Platys are mean?

[pwayland]

So I got some new fish from the LFS. Added 2 sunset platys (sp?), an albino cory cat, 4 neon tetras, and 3 glass shrimp to a 12 gal Eclipse system.

There were 2 glowlight tetras and 2 blushing tetras in the tank to start.

All was well, but now the larger platy seems to be bullying everyone...especially the other platy. Everyone else in the tank seems to be happy with eachother, the glowlights and neons are even schooling as a big group off and on.

Is this normal for platys to be mean? Will it calm down? I don't want it stressing everyone out. The LFS is a ways away, so my main recourse would be putting the meany in the deep freeze.

[Dwarf Puffers]

They could be crossed with swordtails. Is the harrasser following, biting, nipping? If he's just following and pushing the other around, it could be a male wanting to breed. If there's any nippyness or biting, it's more.

If you want to move the agresser out, please do not euthanise. Put it in a smaller tank, even a makeshift one. A large container, a rubbermaid club (make sure any container it's in is very clean, with no substance residue).

[pwayland]

He seems to be nipping not just chasing.

I won't freeze him, just wrote that post after watching him bully everyone else...little punk.

I'll probably give it a couple days.

[Lupin]

Platies are usually peaceful. There isn't many pure strains as these are easily crossbred with swordtails with the resulting fry being Xiphophorus variatus or variegated platy. Swordtails are usually more aggressive especially if cramped for space. If the platies have their genes, they may have inherited such personality.

[Mgamer20o0]

give it some time. get some plants or something for the other fish to hide out.

[KarlTh]

Platies are usually peaceful. There isn't many pure strains as these are easily crossbred with swordtails with the resulting fry being Xiphophorus variatus or variegated platy. Swordtails are usually more aggressive especially if cramped for space. If the platies have their genes, they may have inherited such personality.

Erm no. X. variatus is a naturally occurring species in its own right. Artificial hybridisations do not create new species, although natural hybridisations may in time cause a separate population to evolve which does eventually become a new species.

Crosses between platys and swordtails are X. maculatus x helleri, or X. variatus x helleri, depending on which species of platy was used.

It's true that the hybrids often look a bit like variatus, but that's simply because the body shape of this species is intermediate between maculatus and helleri, but it is not the same thing.

[pwayland]

Things seem better today. I moved plants and rocks around a bit today as well, just to even out the playground.

Guess he was just taking some of the stress of moving to a new home out on everyone else.

[jm1212]

is it a male?