2 blue Platys bullying golden platy

I just set up a 40 gallon tank and it has not cycled yet. Earlier today, I added 3 male platy fish: 2 blue and 1 golden. I eventually want to have pearlscale goldfish and thought these fish would work for cycling because I like them, they are hardy, and they can live with my future goldfish. However, the two blues have mercilessly fin nipped at the golden platy. I moved the golden to a hospital tank (more of a bin) and am going to take him back to the store tomorrow since I don’t have anywhere to house him.

Is it common for different platy varieties to not get along or was this a coincidence? Should I get a third blue platy for cycling when I return the golden? I have heard that having only two platys is a bad idea, but they seem to get along.

Thanks in advance for any help!

 

Sure they are all 3 male? Bit yes typically platies can live together, we got like 25 of them in one tank.

 

Sure they are all 3 male? Bit yes typically platies can live together, we got like 25 of them in one tank.

Yes, all three are male. Would it be better to have a group of females? Not sure if they would be less aggressive.

 

I was just thinking of one was a female, that could explain why the other 2 constantly harass it.

 

I was just thinking of one was a female, that could explain why the other 2 constantly harass it.

That would make a lot of sense, thanks. Will definitely double check once the fins totally heal from the bullying.

 

That would make a lot of sense, thanks. Will definitely double check once the fins totally heal from the bullying.

Maybe a couple more could help spread it out a little bit as well, more targets. While my platies generally don't bully much, every so often a couple do seem to decide they are head rooster in the henhouse and cause problems for awhile.

 

Maybe a couple more could help spread it out a little bit as well, more targets. While my platies generally don't bully much, every so often a couple do seem to decide they are head rooster in the henhouse and cause problems for awhile.

Thank you, great idea. I think I am going to keep them separated until the 40 g finishes cycling in a couple weeks, then add the golden platy back in with a couple more platys. I appreciate the advice. This is my first time starting up a community aquarium. Am used to bettas with snails. Have never had issues there.

 

Thank you, great idea. I think I am going to keep them separated until the 40 g finishes cycling in a couple weeks, then add the golden platy back in with a couple more platys. I appreciate the advice. This is my first time starting up a community aquarium. Am used to bettas with snails. Have never had issues there.

Sometimes it really is simpler that way lol! But communities are worth it. Always fun watching fish interact with each other when not aggresive, really can be an almost therapeutic experience at times.

 

Well, the number of platies in one tank doesn't really matter. If they're all male as you were saying, it could be that some dominance has occurred in the tank and that the weaker one will be chased around by the others. That's a normal thing to happen. But most of the times that behavior will pass.