Fighting or, erm, Flirting..?

Mating Slinkys

I have a 125L community tank, in which, amongst others, live 4 mollies. 2 silver, one black and one black balloon (bought as fry before i knew about the issues with balloon fish) and until now they have been a happy little group, hanging around together and not attacking anything or being attacked by the other fish.

Now things have changed a bit, the two silver ones have started circling each other, one sometimes going backwards, and occasionally nipping one another. They do not hurt each other doing this (well haven't yet) but the (female) kribs in with them seem interested in them all of a sudden.

I have no idea if they are male or female, or even how to tell, so i'd appreciate some advice as to what they are up to? Is it love or war?

Cheers folks!

fish_4_all

It sounds like a game of tag and the other fish are just wanting in on the game. As long as you don't see fins coming up missing or fish starting to hide often then there should not be any problem with it. If you start seeing fins missing and fish that seem to hide whenever another one is out on the "prowl" then you might want to think about seperating them as it might be a sign of adult personalities coming out and some serious aggression starting.

Mating Slinkys

Thanks! It all seems to be non threatening, and the Mollies are definitely the lowest in the pecking order of the tank, so i wouldn't expect there to be much aggression starting there. Guess they were just playing!

It wouldn't surprise me if the Kribs (Betty and Doris) wanted to get in on the playing, they have always been friendly little fish; they even used to defend a school of guppies that were (briefly, begginers error of trusting the LFS and not doing research...) in with them and the angels. The Angels would go over and start to pick on the guppies and the Kribs would then swim up and chase the angels away. I didn't think that fish would do that for other species, but it just goes to show that they'll always surprise you!

Falina

They do surprise you. I get lots of fun watching the interaction between my fish - it's what makes a community tank so interesting. :)

Mating Slinkys

You're right Julie, i think a lot of my mates who find my, well we'll avoid the word "obsession" and use "interest," in fish a little confusing think that my tank is just a glorified ornament. I never seem to be able to get across just how cool the whole interaction betweeen the fish is, and how they all have their own characters. I guess i just kinda bubble about it!

homegirl2180

I have some lyretail mollies myself and so far in my observation of mollies they are pretty easy to sex. Just look at the anal fin on the bottom of the fish closest to the tail (I only say it that way cus I didnt originally know where it was!). Females have a kind of triangular flap and males anal fins come to a point.