My Bully Guppy

[GreenA]

Hi guys.

I wish I had stumbled across this forum sooner. There are many helpful topics in here and my partner and I are new to this. We just got a 90l aquarium and were told by the fish shop guy that all we need to do is to rinse everything well, add filter and heater, water and conditioner and leave for a couple of days and then add 6 hardy fish to start the cycle. Now I've read that we could have done the cycle without the fish, which would have been better for them....
Well...we now have the fish and I will try my hardest to keep them alive through this tough process....

Anyway, to cut to the point, I have one Guppy in particular who keeps swimming after both Mollies. It seems to constantly chase after and nibble on them and they try their hardest to get away from him....I really feel sorry for the Mollies as the Guppy seems to have targeted them and has no interest in the Swordtails. Is it right to worry about him or is he not the bully I make him out to be? How do I know my babies are happy?

(This sound really silly but I just want to make sure I do everything I can)

Thanks

 

[laura120381]

hi greena and welcome to the forum.

its not unusual for guppies to bully other fish and especially other guppies!! can you tell me how many guppies you have??

L

 

[GreenA]

Hi

thanks for your quick response!!

I have two male guppies and the other one seems to mind his own business and swim about happily.

 

[Gilli]

Guppies are notorious sex pests and if there are no females in the tank then they will harass any fish (male or female ) for sex! Sounds as if this is what is happening. Not much you can do about it except add 4 females (you need at least 2 females to every male to keep the harassment down) but then you will be inundated with fry, which is fine if you dont mind them being feeder food for your tank mates.

 

[laura120381]

ok i would suggest you get some more guppies. there is every chance they will fight amonst themselves though!! a good solution is often to get some females (to keep them amused so to speak!) but make sure you get 2-3 females to every 1 male or they will harrass the females...often to death! of course the problem with this might be that guppies breed...a lot!! most of the fry will not survive (unless you want them to and have them in a breeding tank) but it can become a bit of a problem!! if you don't want this, perhaps you could add some extra mollies...safety in numbers!! of course either option depends on how much room is left in your tank...what other fish do you have in there at the moment??

L

 

[GreenA]

Wow, you guys are quick.
Thanks for the response.

Yeah, he is definitely more after the female one. I just don't know what to do about it now because the fish shop guy said I shouldn't have more than 6 fish to begin with until my tank is stable enough... would it be and issue if I added some females that early? I really wouldn't want more fish suffering through this process of cycling the water.

Tanks again

 

[laura120381]

have you tested your water?? what are the readings??

L

 

[GreenA]

Yeah, I bought the API Freshwater Master Test Kit and tested it this afternoon and all the readings were perfect but that's probably because the fish have just been added this morning....

 

[GreenA]

I'm just really worried to do something wrong as everything I read on this website was completely different to what the guy in the shop told me....

 

[laura120381]

ah...ok!! leave it for a day or so then test again. we will know then if you will be able to add anything else. your guppy might have calmed down by then!! do the mollies seem stressed by it?? post the results of the water tests when you do them. the other option would be to return the guppies to the shop. the guy in the shop shouldn't have sold you 1 male and 1 female guppy....BAD move!! be careful what advice you take from you lfs. in my opinion they often just want to make a sale and often know little about fishkeeping!! we will usually be able to answer any questions here and you can always use us to double check the information you have been given.

L

 

[GreenA]

Thank you Laura.

I will keep an eye on them and test the water regularly. I'll update the results.

Thanks again for your help

 

[laura120381]

no problem. hope everything is ok.

L

 

[Gilli]

Read up on cycling with fish in on this link

Cycling with fish in

and dont add any more fish until your tank is fully cycled.