male platies

Some male platies can get just as aggressive as swordtails if not worse.

Are you asking about a male only situation? If so, I asked the same question in a thread about two weeks ago. I had three male platys. One was much bigger than the other two. It looked like a platy/swordtail hybrid. The big guy really picked on one of the other males and the third joined in. They nipped some holes in his fins and wouldn't let him eat. Even though he had places to hide the injured guy kept popping back out again for more. So I took out the hybrid out. Immediately, peace descended in the tank. The two left don't fight at all, and the fins have already mostly healed.

Other folks in the thread told me that it is an individual thing with male platys, most are peaceful, but some can be aggressive. There are alot of swordtail hybrids in the stores and they definately seem to take after the swordtail side. I guess you have to beware of the really big, beautiful male in the store tank.

I have a smaller male harrassing a bigger one every time they run into each other. The tank is big enough (29G) so it is not a real problem. To me it is only a chase-away situation. In a smaller tank it might be worse.

nvan2 said:

They seem to do perfectly. Ive never seen either attack the other. they are about the exact same size. They both share food (even with the corys) and like to swim around together. I guess i got lucky with a pair that like eachother.

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Male platy demeanor is individual. I've had some really aggressive males that would chase the females to exhaustion. Currently, I have one male and 2 females and the male is noticeably peaceful.

With that in mind, it is always best to keep a 2:1 ratio regarding female to male platies.

HTH,
Serg