Clown Killi Stalking Guppy?

HI everyone! I'm new here to the forum (though a longtime stalker myself ^_^), but relatively experienced in freshwater fishkeeping. I recently encountered a scenario new to me, though.

Through an unexpected turn of events, my clown killis have been roommates with a group of mixed-gender guppies for the last year or so; wasn't really my intention but since everyone's been so peaceful I've left the new blended "family" alone. The clown killis are too tiny to be effectively rude to the gups, and I feed some variety of slow-sinking/floating food (themed around freeze-dried bloodworms) so the killis can always find enough to eat by the time the guppy pigs have investigated all their options. And yeah, I'm a fish nerd, so I watch them eat almost 100% of the time... for the fun of it. So I'm sure about who's getting which nomz.

So anyway, everyone has been happy & healthy for the last year or so, and I see fry every so often (roughly monthly; I'm not breeding intentionally, but nature's doing its thing). The adult fam is 6 killis (2 male, 4 female) + 11 guppies (3 male, 8 female) in a 20 gal. Water params are steady at 0/0/5-10ish depending on the week. We do 25% water changes weekly, give or take a couple days.

Okay finally, my actual question: one of my male clown killis has become enamored with a female guppy; to me, this is totally unprecedented? He picked out a certain guppy-lady as his "chosen one," and follows her around like a stalker whenever the aquarium lights are on. (Everyone's cool and goes to sleep when they are off.) No nipping, no chasing, no harassing - just swimming as close to her as he can get, like an active interpretation of cuddling. He even follows her down to water levels he wouldn't normally go; these killis are typically quite happy to skI'm the surface together, within about 1" or so of the water level, and no identifiable interest of venturing elsewhere. To me, Mr. Killi's behavior looks like a gentle version of how my male guppies will nudge at the preggo females to get them going, except without the physical nudging part. It's sweet, in a way, if I personify it in a positive light - it appears he just wants to go everywhere she's going, with simple affection. She doesn't seem irritated, and she's just doing all the same things as she would normally do... just with a sidekick.

Seems like an odd departure for the darling little killI to gravitate away from his own species. Everyone in this tank is solidly "make love, not war," so at this point I generally don't worry about any viciousness amongst these guys - just wasn't expecting the interspecies adoration/obsession here. To each his own, I guess, but? Does anyone have any explanation for this? Should I leave the wee killI and his love interest alone, since no one is being hurt? Or am I inviting eventual danger by encouraging a rogue killi?

Thanks in advance for any advice or guidance anyone has!

 

I have no experience with either of those fish but I have had interspecies relationships. Male ropefish and his dojo loach girlfriend. They would offten cuddle togther while my other pair of loaches (M and F) would cuddle on their side of the tank. I find it adorable. But then again, the rope thinks he's a loach as well... I got a great pic of all 4 of them in a knot.

 

I'd think it's fine, perfectly normal. I've had my fair share of interspecies relationships and almost all have had a livebearer in them. I currently have a platy that thinks he's a Coloumbian tetra and a school of glowlight tetras following a Bolivian ram. If the killi's doing nothing and both are happy, let it go. Tank probably looks amazing, always wanted killis.

 

I love my clown killis, they are funny little characters! When I was researching them I saw a video of a clown killI in love with a bumblebee goby. They were both sort of black and gold striped, so I can see why he got confused!

Is the lucky lady guppy perhaps coloured with gold or black sports or stripes that might be attracting him?

 

Ha! I am really enjoying all the interspecies love stories - a clown killI and a bumblebee goby, omg. Peas in a pod, other than those cranky little faces. I have BBGs, too (though in a separate tank) and I call them my Grumbles (grumpy bumbles).

Well, I've never had this happen before, but I'm relieved to hear it's at least somewhat normal. I'll let them be - who am I to get in the way of their love! And Hill Dweller, you are spot on - I didn't even think of how her coloring plays into this. She's pretty vibrant - mostly gold with lots of bright orange in her tail. She was labeled as a blonde/red tuxedo guppy, I think, but I'm not really up-to-date on guppy color types so maybe that's wrong. Whoever she is, she's a real catch in the eyes of this killi.

Thanks again, everyone!

 

It's very cute! If you ever catch a video I would love to see

And BBGs are something I would love to try one day. They sound so fun!