Hormones Or Bad Choice?

[Loobie]

I've already got 3 platies and I have just bought today 2 male guppies and 3 (slightly bigger than fry) cardinal tetras.

I have noticed that the male guppies are trying to mate and constantly chasing the female platies and are nipping my male platy. I don't think the girls have had so much attention but I'm worried that they may get stressed with all the petting!!!

I was told that the male guppies shouldn't be bothered with the platies but that doesn't seem the case... there is alot of love in my tank.

Is it hormonal or have I made a bad choice, will it all subside??

 

[WILDER]

Male guppys are sex mad lol, no they won't leave them alone that all they do, best to have more females than males 3 females to one male.

 

[Loobie]

Thanks for that,

They won't 'get it on' with my platies will they, I was advised that they would with there own types but should leave my platies alone.

I've got 2 female platies and 3 males (1 platy and 2 guppies) should I get some more females to take the pressure off?? I don't particularly want to go through another pregnancy or breed them.

What would be the best senario??

 

[WILDER]

If you get more female platys more babies i'm afraid.
No guppys won't get them pregnant, i think they can get swordtails pregnanat not sure.
You could rehome the male platys and just keep the male guppys.

 

[Loobie]

Don't really want to get rid of any platies they were my first fish

But then I don't want to get rid of my guppies as they shed a little colour in the tank, I guess there isn't alot I can do really. I take it that 2 female platies and 2 male guppies are acceptable but not ideal, but better than before??

I'll see how they go, and if not I'll need to rehome my male platy, any takers if it doesn't go well??

I'm in York

 

[Neal]

If you can deliver it to Darlington, then i'll have him for you, but I don't want no female, no more livebearer fry for me thanks.

Neal

 

[Loobie]

I am gutted

My female platies are just digesting my new 3 cardinal tetras, they weren't fully grown but thought they would be big enough to stand up for themselves, feel like buying myself an oscar to see how they feel!!!

Next time I'll only buy fully grown fish, really feel disappointed they didn't give my tetras a chance.

 

[WILDER]

So there up for sale now the platys.

 

[Loobie]

Yeah, sell them, sell them all

I thought platies were supposed to be nice, peaceful fish, not really a problem for other fish. Well I think mine must have a personality disorder, cos they seem to eat everything smaller than them!! or have a damn good go at eating them!!

 

[WILDER]

If fish can fit a fish in is mouth they will eat it.

 

[blue acara]

yup it really annoys me when i see a bigger fish eating some fry-makes me want to eat them or something but this is the way fish are.

 

[dwarfgourami]

About hybridising:

guppies and platies cannot breed
guppies and swordtails cannot breed
mollies cannot breed with either platies or swordtails
platies and swordtails can breed and frequently do so
guppies and mollies can breed though this is rare (VERY interesting thread in the hybrids forum- great pics!)
endlers and guppies can and do breed

 

[Loobie]

Thanks for that DwarfGourami

That information is very helpful, just what I needed.

 

[Loobie]

After buying my 3 cardinal tetras on Tuesday and 1 getting gobbled by my feisty female platy she pestered another one to death and I had one left, I went out and bought 5 neons today to keep my cardinal tetra company (cos I couldn't find any tetras.)

I put them in my tank only for them to be chased, nipped and torchered by my platies and guppies, what is going on!!!

How can I stop my platies and guppies from attacking newcomers, I'm conceren ed that my neons arn't going to be able to cope with the torment!!

 

[WILDER]

Rather strange , how many gallons or litres is the tank.