Agressive Platies?

[kmknits]

I have a M/F pair of platies that have become quite "exclusive" in my tank. They are constantly together and they've started to chase any new comers. I've not seen any fin damage...are they just "king & queen" of the tank and establishing their hierarchy with the newbies?

 

[random919]

they are showing donminance. my mollies are the same. i have a breeding pair and then one that he will breed with as well but the other is beaten up. we re finding a new home for her and possibly him soon. I would reccomend that if you are going to have any small newbies, that you get rid of him from that tank. the female will show her dominance by tail slapping them but they will be fine. add him back in a couple of days once they have settled in. Otherwise possibly put him in a breeder trap every evening for a couple fo hours to give the rest of the community a chance to feed and swim about for a bit. Also make sure there is hiding places so they aren't continually beaten up.
Hope this helps
Random919

 

[kmknits]

Unfortunately, this fish is too smart for his own good and I can't get him out of the tank without tearing it down -lol! The good side of that is that I do have plenty of hiding places for the other fish...he just uses them to his advantage when I come looking for him. Will things calm down after the new guys have been in the tank more than a few days, or will he kill them with all the stress of being chased around so much...they are smaller than him -he is the biggest and apparently the smartest one in the tank?