Could One Balloon Molly Have Killed The Other?

[wendyngd]

Last night, before I went to be, one female grey balloon molly was aggressively chasing the other (female orange--who is bigger, too)---nudging her again and again--and woke up this morning to find the orange one being chased upside down and dead at bottom of tank!! Could one really have killed the other? --only thing I noticed different lately was grey one was hovering in the unlit end of the 10 gal--bulb went out a few days ago.---

I'm sad 'cause this tough little orange gal had been through a few tough times with us (like moving) and hung in there.

Thanks.
-Wendy

 

[theotheragentm]

Livebearers will often hide themselves away in a dark area before birthing. Chasing fish away is a way to get their privacy during the birthing process. It is unlikely that one fish killed the other fish directly. The stress may have caused the death of the fish. Also, often times fish will pick on sick or weak fish. The orange one may have already been sick.

 

[wendyngd]

Thanks. I appreciate the input--helps me solve the mystery, possibly.

-Wendy

 

[foxy_lady126]

Last night, before I went to be, one female grey balloon molly was aggressively chasing the other (female orange--who is bigger, too)---nudging her again and again--and woke up this morning to find the orange one being chased upside down and dead at bottom of tank!! Could one really have killed the other? --only thing I noticed different lately was grey one was hovering in the unlit end of the 10 gal--bulb went out a few days ago.---

I'm sad 'cause this tough little orange gal had been through a few tough times with us (like moving) and hung in there.

Thanks.
-Wendy

Although I'm most definately no fish expert, I experienced something very similar. I had brought home two female balloon molly and had them less than three days before one gave birth. I noticed the new mommy pecking at the other female and the next morning the picked on female had a reddish bumb on her lip. The mother was acting crazy, swimming up and down over and over and ramming herself into the side of the tank, and continuing to pick at the other female. I woke up the next morning to see the murder had been committed. The next morning i found that mommy fish had rammed herself to death.

I think my problem was that I only had two fish in the tank, both female, so mommy fish felt threatened and got territorial. But in any case, I sympathize with you!

 

[wendyngd]

Last night, before I went to be, one female grey balloon molly was aggressively chasing the other (female orange--who is bigger, too)---nudging her again and again--and woke up this morning to find the orange one being chased upside down and dead at bottom of tank!! Could one really have killed the other? --only thing I noticed different lately was grey one was hovering in the unlit end of the 10 gal--bulb went out a few days ago.---

I'm sad 'cause this tough little orange gal had been through a few tough times with us (like moving) and hung in there.

Thanks.
-Wendy

Although I'm most definately no fish expert, I experienced something very similar. I had brought home two female balloon molly and had them less than three days before one gave birth. I noticed the new mommy pecking at the other female and the next morning the picked on female had a reddish bumb on her lip. The mother was acting crazy, swimming up and down over and over and ramming herself into the side of the tank, and continuing to pick at the other female. I woke up the next morning to see the murder had been committed. The next morning i found that mommy fish had rammed herself to death.

I think my problem was that I only had two fish in the tank, both female, so mommy fish felt threatened and got territorial. But in any case, I sympathize with you!

Thanks -Wendy