Male Guppy Is Bullying And Killing!

I had a tank with 6 female guppies, and 3 male guppies. One of my males (who is smaller than the rest) attacked and killed my other 2 males, and I’m down to 4 females (one is now in her own tank for labor) but he was continuing to attack the females. I watched closely to make sure he wasn’t just trying to breed, but nope, he was trying to eat their fins, just like he did for the ones he killed.. how can I stop this behavior? They aren’t lacking food, and have plenty of room to swim around with lots of hiding spots.

 

I had a tank with 6 female guppies, and 3 male guppies. One of my males (who is smaller than the rest) attacked and killed my other 2 males, and I’m down to 4 females (one is now in her own tank for labor) but he was continuing to attack the females. I watched closely to make sure he wasn’t just trying to breed, but nope, he was trying to eat their fins, just like he did for the ones he killed.. how can I stop this behavior? They aren’t lacking food, and have plenty of room to swim around with lots of hiding spots.

I would either get more female guppies or isolate the bully and put him back in after a while if he continues to do it return it or put it in another tank.

 

I put him into a “time out” away from everyone for a day. I tried to see if he would be better today so I let him back with the others and IMMEDIATELY he went after them, being more aggressive than before. Should I just put him into his own tank Permanently?

 

I put him into a “time out” away from everyone for a day. I tried to see if he would be better today so I let him back with the others and IMMEDIATELY he went after them, being more aggressive than before. Should I just put him into his own tank Permanently?

That is what I would do, there could be a chance he thinks that they are males but still I would get him out.

 

Thank u! Setting up a new tank now

 

It also depends on the tank size. Fish would often show aggression whenever the tank is too small for them.

 

How big of a tank do u recommend for 4 guppies (if I were to leave the male in there). Also, side note, one of these guppies is only about a month old fry, and the male has never went near her.

 

How big of a tank do u recommend for 4 guppies (if I were to leave the male in there). Also, side note, one of these guppies is only about a month old fry, and the male has never went near her.

It depends on the sex ratio and whether or not if you want to take care of the frys.

 

I would love to have frys, so that doesn’t bother me at all. I currently have 3 females (one of which is only a month old fry) and the evil male who is currently separated. I know I will need to upgrade to a bigger tank as the fry start coming, but I’m just trying to figure out his aggression right now

 

I would love to have frys, so that doesn’t bother me at all. I currently have 3 females (one of which is only a month old fry) and the evil male who is currently separated. I know I will need to upgrade to a bigger tank as the fry start coming, but I’m just trying to figure out his aggression right now

I would get a 20 long or 29 for the guppies that you have if I were you. As for the aggressive male, he is limiting the amount of competition. No competition equals easy access to breed.

 

How big is the tank you have right now?

If you just had the four females a 10 gallon would be fine, but with the fry then a 20 or 30 gallon would be better.

 

Currently have 3 females in a 10 (the bully was in there as well, but he’s now on his own) and the pregnant one is in another 10. Will be getting a 50 gallon in a day or 2 to upgrade everyone with breeding now

 

Marrow (my guppy) I thought was a bully. Is there nicks in the tail and is the bully lifting the ventral fins?
I had 5 males in a 5 gallon, sometimes what we think wasn't actually the truth. I put Marrow in time out for a few days when I put him back he decided to nip an otto but was happily chase my female guppy.

Guppies I find rarely show hostility to one another, maybe the bully or victI'm was trans, hierarchy, or maybe just really "excited". I'd love to help you figure out what to do with your guppies as I went through that phase myself.

 

I would love to figure it out. I doubted it was him for quite a while because he is only half the size of my other guppies. I had lost 5 guppies, but I’m only sure 2 were the result of bullying (missing fins/tail) so I put him in a time out still in the same tank, but separated from the others. He seemed to be fine, so I released him, and INSTANTLY started attacking my female.. I originally thought he was just excited, or maybe trying to breed her, but then after watching a few more minutes, saw he was only going otter her fins very violently. I figured with the 2 he killed, it was a dominant issue, seeing as they were both males... but the fact he was still going after my females worried me, so he’s now in his own tank.

 

I would love to figure it out. I doubted it was him for quite a while because he is only half the size of my other guppies. I had lost 5 guppies, but I’m only sure 2 were the result of bullying (missing fins/tail) so I put him in a time out still in the same tank, but separated from the others. He seemed to be fine, so I released him, and INSTANTLY started attacking my female.. I originally thought he was just excited, or maybe trying to breed her, but then after watching a few more minutes, saw he was only going otter her fins very violently. I figured with the 2 he killed, it was a dominant issue, seeing as they were both males... but the fact he was still going after my females worried me, so he’s now in his own tank.

But has he bitten or ripped a females? Sometime they will try to grab a female who friend-zoned them. Is he doing little dances/shakes, spreading out his tail? Staying under the female? Slightly rotating upside-down under the females?
The only time I had a guppy harm another was when I had 4 in a bag for about an hour while cleaning their tank.

 

If he was fine when he was in the same tank but separated, maybe when you get the 50 you could use a divider and give him 5-10 of the gallons, and the females the rest so he isn’t all by himself cause they are social.