I have a female back molly in a tank with 3 platys (one male and 2 female). The molly is aggressive towards all of the platys. The male platy is aggressive towards the molly. Occasionally, (not all the time) they tangle biting and circling. He comes away unscathed, but knocks her into the wall and ornaments. As a result the molly has scraped sides and occasionally torn fins. Most of her scrapes and tears heal quickly, but her sides continue to look rough. I can't find another home for the molly and can't afford to buy another aquarium. I inherited this combination of fish and their upkeep, not by choice. My REAL question is, the molly's sides now have gray patches (not fuzzy, not sunken, not raised) on them that don't seem to be going away. She acts healthy, but I'm a bit concerned. Is this just scraped scales or worse and what should I be doing to help her stay healthy?
Worried About My Molly
- Thread starter bouv2
- Start date
I can't help you with the possible infection, there are others on this forum who will give you better feedback on that.
However, I also have an extremely aggressive molly, who would attack the two other female mollies (to the point that one died), as well as the two cories, although interestingly, she leaves my two platies alone, as well as my other fish.
We added a male molly, and it changed her behaviour, she would only ever exhibit aggression at dinnertime. She was too busy at other trying to get away from his advances (if you catch my drift!), to be a bully to the other fish.
If you have the space in your tank, then it may also work for you.
However, I also have an extremely aggressive molly, who would attack the two other female mollies (to the point that one died), as well as the two cories, although interestingly, she leaves my two platies alone, as well as my other fish.
We added a male molly, and it changed her behaviour, she would only ever exhibit aggression at dinnertime. She was too busy at other trying to get away from his advances (if you catch my drift!), to be a bully to the other fish.
If you have the space in your tank, then it may also work for you.
Thanks Lock, The tank is only a 20 gallon and I have been told that it is already too small for the molly alone.....not to mention the 3 platys, oto, neons and cory cat. The molly is the most personable of the group and eats from my hand. They had all spent the last 6 months together in a 5 gallon tank, so I thought the 20 would be a happy upgrade.......sigh.....
roadmaster
Fishaholic
If this is five gallon tank mentioned in previous thread's then the outcome is fairly predictable. Male livebearer's are agressive and there isn't enough room for the molly to keep out of harms way.
Would euthanize one or the other but only after attempts at giving the fish to fish store were unsuccessful.
You could possibly use a plastic bin or tote for a spare tank in a pinch ,but this would mean a filter and heater. Would be cheaper than another aquarium and you would need to use half of your filter material from the five gallon tank to place in the filter for the bin,tote,or tub.
roadmaster
Fishaholic
Whew! That's good news. Are there any places in the 20 gallon for the molly to escape,hide?
If not,, I fear the bullying will continue until one or the other is removed.
It is a planted tank with driftwood arch, 2 little tunnels and lava rock with 2 passageways through it. The plants are not full grown, but hiding is possible sorta... I just feel so responsible for all of them. I would never have chosen to get an aquarium and fish......but it sorta wasn't an option when my son went off to college. I've become attached to them, especially the molly.....but this is still not a good situation.
PaBucsFan
Fish Crazy
Is it possible that the male platy and female molly are attempting to settle who is dominate in the tank?
That may have been all it was. They have been fairly peaceful since their last skirmish where I had to physically break them apart with the net. HOWEVER, the injuries that the molly sustained, scraped sides, have turned from gray to white. I am afraid she has a bacterial infection which needs to be treated in a QT. I hate to take her out of the big tank because I bet the fighting will start up again when she returns. ....sigh.... But I don't want to put the otos and neons through unnecessary medications.
Please take your issue to the tropical emergencies section of the forum. It is not that we don't care about your fish but many of us simply do not have the knowledge to help you get through this. I have kept tropicals on and off since I was about 10 years old, today I am about to turn 63. My own experiences with disease is that I am no good at diagnosing any illness except maybe ich. There are some very competent people in the tropical emergencies area of the forum who can really help with diagnosis and treatment. Meanwhile I will continue to go on simply keeping my fish healthy using simple techniques such as quarantining new fish to avoid introducing diseases to healthy tanks.
fluffycabbage
Fish Herder
bouv2, how is the molly? you need to post in the emergencies section 
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