bealangrath

I have a ten gallon tank with about 15 guppies and 3 platies. Lately the female guppies starting picking at the two orange platies (not the white one). The swim up and start picking at the sides of the platy and the platy layes down sideways. It's been going on for about a week and I tried isolating the platies for a while but it started up again as soon as I let them back in the tank. Lately as soon as a guppy swims up to them they just lay down sideways (horizontal). Any ideas what's going on? As I said they leave the white platy alone... All platies are female since the male died. Please help!!

Nick G

Hi Bealangrath, It's probably aggression due to overcrowding I'm afraid. 18 fish is a lot for a 10gal tank. Maybe re-homing some of the fish would solve the problem.

bealangrath

That's what I was wondering if it could be, but I don't get why they only pick on the orange ones, not the white one... I might just move some of the fish over to my 45 galon tank. That's the plan anyway, the guppies are only four months old so they're not fully grown but I think they're getting there since they're already having babies on their own.

Meenu

I agree with the overcrowding. I think the max you should have is maybe 8, possibly even fewer than that.

Good luck. Poor platies!

whisper

Yes your WAY over crowded. Move about half the guppies out. That should help the problem. Also the orange attractes them more then the white.

aquarist48

Hello Beal. Personally I would move the Platy's instead of the guppies. I don't see a need to subject the Platy's to more torment from the guppies. JMO.
I hope you can resolve the issue soon.
Best of luck.
Ken