All This Fighting - I Can't Cope!

[natural blue nina]

For about a week now my boy Platy has been getting at the three girls. They have been in the tank for 2 weeks, and for the first week or so, all were perfectly happy, with the exception of some male chasing and 'stabbing' when Mickey Blue Fish got too horny. However, the chasing is now not followed by Mickey trying to get his endaway - he seems to be trying to nip at the girls, and they're really scared of him and starting to get scared of each other. Also, one of the girls appears to have a blemish - maybe the beginning of whitespot (is grey at the moment - tried to get pics but no batteries in camera) or maybe a war scar from Mickey being mean. Aren't Platy's supposed to be friendly?

Anyway, went to the LFS this weekend with the view to purchase some new fish which might divert Mickey's attention away from his sisters. Came away with a male and female Golden Panchax, both of which Mickey has tried to welcome with his willy-fin! These guys are bickering between themselves also, but I'm putting that down to new-home stress and stuff, and hopefully will settle down.

Some stats:
pH - 7.4 - stable
Ammonia - 0 - for about a week
Nitrite - 0 - for about 5 days
Nitrate - About 5.

Used Platy's for cycling with fish - although they seem to be more stressed since I came out of the end of the cycle.
Had a bit of a re-org of tank yesterday, adding some pretend plants to my existing live ones and creating a forest type area to allow the girls to hide and have a rest when they need it. They appear to be making the most of this area but still all get frequently hassled.

Is the behaviour I'm seeing normal? Am I being a paranoid first time fish-parent? Do I need to treat what could potentially be disease? Or wait to see if it develops?

Help / Advice greatly recieved!

Cheers, Nina

 

[WILDER]

Right time out period, get a container and put him in it at the top of the tank.
The grey mark where is it on the fish, is she flicking and rubbing on objects.
Sometimes before whitespot breaks out you can see tiny little bubbles on the fish.
Is the tank only a 6gal.

 

[natural blue nina]

Hey! Thanks for quick response!

OK. He's in a clear-ish waterjug with plenty of room but obvious enough so that he knows he's been a naughty boy. Is it Ok to leave him in there until tomorrow morning?

The mark is on her head, on the side, quite high. She doesn't appear to be trying to scratch an itch by rubbing against anything - in fact- she seems oblivious! Can't see any bubbles.

Tank is 10 UK gallons

 

[WILDER]

He has to be in a container in the tank, though he probably will jump out.
Right the grey patches can be a number of things from bacterial to parasite.
Do the patches have any red around them on the edges.

 

[natural blue nina]

Yup - jug is in corner of tank and contains tank water - the rest appear to be laughing at him!

Managed to get a pic - trying to work out how to get it up on here now........

No red patches!

Just above her eye

 

[WILDER]

Lol well he shouldn't be a naughty boy.
Ok a pic would be good, but sometimes they can help or be deceiving.

For now I would just add some melafix.
Watch for flicking and rubbing, and also if the patch gets bigger and any change in colour.

 

[natural blue nina]

Ok wicked - will go to LFS tomorrow. Its lights out time for fishies now so hopefully they will get a relaxing night!

Thanks for your help!

 

[WILDER]

When the male platy gets out of hand put him in the jug.
If that dosn't sort him out you might have to rehome him.
If thats only a 6gal tank you are overstocked, and livebearers are active fish and need plenty of swimming space.
Really shouldn't keep them in anything less than a 10gal.

 

[dwarfgourami]

35 ltrs is 9 US gallons. IMO this is on the small side for keeping male and female platies together, as there is nowhere for the females to escape. I would try to rehome him and just keep the females. I would also not keep clown plecs in here, they may be small but they are quite messy. All sorts of health problems can arise from dodgy water stats.

 

[natural blue nina]

OK thanks. I'm well aware of the poo machines that my Plecs will become - am keeping it clean by regular gravel cleans and water changes....... I guess I'll monitor it and make a decision when it looks like it may get out of hand!

Cheers guys!