Harrassed Platy

[moira467]

I'm new to tropical fishkeeping and after taking advice have stocked my tank with 6 male guppys, 1 male Platy, 3 female Platys and a bronze Cory.
Everything was fine but just lately the guppys have started pestering just one of the female Platys, so much so that she has now taken to hiding. Not even coming out to feed.
Any advice will be welcome.

 

[Gilli]

Male guppies are notorious sex pests - theres not much you can do im afraid.. You cant add any female guppies as you would need 3 females to every male to stop them being raped to death!!

 

[moira467]

Male guppies are notorious sex pests - theres not much you can do im afraid.. You cant add any female guppies as you would need 3 females to every male to stop them being raped to death!!

Thanks. Will all this harrassment eventually kill the Platy? If so I think the only option would be to swap the guppys for something else. Any ideas ?

 

[lilfishie]

what size is your tank?
could she be pregnant, as some males will harras heavily pregnant females into giving brith so they can have a snack

 

[Amunet]

what size is your tank?
could she be pregnant, as some males will harras heavily pregnant females into giving brith so they can have a snack

That's what happened with one of the new female platy we have.
The guppies harassed her so much she eventually died. Poor thing. If I had known the guppies would do that, I wouldn't have gotten them.

 

[5teady_2012]

I would take 4 male guppies back and replace them with 4 female guppies.

 

[lilfishie]

i don't have a problem with my only male guppy group with platies

 

[moira467]

what size is your tank?
could she be pregnant, as some males will harras heavily pregnant females into giving brith so they can have a snack

Its a 28L tank. I was told when I bought it that it would hold up to 15 fish and was advised on this stock for a colourful effect.
I did wonder if she was pregnant but she doesn't look it now, maybe she has given birth and supplied them with a snack, but they still won't leave her alone.

 

[lilfishie]

your tank is roughly 7 US gal so you are overstocked, i think you would need to either keep the guppies and rehome the rest (most recommended) or keep the platies annd get rid of the rest (although you will become overstocked again soon due to fry)

how long has the tank been setup? did you cycle it at all?

 

[moira467]

your tank is roughly 7 US gal so you are overstocked, i think you would need to either keep the guppies and rehome the rest (most recommended) or keep the platies annd get rid of the rest (although you will become overstocked again soon due to fry)

how long has the tank been setup? did you cycle it at all?

4 months. When I bought it I was told to set it up, run it empty for a week then gradually add fish( no mention of cycle) I do a weekly 25% water change and have had the water tested 4 times. Each time have been told its fine.

 

[5teady_2012]

Your tank will have cycled by now but some fish would have suffered, anyways back to the fish, your tank should have no more than 8 small fish in it (1" fish)...