Author Topic: Bullied platy (Read 6759 times) 23 replies

Diz1 · « **on:** June 11, 2015, 05:27:23 PM »

hi everyone,

Things have been going quite well in my main community tank, which has 7 male platies, 4 male guppies, 7 cherry barbs, 1 BN plec and 5 red chinned panchax (180 litre juwel Rio).

But recently, one of my male platies has been bullied by the others. They all bicker constantly, but no one has been singled out so far. Lately, though, 1 of them has taken to hiding and yesterday I noticed the others nipping him. I took him out and he's in a fry tank hooked onto the main tank side. The other platies are still displaying and flaring at him, so I can't put him back.

The only other tank I have at the moment is my shrimpery, so I don't want to put him in there. I also don't want to set up another permanent tank.

At the moment he looks completely well . He is sat at the bottom of the fry tank ( which does have a plastic plant in so he can hide), but that might be because the others area still circling round like sharks.

What would be the best thing to do? I don't want to give him to someone else in case he is harbouring something nasty that isn't visible yet (and could this be the reason why he's being picked on?). Also, he can't stay in the fry tank forever.
Can anyone advise me please?

Sue · « **Reply #1 on:** June 11, 2015, 06:25:50 PM »

It's a tricky one. With a tank that size you can't divide off one side for the fish. And I agree that the shrimp tank isn't an option - with a fish like a platy you'd end up with a tank full of just a platy.
Is it all the others picking on this fish or just one other fish? The 'cure' for just one bully is to rehome the bully but if it's all of them that's not an option.

The only thing I can think of is to leave him in the fry tank. At least there he is getting fresh water through, which he wouldn't if you put him in a tub of some sort so the others can't see him.

Extreme_One · « **Reply #2 on:** June 11, 2015, 06:37:08 PM »

I wonder if you can put something in the fry tank to screen him off so the others can't see him for a couple of days.

Like a peice of laminated card or something.

Perhaps with a couple of days apart they may forget about their fight.

Diz1 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 11, 2015, 06:48:42 PM »

Thanks Sue and Extreme One,

There does seem to be a ringleader, but all of the others are doing it as well.
I just don't know why they've suddenly turned on this one, that's why I wondered if he had a health problem that isn't obvious at the moment.

It would be difficult to screen him from the others because the fry tank is completely clear, so all 4 sides would need to be covered.

I'm not sure what to do - it's no life for him being kept in that fry tank. I feel very guilty - I had thought that 7 males would ensure that any aggression would be spread amongst the group so that no single fish would be singled out, but that was obviously a stupid assumption to make

Extreme_One · « **Reply #4 on:** June 11, 2015, 07:18:36 PM »

Quote from: Diz1 on June 11, 2015, 06:48:42 PM

I had thought that 7 males would ensure that any aggression would be spread amongst the group so that no single fish would be singled out, but that was obviously a stupid assumption to make

That's not a stupid assumption it's the correct method for fish that show aggressive group behaviour.

http://www.thinkfish.co.uk/fish/platy.html

Quote

Provide hiding spots amongst hardy plants and if kept in small numbers (4 or less), keep several females to a male or just single sex groups.

Are you sure you do have all males and there isn't a small female?

fcmf · « **Reply #5 on:** June 11, 2015, 07:22:03 PM »

I wonder if removing the ringleader and putting him in the fry tank instead might be an option as an experiment? The others may be trying to impress the ringleader by following suit but, without the ringleader there, they may behave more amicably towards this bullied one. [ It would also "teach him a lesson" too ie may make him think twice about bullying again.

]

Diz1 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2015, 07:34:24 PM »

Good idea fcmf, I'm going to go and try that now. Will keep you posted!

Cod_only_knows · « **Reply #7 on:** June 11, 2015, 07:46:43 PM »

I hate to say it, but I had the same problem, albeit with 4 male platies.

The biggest of the four bullied two of the remaining three, seeming good buddies with one. However, three of them bullied just one fish. This platy was always very skinny and I don't think this was down to stress as he ate well. There were also plenty of hiding spots in my tank so he wasn't constantly harassed. No matter how much he ate, this fish didn't grow like the others. After treating for worms and internal bacteria I put it down to him just being the 'runt' of the litter. Unfortunately the little chap developed dropsy about a month ago and died shortly after. I think he may have been bullied because he was a weak fish, though I can't be sure.

