seperate her into another tank, and perhaps put her with some non-threatening fish like Cories.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

I've got a smaller tank upstairs, but that has 6 guppies and 3 platies in there plus 5 corys.

 

[Annastasia]

Hmmm...is that where you seperate her to?

I'd try that...and if that doesn't work, I really don't know. Some are just very aggressive fish. Maybe try heavily decorating/planting the big tank, and see if that makes a difference. More of her own kind might help, but I don't see how you'd have room for them.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

I isolate her in a nursery net within the main tank. She doesn't like it for the 1st hour, then she gets used to it , then i release back into the tank after a day or 2.

That's a current picture of her confinement.

 

[Annastasia]

I personally wouldn't put her in there as it could greatly stress her out...but anyway. I'd try her in the other tank, and see how that works. Or, as I said, try heavily decorating/planting that tank.

Maybe someone else will have another idea...but I don't see a lot of options right now. Of course, I am sick and slow, so that may play a part.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

I wouldn't say all Americans are sick & slow!

Ill try adding some more decorations when i do the weekly water change.

Del

 

[love_fish]

Get a few floating plants. Those greatly help survival.

Wait are you doing survival of the fittest, or are you raising the babies in the net. What seems to work as prtection for the babies for me is the net itself! At least five of the babies that are given birth to, hide inbetween the net and glass. in my tank, maybe it'll work with you too.

 

[TF Keeper UK]

The 3 swordtail fry will stay there til they get big enough (about thumbnail size), then i'll put them in main tank til they are about an inch or so then i'll give them to a friend who takes my fry off me.