Platy Nipping A Fighter!

[TheUsualSuspect9]

Hi there, I signed up to this forum because its given me lots of useful info since I entered into the world of tropical fish.

I have a 69lt tank with..

2x Platy
1x Leopard tail Guppy
2x Different Guppy (Not sure what spicies - White with Orange and Yellow fins?)
1x Silver/Bala Shark
1x Britle Nose Pleco (I think)
1x Blue Siamese Fighter (I believe its also know as a Betta?)

Anyway, I have only recently introduced the Fighter and the last few days I have noticed that one of the Guppys has had its tail nipped quite alot. I originally thought it was the other Guppys but just watching my tank for a while earlier today I watched the (I think male) Platy nipping the Fighter!! Obviously he was having none of it and goes for him everytime but the Platy is still pushing his luck and nipping the Fighter.

Will he eventually stop? The Fighter kill the Platy or vice versa?

Any help would be much appreciated

 

[c-dub]

Welcome to the board!

Sounds like you have a few stocking problems there which are easy mistakes to run into...

Your tank is far too small for a Bala Shark, it will outgrow the tank very quickly and might make lunch out of nearly all your other fish!

As far as the fighter goes I would be putting him in a seperate tank or relocating him, for the guppies are sometimes mistaken for other Bettas and your fighter may kill the guppies!

I think if you took the Fighter out you might be better off and that bala shark really needs a new place to live. I have a 240L tank and I have a Bala Shark and it's going to be too small for him soon.

 

[TheUsualSuspect9]

Ive realised that about the Bala Shark, I made the biggest mistake in the book, listened to the lad in the shop (Pets At Home).

But with regards to the Fighter and the Guppies together, they have been fine for a couple of weeks that Ive had the Fighter. If I noticed the Fighter was causeing problems I'llseperate him straight away, but I did a little research before I got him because I thought he'd go for the Guppies but alot of people have succesfully kept Guppies and Fighters together so wanted to give it a go.

Are Platys known for being quite aggressive?

 

[Paradise3]

Well i have kept a group of male guppies with a male fighter before and he was best buds with them he used to swim with them. Trying to keep up was a pain i bet because they shot across the tank and left him alone.
As for the platy issue i don't know whether they are usually aggressive but i used to have 4 platy's (3 female, 1 male) and a group of guppies but the platy's picked on the guppies and mollies so therefore had to go.

Xxx~misscosmo~xxX

 

[TheUsualSuspect9]

Yeh I have noticed the same, the Fighter seems very friendly with the Guppies.

I did have 3 Platys but one died after I put it in a breeding nest as I thought it was very close to giving birth, unfortunatly it died overnight. I had two females and one male, but now only have one male and one female, the male being the one that seems aggressive and its bullying the Guppies and trying his luck with the Fighter.

I may have to get rid of the male Platy and maybe get a couple of females in. Would this be ok?

Also, if I get a picture of my Guppies that are white with yellow/orange tails, what are the chances of someone being able to identify them?

 

[TheUsualSuspect9]

I may have to get rid of the male Platy and maybe get a couple of females in. Would this be ok?

Also, if I get a picture of my Guppies that are white with yellow/orange tails, what are the chances of someone being able to identify them?

He seems to be Leaving him alone now so finger crossed.

I can get a decent picture of my unidentified Guppy lol I'll try and google it.

 

[Paradise3]

I hope he stops. If you want them to breed you might be best getting another 2 females if he stops. Mine never left them alone he was always nipping the guppies and mollies, then the females joined him and they kept ganging up on the other fish.

Xxx~misscosmo~xxX