Tropical Fish Forum
Tropical Fish Keeping Help and Advice => New Fishkeepers => Topic started by: Aquamaid on November 06, 2014, 02:22:35 PM
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I have had two male platys for a fortnight, one outgoing the other hides a bit more, i thought he was timid, so called him Timmy lol and they have got on peacefully together. I have now introduces two more small male platys into tank and for reasons i'm sure some of you will know, timid Timmy seems to be having a go at his old companion now, just going out of his way to harrass him :vcross:, is this just assertive behaviour, and will it hopefully settle down in time ? (it's always the quiet ones isn't it) or is this just part and parcel of an all male tank?
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You just upset the pecking order by adding more fish, that's all. Now they are busy sorting out a new pecking order and Timmy has decided he doesn't want to be bottom of it - maybe even making a play for 'top dog'. They'll sort it out in a day or two.
Then if you get more male platies, they'll do it all again ;D
A group of female bettas is worse than this. If this pecking order sorting gets a bit iffy, then if you do get more male platies you could try what female betta owners do.
When adding new fish, catch and bag all the existing fish of that species, leaving them floating in the tank, then re-arrange the decor. Once the new fish have been through the acclimation process, release both new and old at the same time. The theory is that re-arranging the decor makes the old fish think they are somewhere new and instead of just picking on the new fish they all have to start again from the beginning sorting out the pecking order.
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Haha sounds like a good idea, thanks Sue, if it is the way of things then i'm happy to just watch and chastise from the sidelines >:( lol Oh dear, i thought it was supposed to be relaxing watching fish :-\