Male Guppy Following Pregnant Platy Around.

[*cupcakecutie*]

i have 3 guppies, two females and one male. and i have 2 platys, one male and female. the male guppie sometimes follows the female platy around and sticks his face near um well the place where she'll give birth. does anybody know whats goin on?

 

[helterskelter]

He just thinks it's a female guppy.
They are easily confused or just don't care. I've seen then trying to breed with tetra's and danios in the past many times!

As long as he's not harassing her to much they be ok.
Also they will not cross breed.

 

[*cupcakecutie*]

i figured thats what it was but i wasnt sure, thank you for your help

 

[OldMan47]

Fish identify each other as being the right species by odors. Since freshwater fish urinate constantly to control their water balance, the sniffing at the opening can help the poor guppy decide that he is not seeing a female guppy. Almost any breeding livebearer of the peociliid genus will do much the same thing before attempting a mating.

 

[*cupcakecutie*]

well he does it almost all the time, wouldnt he have figured it out by now that shes a platy?

 

[OldMan47]

A male guppy is very hard to discourage. Who knows what is going through that simple mind.

 

[*cupcakecutie*]

ha ha funnnny

 

[helterskelter]

I guess not 100% though that they have females hormones that they release and some fish get confused, this is why they stick to a single specific fish.

Also so seen this with "Mules" these are genetically female fish what develop into large males, these must release the female hormone or something still and males go mad over them too.