Male Molly harassing female

One of my black mollies is chasing the other black mollie constantly. I have two other silver mollies and sometimes he chases one of them. But he is infatuated with the black mollie. She is now being distant and trying to hide alot. Will this continue for good or will he calm down? He only started acting "wild" about three days ago. He's been very active since. Is this normal? I'm worried about her. What should I do? I don't know my parameters yet cuz I haven't gotten a kit so don't know if that has anything to do with him being really active. I'll have one in a few days. Any feedback will help. Thx

 

It's quite normal behaviour for livebearer males they have a one track mind.
How many of each sex do you have? as more females than males will usually stop the males harassing just one female

 

Male mollies is quite rough on the females. I've got the same story in my tank. Its best to have more females than males in the tank. Then he won't be focused on just one. I keep my ratio 1 male to 3 females. Same with the guppies. And so far it works well for me.
He will calm down and then just start it again.

 

Ok thank you. I'm definitely getting more females.

 

Luck of the draw two silver mollies. One male, one female. Two black mollies. Same for them and the same for my two red wag platties

 

If I were you i'd add 4 females... How large is your tank? Your profile is not up to date.... Or if your tank is not large enough to stock 4 more females, then you can try to exchange one male for a female at your lfs and then just buy another female.....

 

I have a 10 gallon tank and planning on upgrading within the next month or so.

 

The question is moot, in that mollies require a lot more space than a 10 gallon can provide.
It is quite normal for males to harass females, ( and sadly, this is true of most species, including humans) sometimes on to death, so proper stocking might be, with mollies, perhaps 3:1 female male ratio.(there are many here who keep livebearers can can correct my estimate).
However, any fish kept in quarters too small will become more aggressive; a quick example, an oscar kept in a 100 gal tank will be quite passive compared to other large cichlids; in a 50 gallon tank, the same oscar might tear up a large plec.------rick

 

Same here. My fish seem to only like the female black molly even though there is more females than males. It is quite annoying. There should be nothing to worry about unless you see scars.

 

ricmcc, your estimate is correct.... 3female - 1 male.... benharmer87. I would suggest you try to exchange the male for a female then until you've got your upgraded tank before stocking more fish...

Ive seen the same, my white and black female mollies are much more popular than the grey one... Dont know why that is, guess that the grey ones aren't attractive enough....

 

Totally normal, when I had mollies the male was constantly after the female. I would also get a pre-filter sponge for your intake tube. When they have babies you don't want them getting sucked up into filter. Another good thing to get is floating plants or something that has lots of hiding places for the fry or get a nursery tank cause they will be eaten. Good luck.

 

Mortisha, Will they breed with other spesies in the tank? (Platy's)
Mine first started breeding when I had only them in the tank as a mollie spesie....

 

@, Will they breed with other spesies in the tank? (Platy's)
Mine first started breeding when I had only them in the tank as a mollie spesie....

No, mollies won't breed with platys.
Mollies can interbreed with guppies, Platys can interbreed with swordtails

 

Coradee, I mean will the mollies breed with each other while their is another spesies fish in the tank aswell?

Like mollies breed quite easy when only mollies are in a tank....

 

Yes they will, nothing much stops them breeding

 

They breed like rabbits.....lol!

 

Good to know.... Thanks

 

So one of my golden panda Molly’s (the lone male) is harassing one of the 5 females to the point where’s she racing around the tank and nipping at him. I have a krib in there so she runs into the krib and gets chased away and then gets chased by the male

It’s so bad that I thought they were both males until I saw the area in the pics below. The fin. Should I leave it be? Is this is just how livebearers are or is it stress maybe from krib or is something I can do to help! Also I did change my name to slvikanaka ms worrywart on here and was already told today by a very very brilliant woman that I overthink every possible thing. She’s my hero lol

 

Arrow points to male ..Question is ??
I love overthinking ..I can be wrong multiple times !

