Sailfin Molly Problems

[Gavilb]

Ive recently purchased 3 sailfin mollies. 2 males and 1 female - i recently found out this was a bad idea.... the female seems to be chasing and annoying both of the males. how can i calm them down? buy another male? another female? or take one back to the store?? if so, which one??

thanks

 

[Fishkeeper2004]

The general rule is buy 3 females to every 2 males. Males normally are the ones chasing the females, are you sure its the female chasing the male?

 

[Gavilb]

yeah pretty sure. are the females slightly larger with bigger fins and more colours?

 

[Bryan1957]

yeah pretty sure. are the females slightly larger with bigger fins and more colours?

Not necessarily true. The only sure way to tell a livebearer female from a male is the anal fin. The females have a larger triangular shaped anal fin, the males have a tubular gonopodium (sp?).
Sometimes a livebearer looks like a female for a long time then suddenly developes the gonopodium. I have two male swordtails I would have sworn were female since all their siblings developed sooner. I have in the last two weeks discovered I have two more male swordtails than I thought (they are 9 months old now).
HTH
Bryan

 

[Gavilb]

ok i'll check them out in the morning....
if they are 2 males and 1 female - whats the best solution?

 

[Luke_e]

Get 2 or 3 more females. Make sure they are females, otherwise it will be eve n worse for the female you have.

 

[Annastasia]

ok i'll check them out in the morning....
if they are 2 males and 1 female - whats the best solution?

You should ideally have 2-3 females per male. With Sailfins, I have always had to stock at least 3 females per male, as the males just harrass harrass harrass them. That's just me though. If you have the room, I'd get 5 more females. If you don't, you could try getting only a few more. But I'd personally recommend you take a male back and get 2 more females. Remember Sailfins can get to 6", so plan according to their adult size!

 

[Gavilb]

thanks guys - i took a male back to the shop. im now the owner of 1 orange male, 1 yellow female and 2 green females. Seem to be getting along fine!!!!