Mean Swordtail

[Lwswinson]

Hi! I am having some trouble with some new fish I got yesterday. I have had a 10 gal freshwater tank for about a month, with two high fin platy and an African dwarf frog with no problems whatsoever. Just got two new fish yesterday, a yellow mollie and a swordtail platy.The swordtail has been nipping all the other fish. All of the fish should be males. Why is this fish being aggressive and what can I do about it?

 

[phoenixgsd]

dominance? i know with swordtails it should one per tank because of this,

dominance? i know with swordtails it should one male per tank because of this,

whoops i dont seem to be able to edit my post and made a bit of a mess of it

 

[snazy]

Hi! I am having some trouble with some new fish I got yesterday. I have had a 10 gal freshwater tank for about a month, with two high fin platy and an African dwarf frog with no problems whatsoever. Just got two new fish yesterday, a yellow mollie and a swordtail platy.The swordtail has been nipping all the other fish. All of the fish should be males. Why is this fish being aggressive and what can I do about it?

It should stop eventually. Here is an old video of my swordtail. She stopped completely but took about 2 weeks maybe.

http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRR5hZErhfc

 

[Essjay]

Male swordtails will fight in the same tank if it's not big enough - he may be regarding the male platies as rivals as they are closely related. And swordtails really need a bigger tank than 10 galls.

 

[Lwswinson]

I took care of it. I just took the swordtail and the Molly back. I wasn't told by the pet store clerk that the Molly and the swordtail wouldnt be happy in a 10 gal. Also, one of my fish came down with ich and so I am having to treat that before I can get more fish. I have a feeling that he got it from the store, becaus it showed up the day after we got the new fish. Anyway, then I do get more fish, I am sticking with platys and will get three females. Then I will probably be maxed out on the tank but at least no fighting! Now I need to figure out how to explain to my kids why one day there are dozens of babies in the tank and gone the next! Any suggestions?