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Platies acting very weird

7K views 10 replies 4 participants last post by  SeaHorse 
#1 ·
I have a ten gallon tank currently stocked with 3 male platies and 1 otocinclus. In the beginning, my Mickey Mouse platy (the seemingly dominant one) bullied my red wag but when I added the sunburst, my Mickey stopped bullying after a while but the sunburst picked up on the behavior and now won't leave the red wag alone. Recently, my tank got infected with what I believe are gill flukes (Idk if this has anything to do...) and the fish have started acting very well uh.... Strange. Occasionally, all three fish would stop swimming and start flaring up their fins at each other. When either the red wag or sunburst get too close to the Mickey Mouse platy, they would clamp their fins and try to get out of his way. When the flaring sunburst platy sees the flaring red wag, he starts chasing him violently (no injuries yet but I don't want to get to that point). Why are they flaring like this? Also, is there ANY way to stop the fighting?

I appreciate any and all help.
 
#3 ·
3 males in a 10 gallon doesn't really leave them much room to get away from each other. Males will posture and flare at each other. Some species will circle and circle, others just flare or chase. Often the harassment leads to death I'm afraid.
What can you do? Trouble is that they will find their own pecking order. I've seen the "coward" from one tank be moved and become the bully of a different tank. It's part of their nature. Adding females only makes it worse... something to fight over, pester and way too many babies to cope with.

If you can't return one to the store, or do a 2nd or bigger tank, then I would suggest a TON of plants and rocks to create places to get away, hide and rest. Trouble with that is the Bully won't allow the weaker to come out and eat sometimes. The first thing I would do tho is add a lot more plants if you haven't already. Real or fake. Hope that helps you to understand what is happening.

(Then there are the dynamics of mixing different species and it can get quite tricky!)
Research before you buy is the best thing to do.
 
#5 · (Edited)
Thanks so much for the advice. Well I could go out of my way and add more plants if that helps. I really feel bad for the little guy and want this to stop :(
I am interested in the mixing different species of fish thing though. What else can I add in there that can possibly help? Originally, I thought of putting a betta as my last fish but with all this aggression I may need to rethink my choices. I'm open to anything really except getting a bigger/other tank because that is out of my reach at the moment. Also, what good big plants can help (I currently have a few anarchis and one Anubias, no CO2 or fertilizer though)?
 
#6 ·
If a bigger tank is not an option?... then adding a different species to this mix is not allowable due to the 10 gallon size.
You don't need CO2, don't worry about that. Even a bushy plastic one would help while your live plants grow out. As the Anacharis grows tall you can trim it and make a new bunch which will make the plants look fuller. Buying another bunch or 2 would help if your budget can handle it.

If you can't remove one, I'm afraid that Nature may take it's course.
 
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#8 ·
Uh oh I really hope that doesn't happen. Maybe I can buy a banana plant and reproduce my anarchis and look into some other plants. So I absolutely can't add other species???? Not even guppies or tetras or something?? I only have 4 fish (1 oto, 3 platies) :/
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#7 ·
Plants, hiding places.... the little clay flower pots at dollarama work well... 2 for a 1 :)
 
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#9 ·
If this were my tank I wouldn't but I stock on the low side. I tried the AQAdvisor site and tried adding 2 Guppies (M) and it took me from your current 77% stocked... to 99%. So maybe that is an option. (You have NO room for fry if you add any females ).
 
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#11 ·
That will depend on them being healthy and not bringing in any disease with them, reading up on both species and clarifying if Platies and Guppy can be together (can't see why not) and how much/many water changes you do and how often because you are increasing your bio load and would be at MAX capacity.
 
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