HeatherW
New Member
Hi,
I'm having problems in my 20 gallon, see below, that has platies and mollies.
The mollies were added along with 2 platies about 3 weeks ago.
One female molly is being awful to the other one. The bully is getting stronger and livlier by the day while the bullied one has gotten thinner and hides most of the time. Most of the bullying occurs during feeding time, the bully is quite a food hog and scares away the platies also when they get too close to her eating. While she chases the platies a short distance away and then ignores them, she chases the other molly relentlessly and will not let her get anywhere near the surface to feed.
Because they were introduced to an established tank, I'd hoped no aggression would result. When I add platies this usually does not happen. Are mollies more aggressive? The tank is well planted with plastic plants and ornaments. I also rearrange stuff each week during the water change, to help avoid fish getting territorial.
So if this fish has it out for the other one, do I return the healthier but meaner one to the store?
Do I return the picked on and less likely to thrive one?
Will adding another female molly spread out the aggression more than having the platies does?
What if I add one more female molly and they both get picked on?
I really don't want to add fish, as I like the current stocking levels. Can mollies peacefully exist when there are only 2, if there are other fish? Or do mollies need a minimum number within their species to not pick on each other?
Anyone with experience have suggestions?
Heather
I'm having problems in my 20 gallon, see below, that has platies and mollies.
The mollies were added along with 2 platies about 3 weeks ago.
One female molly is being awful to the other one. The bully is getting stronger and livlier by the day while the bullied one has gotten thinner and hides most of the time. Most of the bullying occurs during feeding time, the bully is quite a food hog and scares away the platies also when they get too close to her eating. While she chases the platies a short distance away and then ignores them, she chases the other molly relentlessly and will not let her get anywhere near the surface to feed.
Because they were introduced to an established tank, I'd hoped no aggression would result. When I add platies this usually does not happen. Are mollies more aggressive? The tank is well planted with plastic plants and ornaments. I also rearrange stuff each week during the water change, to help avoid fish getting territorial.
So if this fish has it out for the other one, do I return the healthier but meaner one to the store?
Do I return the picked on and less likely to thrive one?
Will adding another female molly spread out the aggression more than having the platies does?
What if I add one more female molly and they both get picked on?
I really don't want to add fish, as I like the current stocking levels. Can mollies peacefully exist when there are only 2, if there are other fish? Or do mollies need a minimum number within their species to not pick on each other?
Anyone with experience have suggestions?
Heather
