fighting Mollies

[SarahBravo]

I got 4 mollies about 7 weeks ago - they all settled in fine. About 2 weeks ago came home and found 2 trying to kill each other and they were the two that had always been together, like a little gang on their own. I'm guessing it was fighting, lots of lip locking, biting (sucking?) locked together rolling around, ragged fins. Not even chasing each other, but full body contact/straight for the throat type stuff. I seperated them and put what i thought was the agressor in the 'naughty' tank. Took her out after a week and put her back.... 2mins later exactly the same thing but the other one started it. Took the other one out, put that one in isolation for a week. Put her back in tonight..... 5 minutes of being best buddies and swimming together and it's back to full on fury. Is this normal behaviour? is it dangerous? Am I being over-nervous (bit of a newbie) or do they just have a major personality clash? I'd hate to keep one in isolation forever. And what could have kicked it off after so many weeks of being best buds??? Anyone got any thoughts??

dazed and confuzed....

 

[Tempestuousfury]

I would not have expected livebearers to do such a thing.

All that I can suggest is either put one into anyother tank permanently or give one or both away to make sure this doesn't happen again.

 

[balloon molly]

sounds like a fight for dominance theres little you can do about that but what i did was i had a male to stop the fighting and he would not have any fights going on in "his"tank.
i would just seperate both of them for a while.i mean for a very long time.or give them back to the lfs and get 2 new females.
but thats just me.
sorry i couldnt do more help.ill see if i can find some info.i know mollie female are really aggressive towards each other sometimes.

 

[willywonka099]

Dominance large males can sometimes solve the problem by ruling over the fish but sometimes you get a female who will control him too