Spontaneous Fighting Everywhere!

[RobberyinCSharp]

I have a tank with tropical community fish in it. Serpae and neon tetra, platies and mollies. I had a serpae tetra with a bad attitude develop and he began nipping all his companions! I felt bad for the fish that were bit (those were black skirt tetra and guppies) so I brought them back to the store so they'd be safe. I then bought another balloon belly molly, and 2 more plates. I figured that he would leave short-finned fish alone and my other fish would have companions except - I just brought them home - I bought a small white balloon Molly and after a minute or two of playing with the other, they began fighting viscously! This induced the new balloon belly to then attack my OTHER fish, which included actual companions from the pet store!!! I removed the angry serpae and Molly from my tank but I don't want to have to return ANOTHER fish to the store! Please!!! HELP!!!!

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

I just separated the two balloon mollies out of my tank, as well as the angry serpae. The serpae and the new Molly are together and they seem to be fine. The old balloon Molly is in a separate housing. However, I can't keep them there forever and I *really* don't want to bring them back to the store...

 

[Ziggs180]

How big is your school of Serpae Tetra? I've heard they can get aggressive towards fish they think they can pick on.

 

[Hunterprey]

I never really kept Serpae Tetras but I think they're schooling fish and can be nippy from what I heard. I've kept Balloon Mollies before tho and I think its suggested to have 1 male per 2 female ratio to avoid/minimize aggression. Hope this helps a bit, there are some here that might have different experiences.

 

[This Old Spouse]

I have serpaes and never saw them act anything but calm! I'm thinking you don't have nearly enough. And I had a murderous molly until a few days ago. He would attack ANYthing. Long tails, short tails, big, small, fat, thin, didn't matter. He hated everything.

 

[RobberyinCSharp]

I think I have one of those mollies! I'm probably going to bring the serpae back to the store. They are nothing but headaches. This white balloon Molly was very peaceful in her LFS tank and in her transport bag, then became a MONSTER in the tank! It can't be very old because he/she is tiny. It is after everything in it's path! I'm scared it stressed out my dalmatian Molly. my fish is "shaking". It's swimming strangely...almost "quivering". I have uploaded a video on YouTube.
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Q9btmtqCk8
Is this stress, or is it a mating ritual?

 

[loraxchick]

For that dalmation molly, look into shimmy. Its almost a purely molly disease. If memory serves its from unbalance of osmotic pressure. But you cant add salt with the tetras as they are sensitive. Have a google of shimmy and see if you think that is what it is. Been a while since ive researched the disease (as i dont keep mollies myself), but worth looking into.
cheers