Male Platy Is A Bully

[JoanneH]

Having just started with fish keeping I purchased 6 platies, 2 males and 4 females, as one of the original females died the next day I purhcased a replacement female after about 2 weeks. One of the original males just bullies her, chasing her back into the corner of the tank as soon as she appears - he doesn't have a problem with anyone else in the tank although he does tend to persue the females. I have a 27.6 gallon tank with 5 platies (another died) 2 honey gouramis, 5 five banded barbs, 6 glowlight tetras and 1 panda cory (did have 2 but 1 died)
Can anyone advise me what to do with this bully?

 

[jarmado]

Having just started with fish keeping I purchased 6 platies, 2 males and 4 females, as one of the original females died the next day I purhcased a replacement female after about 2 weeks. One of the original males just bullies her, chasing her back into the corner of the tank as soon as she appears - he doesn't have a problem with anyone else in the tank although he does tend to persue the females. I have a 27.6 gallon tank with 5 platies (another died) 2 honey gouramis, 5 five banded barbs, 6 glowlight tetras and 1 panda cory (did have 2 but 1 died)
Can anyone advise me what to do with this bully?

are you sure you got a female replacement?

 

[JoanneH]

Having just started with fish keeping I purchased 6 platies, 2 males and 4 females, as one of the original females died the next day I purhcased a replacement female after about 2 weeks. One of the original males just bullies her, chasing her back into the corner of the tank as soon as she appears - he doesn't have a problem with anyone else in the tank although he does tend to persue the females. I have a 27.6 gallon tank with 5 platies (another died) 2 honey gouramis, 5 five banded barbs, 6 glowlight tetras and 1 panda cory (did have 2 but 1 died)
Can anyone advise me what to do with this bully?

are you sure you got a female replacement?

I'm pretty sure it's female, have checked underneath and she looks female

 

[jarmado]

Having just started with fish keeping I purchased 6 platies, 2 males and 4 females, as one of the original females died the next day I purhcased a replacement female after about 2 weeks. One of the original males just bullies her, chasing her back into the corner of the tank as soon as she appears - he doesn't have a problem with anyone else in the tank although he does tend to persue the females. I have a 27.6 gallon tank with 5 platies (another died) 2 honey gouramis, 5 five banded barbs, 6 glowlight tetras and 1 panda cory (did have 2 but 1 died)
Can anyone advise me what to do with this bully?

are you sure you got a female replacement?

I'm pretty sure it's female, have checked underneath and she looks female

i have seen that type of aggression before on my platies when there was not enough female.
maybe try adding another female if your tank can still hold it.

 

[silver tipped]

Hi,

My male platy used to do exactly the same thing. He took a shine to one female and stuck with her no matter what, even though there were plenty of other females.

In the end I took my male platies bac to the lfs and now my females live in peace and harmony.

I know that when a female is pregnant a male will harrass her, trying to get her to give birth so he can have a tasty treat.

 

[JoanneH]

Having just started with fish keeping I purchased 6 platies, 2 males and 4 females, as one of the original females died the next day I purhcased a replacement female after about 2 weeks. One of the original males just bullies her, chasing her back into the corner of the tank as soon as she appears - he doesn't have a problem with anyone else in the tank although he does tend to persue the females. I have a 27.6 gallon tank with 5 platies (another died) 2 honey gouramis, 5 five banded barbs, 6 glowlight tetras and 1 panda cory (did have 2 but 1 died)
Can anyone advise me what to do with this bully?

are you sure you got a female replacement?

I'm pretty sure it's female, have checked underneath and she looks female

i have seen that type of aggression before on my platies when there was not enough female.
maybe try adding another female if your tank can still hold it.

Thanks, I contacted my lfs today and he said I can take him back and swop him for another female, I think that's what I'll do as he seems to be upsetting the harmony in the tank, strange though how he was fine until I added 1 new female platy, now he not only bullies her but pursues one of the other other females. It's a shame as he is a real beauty, but it's quite distressing to watch him!