Question About Aggression

[P&J]

I've been reading that, sometimes, in a tank with all male platties, there can be some aggression. I've seen two ways to solve it: add more males to spread it around, or add the appropriate number of females.

I was wondering, though, if adding fish of another species would spread their interest around enough so that they don't bother each other. I currently have 3 male platties alone in a 20 gallon tank. I haven't seen bad aggression, but some chasing and a little stress (still trying to determine the definite source of that). I don't have the ability or space at the moment to care for fry, so which would be the best option? More males (3 or so), or proceeding with planned stocking of another species? Thanks!

--P

 

[OldMan47]

If the fish are just chasing each other around and not doing any real damage, they are fine and don't really need a change. A couple more males might reduce the stress on individual males slightly but will not really lower the total aggression in the tank, it will just spread it around. If those are the first fish in a new tank, the stress that you are seeing is more likely to be chemical. What are the present parameters of the tank water?

 

[P&J]

It's a 20 gallon tank, 0 ammonia and nitrite. The nitrate was about 10 before 3 consecutive days of 25% water changes, so it's under control. The water changes were because of the problems mentioned in this thread:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=271897

The (possible) ich seems to be under control. One of the fish hides most of the day, and just sits on the bottom (in a house ornament). He has no trouble swimming when he wants to, he just doesn't want to most of the time. I figure he is stressed in some way. Ironically, he does the most chasing of the 3 when he does come out. There is also one that is noticeably smaller than the others, and he hides sometimes too (in the plants).

My only other thought is possible internal parasites, so I'm feeding medicated food at the moment. Of course, I won't add more fish until this is sorted out for sure, but I'm trying to figure out where to go next if it is simply stress from mutual aggression.


-P