 

Livebearers chase each other. It's not "serious harassment" until a fish is injured or dying because of another fish. I know you want to feel that you can anticipate every problem and nip it in the bud, but the only possible problem I see here is that you will end up with a ton of babies and an overstocked tank.

You seem to think that minor everyday stress is dangerous to your fish. It is not. If fish became dangerously stressed as easily as your posts have implied, this would not be such a popular hobby, because we'd have to keep each fish in its own tank in a dark room undisturbed by humanity, without water changes or lights. However, I'd bet that the majority of people on this forum have a community tank in their living room- with multiple fish, bright lights, TV, human traffic, and water changes- and our fish are not dropping dead from stress.

 

Livebearers chase each other. It's not "serious harassment" until a fish is injured or dying because of another fish. I know you want to feel that you can anticipate every problem and nip it in the bud, but the only possible problem I see here is that you will end up with a ton of babies and an overstocked tank.

You seem to think that minor everyday stress is dangerous to your fish. It is not. If fish became dangerously stressed as easily as your posts have implied, this would not be such a popular hobby, because we'd have to keep each fish in its own tank in a dark room undisturbed by humanity, without water changes or lights. However, I'd bet that the majority of people on this forum have a community tank in their living room- with multiple fish, bright lights, TV, human traffic, and water changes- and our fish are not dropping dead from stress.

It's when you do keep them in a room with little traffic that they are more skittish. When they are accustomed to human presence, they are usually much friendlier. Doesn't mean they don't chase eachother all over and bicker though. I don't worry unless it is a cichild and they cause damage. I've never had a platy or any other small fish like tetra cause more damage to eachother than a fin nip. Usually heals up by the next day.

 

Livebearers chase each other. It's not "serious harassment" until a fish is injured or dying because of another fish. I know you want to feel that you can anticipate every problem and nip it in the bud, but the only possible problem I see here is that you will end up with a ton of babies and an overstocked tank.

You seem to think that minor everyday stress is dangerous to your fish. It is not. If fish became dangerously stressed as easily as your posts have implied, this would not be such a popular hobby, because we'd have to keep each fish in its own tank in a dark room undisturbed by humanity, without water changes or lights. However, I'd bet that the majority of people on this forum have a community tank in their living room- with multiple fish, bright lights, TV, human traffic, and water changes- and our fish are not dropping dead from stress.

And the brilliant woman! Yay! Also I don’t know if you’ve seen my prior posts but actually I have posted about all of those very things.

Ok so my real only question is do I have two males
They were adamant at the store that I had 5 females and ONLY one male. The one I’m questioning is getting chased by the known male. They never chased this much but I do know the krib being aggressive caused A little bit of aggression to each other which is fine.
Here’s pics of two of the Molly’s. I’ve written on the pics where I KNOW it’s the male so the other pics with either a ? Or no writing are the fish I’m in question of. I always was sure female and her coloring is darker and her head is diff shape like the other females I bought from the same set.

Evensaid no two males but this thread sounds like it’s not huge deal ? The bullying has def cycled down from krib to molly and now molly to molly so the worst could be stress not (I don’t think) physical harm.

I’m just wondering now if I have two males that’s only question !

Ps lets be honest. The fish are fine. The stress Cadet is Me. I’m guessing you all knew that before I did lol

 

Male on the question mark without even waiting for my 22 inch blow up of picture ..
All pictures but circled female are male 100%.
Welcome to "late blooming" male livebearers ..I heard one guy I respected say Growth Inhibiting Hormones [GHI] don't exist .
Some livebearers can stay looking female up to one year [ easy] maybe more if kept in the presence of a "alpha" male who secretes GHI and keeps weaker males looking as female as possible for fear of its own life ..Another male will be destroyed by the alpha ..He will be father to all fry !

 

I not only read your previous posts but responded to them when you posted them, which is why I remembered all the things you've worried about. I used to suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder so I have a lot of empathy for "worriers"- and I know from years of experience that simply saying "don't worry" is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine!

