Who To Isolate - The Nipper Or The Nipped?

[fourthtimelucky]

After one of my guppies died last week the pecking order seems to be in debate and one in particular has taken chunks out of both of his tankmate's fins over the last 24 hours. One seems very minor but the other is quite ragged. I am quite worried as the tank is going through a mini-cycle after friends over-fed while I was away -- I'm off to buy an isolation tank right now but wondering who should go in it -- the nipper or the more badly nipped?

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Anyone?

 

[gowing238]

I personally would add at least another five guppies in there. they would be less aggressive in a group and less likely to pick the same victim out

 

[tttnjfttt]

It would help give us a better picture of what is going on in your tank if you included the size and a list of all the fish that are in there.

 

[scooterchick]

According to OP's profile there are 4 guppies in a 6 gallon tank, not sure if the 4 includes the one that died, so that rules out adding any more fish.

For the moment if the rest of the fish are peaceful I would isolate the nipper in case he starts taking out his frustrations on the others, but obviously this will only be a short term solution.

Is there any chance you could get a bigger tank? Then you could add more fish and that would more than liekly solve your problem.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Thankyou for the advice.

I ended up putting the most nipped fish in isolation before I read your posts and after 12 hours he is looking much livelier. The other two also seem to have calmed down a bit.

My mother-in-law apparently has an old tank in her cellar -- much bigger than mine -- I'm going to take a look at it this weekend and see if I can fit it in the flat somehow as I think having a bit more space would help prevent these problems. The four of them seemed fine for the first few months but it seems that the minute I turn my back for a few days things go a bit out of control!