Do Platies Bully Other Platies

[Photobelle]

I have a pregnant platy. I recently got 2 more platies. Only the 3 fish are in a 20g. The pregnant platy has been hiding a lot the past week. I have had the 2 new fish about 4 days, but I think she is really close to giving birth. She came out when I fed them and one of the new platies stuck very close to her. She was darting around the tank and the new one was chasing her. No nipping or anything and I have seen them together in the boat but the pregnant one wouldn't eat. Is the new one bullying her or just trying to play? Or is the pregnant one just really sensative because she is so pregnant? I should mention the 2 new platies are about half the size of the pregnant one.

 

[Keith83]

The males may stress her to death. Try and get her into a floating breeder net of some kind

 

[Photobelle]

Both the new platies are supposed to be female

The 2 new platies get along great too. So if one was male wouldn't it be bothering the unpregnant female?

 

[Keith83]

Ah, well even so if they are bullying her then I'd separate her somehow. Can you tell the difference between males and females?

 

[Photobelle]

I was just told the back fin is longer in males. They are pretty small so it's hard to tell with them. I can't tell if it's bullying or her just being weird csusc she is pregnant. They aren't nipping at her it more just being very close to her and following very close so she freaks out and goes back in the ship. Is that bullying? I can say she was barely coming out and swimming before I got them .She was mostly hiding in the corner which is why I think she is due to have the babies soon. That's why I don't know if it's them or her.

 

[smee82]

They might be waiting for her to drop so they can jave a snack.

 

[Photobelle]

They might be waiting for her to drop so they can jave a snack.

Lol and I am ok with that. I was supposed have all females before so not sure if I had a male or she was holding sperm. If a couple survive ok but I didn't want babies. Could she be acting freaked out by them just because she is close to giving birth? Or is it cause they are bothering her? She is twice their size!

 

[Keith83]

Under their belly the female's analfin is shaped like a fan and the male's is just straight and pointy.

 

[smee82]

Lol and I am ok with that. I was supposed have all females before so not sure if I had a male or she was holding sperm. If a couple survive ok but I didn't want babies. Could she be acting freaked out by them just because she is close to giving birth? Or is it cause they are bothering her? She is twice their size!

Double check to make sure you have all females, if you have 2m and 1f the males will stress the female by attempting to breed with it constantly. They can store sperm for 6 months so even if you get rid of any males you will still have to deal with fry for quite a while.

 

[Hunter1]

Keith nailed it but if you can show a photo from the side there are numerous people that will tell you.

Or compare the analfin on the pregnant one to the analfins on the other 2. The difference is very noticeable.

 

[Photobelle]

Sorry for so many pics they are hard to get a pic of and I wanted a variety. Do these look like females?

 

[Hunter1]

The orange one is a female.

The yellow ones with black near their tail are 1m and 1f.

I’m looking on my phone but i’m pretty sure.

 

[Photobelle]

Just returned them and they confirmed they were males (pics are terrible sorry). So she will just be alone til we get back from vac and hopefully she produces enough ammonia to keep my cycle going til we get back and stock the tank. So one pregnant platy will be in a 20 gallon til prolly Tues next week.