For me, what helps the most when I'm worrying is to have someone explain the reality of the situation clearly, so that's what I've tried to do for you. I'm glad that you're not the type to be offended by that.

I don't personally keep livebearers anymore because of issues with sexing them and ending up with unexpected babies (not good at all for a worrier!). As far as the question "is two males too many?"...well, when the babies that you will have in a month or so are grown, you will have a mix of genders and there won't be much you can do about it!

 

Some of my relatives are or have been chronic worriers, so I also understand that just saying "Don't worry" doesn't help. I also understand about the one male chasing the other. When I first started I had two male mollies and one female, and the males were constantly chasing each other (or maybe the same one chasing the other; they were both black so I couldn't tell them apart). I finally gave one of them to my daughter-in-law and got another female. That was much better.

 

Just to say, I've also lived with PTSD, no fun at all, affected my health even. So I don't mean to say 'don't worry' like that. I mean I don't worry unless the fish is injured, I've never had a small fish injure another to any extent.

 

I not only read your previous posts but responded to them when you posted them, which is why I remembered all the things you've worried about. I used to suffer from Generalised Anxiety Disorder so I have a lot of empathy for "worriers"- and I know from years of experience that simply saying "don't worry" is about as useful as a screen door on a submarine!

For me, what helps the most when I'm worrying is to have someone explain the reality of the situation clearly, so that's what I've tried to do for you. I'm glad that you're not the type to be offended by that.

I don't personally keep livebearers anymore because of issues with sexing them and ending up with unexpected babies (not good at all for a worrier!). As far as the question "is two males too many?"...well, when the babies that you will have in a month or so are grown, you will have a mix of genders and there won't be much you can do about it!

Holy crud the new male hides out from fear and won’t swim. I TOOK OUT THE JERK AND WILL PUT HIM IN MY EXTRA TWENTY GALLON
Right now he’s in a tiny little cup and I still have a to rinse the large tank out and fill it and put old filter media in (luckily it’s was running alongside the new media in this tank).

But what next? Should I trade out the meanie or the weakling. Caught the meanie bc he came around first.

There is no gravel. But that’s ok I have sand I’ll add later

OR SHOULd I put the mean molly back in

Pls advise he’s in small cup now. Maybe I’ll take out a girl too? Tho I love my mollys together.

I wish I could call you guys

 

Trade the weakling ...

 

Sooooo
I put the male bc he was in like two inches of water and of course I got all that water with stress poo in it back in the tank.
But I didn’t want to kill him from stress
Going to fill up my twenty long and then either catch the krib and get it a mate and make that a krib tank or put the weakling in there alone until I can trade him in.
one or the other

which might be tonite I can.
I kind of want a krib mate tank and I think a 20 long with them only is good

hahaha forgot I returned my 50 watt tank last night
But that’s ok

*****THIS WOULD MEAN ALL MY OLD FILTER MEDIA IS OUT OF MY NEW TANK IN ONLY TWO WEEKS TOMORROW IS THAT BAD

can’t catch the krib now she’s all lit up with colors

she doesn’t know she’s going to get her own tank and a husband!

 

I know you're very convinced that stress is likely to kill your fish sooner or later, but it's much more unlikely than you think. That fish would have been fine where it was overnight. It's probably already been transported halfway across the country in a baggie on a truck- a few hours in a cup probably seems like a vacation next to that.

Your constant panic over stressing your fish is very likely causing them a great deal more stress than they would be experiencing if you would just leave them alone and stop messing with them every time you imagine a new problem. I mean that in the kindest way possible, but seriously, friend, this is not good for the fish or for you.

You need to be watching to make sure that the new tank is cycled, this will mean testing the water daily.

