platy question

S

sillyputty

AC Members
Dec 10, 2004
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My son has 2 back helmet platies. The male recently started chasing the female nonstop and she now spends most of her time hiding behind the heater. I was going to get another female to divide his attentions. Do I need to get another black helmet or can I get some other variety like a sunburst or something.

10 Gallon

3 male fancy guppies
2 platies
1 oto
 
Generally color or finnage doesn't matter. I have a black male molly who is just as hot for the female golden lyretails as he is for the black female. Females can definiately be harassed by males among the livebearer species, so it may not be a bad idea.
 
Harlock, I know you are really familiar with mollies so I will ask you a question about mine. I have 5, 3 marble (1m 2 f) and 2 white lyretail (1m 1f). The marble male is a very handsome Bad boy and terrorizes everybody. (awhile back I thought maybe he killed a lemon tetra but turned out to be a fungus) Anyway, He is really aggressive, chasing everyone all the time and lately his top fin is up all the time as well. He and the male lyretail have had some viscious looking squabbles, locking mouths and going round and round but no damage. Do you think the other male is making the marble one so crazy?
 
It could be. Honestly, I like a ratio of at least 2 females to males and have a personal preference for 3:1. It tends to calm down the squabbles because there is more time for lovin' and less time for bickering. Tank size can make a difference too. If the fish can spread out more and have more space then it likely won't be as turbulent an atmosphere.
 
Well, the 2 to 1 ratio is what I have. I just set up a 5 gallon QT tank. I think I will stick the white male in there for awhile and see if things calm down. Thanks!
 
sillyputty said:
Well, the 2 to 1 ratio is what I have. I just set up a 5 gallon QT tank. I think I will stick the white male in there for awhile and see if things calm down. Thanks!
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I'm sorry, didn't you say
sillyputty said:
I have 5, 3 marble (1m 2 f) and 2 white lyretail (1m 1f).
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That's not 2:1, that's 3:2. One more female would make it 2:1... unless there is a fish you didn't mention the first time? Also, as I said, 3:1 really is best in my opinion. 2:1 is the absolute minimum I would suggest to anyone, while the least I would ever use for any livebearers personally would be 3:1. I've found the females stay less stressed from the mating advances and the males are generally less squabbly. ;)
 
My wife wanted some "bright colored fishes" so I got her a trio of Platys - asked for 2f and 1m.

Got them home, put them is a cycled 20g long, and noticed the lfs gave me 2m and 1f by mistake. The larger male chases the male and the female.
What's up with that?
 
delmore said:
My wife wanted some "bright colored fishes" so I got her a trio of Platys - asked for 2f and 1m.

Got them home, put them is a cycled 20g long, and noticed the lfs gave me 2m and 1f by mistake. The larger male chases the male and the female.
What's up with that?
Click to expand...
Dominance and wanting to mate.
 
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