Extreme_One · « **Reply #8 on:** June 11, 2015, 07:52:31 PM »

Quote from: Cod_only_knows on June 11, 2015, 07:46:43 PM

... I think he may have been bullied because he was a weak fish, though I can't be sure.

Well it is nature's way. They're just displaying natural behaviour, as difficult as it is to actually witness.

Cod_only_knows · « **Reply #9 on:** June 11, 2015, 07:54:26 PM »

Agreed. Not a nice thing to witness, but not much you can do about it other than rehome them...

Diz1 · « **Reply #10 on:** June 11, 2015, 07:57:22 PM »

Thanks for the advice everyone.
They're definitely all male - purchased from local breeders.
I've just tried to catch the main culprit - needless to say, he's the biggest and most beautiful of the platies.
He zooms around the entire tank flaunting his stuff and flaring at everyone, but the others are following his lead as far this bullied platy is concerned.

Maybe I will just contact my LFS and try to rehome them all.

Extreme_One · « **Reply #11 on:** June 11, 2015, 08:02:12 PM »

Quote from: Diz1 on June 11, 2015, 07:57:22 PM

...Maybe I will just contact my LFS and try to rehome them all.

Maybe see if they'll just take the victim - sounds like the shoal should settle then ... And you're obviously fond of them.

Diz1 · « **Reply #12 on:** June 11, 2015, 08:05:33 PM »

I am fond of them! They're messy and bolshy with each other, but they're also friendly to me and they do have quite a lot of personality (well I think so, sad person that I am).
I would like to keep them to live out their natural lives, I don't like the thought of passing them onto someone else in case they're not looked after properly.

Extreme_One · « **Reply #13 on:** June 11, 2015, 08:09:46 PM »

I'm sure I'd feel exactly the same.

My community isn't in their home yet but I know I won't want to see any of them stressed or unwell.

And as fishkeepers we're solely responsible for their well-being.

I hope you can come to a bearable solution.

Diz1 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 11, 2015, 08:11:59 PM »

Thank you. I'll mull it over for a day or so and try to come to a decision $:-\$

fcmf · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2015, 08:15:04 PM »

I know you mentioned you didn't want to set up another permanent tank - is setting up another temporary tank an option at all? Perhaps splitting them up into a couple of separate groups for a trial period of time might help them forget the situation. Then, when you move them all back in together, perhaps a change of decor or positioning of decor might help break the former "association"?

Diz1 · « **Reply #16 on:** June 11, 2015, 08:36:40 PM »

I just don't have the space for another tank. I've got the main tank (180 litres), Barquentine's tank and the shrimpery and that's the place absolutely stuffed.

There is a local Facebook page for my area, so I think I'll contact some of the well known fish keepers on there and offer him free to a good home because at least I know those people are experienced and caring.

Think I'll wait a few days though just to be certain he's not carrying some kind of lurgy.

Diz1 · « **Reply #17 on:** June 13, 2015, 09:27:18 AM »

Morning everyone,

Just an update on my platy.
Well, the situation hasn't improved. I tried putting him back in the tank yesterday and he just went into hiding, but the others found him again, so I think it's a permanent situation.
I really don't want to give him away, so I've decided to set up my quarantine tank for as long as it takes and I'm going to put him in there.
My question now is, will this tank be OK for him in the long term.
It's only 23 litres, but it does have a length of 60cm. The width is only 12cm, so he'll have an OK length, but not sure about the width. Will he be OK living on his own (with just a nerite snail for company)?

Sue · « **Reply #18 on:** June 13, 2015, 09:36:13 AM »

He would be happier in there alone than with the other platies. I would give it a try and see how he gets on.

Diz1 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 13, 2015, 09:41:30 AM »

Thanks Sue,

I know that the tank dimensions aren't ideal, but will they be Ok for as long as he lives?

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Bullied Platy

Bullied Platy

Author Topic: Bullied platy (Read 6759 times) 23 replies

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