Aggressive Platy

[SteveyB]

Ive got a comunity tank (96 litres) with about 20 in among which, 4 are platys, 2 Mickey Mouse (Male + Female) and 2 Blue Platys also male and female. They all seemed to get along at first, both males followed the females of its own species around, and they wernt too aggressive, but one day, i couldnt find my male mickey mouse, i eventually did, he was stuck in a hole in my rock, he swam out when i moved it, but he had scrapted the top of his body, hes mostly healed now, but the blue platy always chases him away, whenever he see's him now, he really diplays his fins and then chases the other away when he eventually runs, is this normal? or could it be because the mickey mouse isnt fully healed yet? this isnt urgent, they dont seem to be harming each other at the mo, but i thought i'd ask

 

[SnakeIce]

the males of all livebearers have a territory of sorts and depending on species they defend it against other males to differing degrees. now this teritory is not a fixed one like some cichlids have but it moves about with his harem sorta like a wild stallion and his mares

the aquarium kinda forces the males to be in closer contact than they might other wise be and if each male is healthy each might have a chance at the females but now that one is not 100% the other has the advantage over him, and it might continue to be that way.

some times we forget that since the fish we keep doesn't beat up its rivals like cichlids do that they do have teritory and a hierarchy

 

[SteveyB]

the one which is being chased is actually the larger male, so i'll see what happens as he gets better, his scales are fully healed, just his 2 pectoral fins arnt at they're best, sometimes i do see him standin up for himself tho, he runs after a while, thx for the help. i'll keep an eye on him