 

I know you're very convinced that stress is likely to kill your fish sooner or later, but it's much more unlikely than you think. That fish would have been fine where it was overnight. It's probably already been transported halfway across the country in a baggie on a truck- a few hours in a cup probably seems like a vacation next to that.m m

Your constant panic over stressing your fish is very likely causing them a great deal more stress than they would be experiencing if you would just leave them alone and stop messing with them every time you imagine a new problem. I mean that in the kindest way possible, but seriously, friend, this is not good for the fish or for you.

You need to be watching to make sure that the new tank is cycled, this will mean testing the water daily.

thank You. Hahaha it’s so true!
I one hundred percent think it’s all in my head. However the mind is very strong.
do you think it would be ok to put the golden panda Molly’s in the twenty long and make the show piece tank two mates of kribensis.NOT bc I’m right but bc I’m so neurotic I can’t stop. I shouldn’t do it overnight so I should just avoid staring at them and think about MAYBE having a mates tank in a while once all cycled.

 

Ok so in the end I took all the Molly’s out except one I could not catch. He was the one being bullied ironically enough. They went in my cycled twenty long with old filter media. I did it bc I was too stressed out watching them in one area of the tank. They’re likely fine lol. As for the bullied molly not sure if I’ll move him yet or let him stay with the krib. I read mollys can be alone. The Corys are still in with the krib.
this was for my peace of mind and I thank you all so much for listening to me! I might wind up getting mated pairs for the show tank or might move the krib out. No new fish until one hundred percent cycled and perfect parameters.But what made me
Move them was a ton of uneaten food in one corner that had been there all day. The Molly’s are PIGLETS and the krib was just guarding the food but not eating it. Again it’s more for me. Thank you guys so much for not telling me to shut go and get over myself. This site has saved my sanity many times and lilirose you’re my hero!

 

We're here for you. I look forward to the day when you have cycled, well established tanks with healthy happy stock, and are enjoying them instead of worrying about them- hopefully you'll still be around this forum then and can reassure some other newbies!

 

Still not sure what to do with that lone molly with the krib and the Corys are all still in there but I’m giving everybody and my own head a break hahaha

 

Awwww I feel you. Shuffling around fish, I've been doing that for as long as I can remember. You'll get used to having fish and the way they are after long. You'll notice a big difference once you keep a pair of kribs. They are built more robust and their personalities are just rougher. I still had them in a fully planted tank, just saying they dug their own doors to the spawning cave and had a few parental squabbles, but it's so fascinating watching them care for their babies. So cool to watch the parents escort the babies out the cave for the first time to explore the tank. The mama gets a bright purple belly, and all the babies follow below her belly. If she thinks danger to her babies is around, she wiggles her belly like a flag and all the babies immediately fall to the substrate motionless. They are amazing fish parents and so beautiful!

 

Awwww I feel you. Shuffling around fish, I've been doing that for as long as I can remember. You'll get used to having fish and the way they are after long. You'll notice a big difference once you keep a pair of kribs. They are built more robust and their personalities are just rougher. I still had them in a fully planted tank, just saying they dug their own doors to the spawning cave and had a few parental squabbles, but it's so fascinating watching them care for their babies. So cool to watch the parents escort the babies out the cave for the first time to explore the tank. The mama gets a bright purple belly, and all the babies follow below her belly. If she thinks danger to her babies is around, she wiggles her belly like a flag and all the babies immediately fall to the substrate motionless. They are amazing fish parents and so beautiful!

Awwww yea makes me feel much better. Not sure what to do with the weakling molly he’s actually a lot safer right now with one krib. Do you think 2 krib pairs is ok in a 29 gallon? I just wrote this long thing and reread your post about the beautiful relationship between kribs and take back all my whining. I’m so pumped! Do you think I can have two pairs tho? I want a species only tank or a really tough fish tank so I don’t cry.

 

Glad I could help! Not sure about two pairs, but one, I think it's ok. I noticed the females are the aggressive ones, and read an alfa female will kill another female if therec isn't sufficient room, so i'd just do the 1 pair. Just beware those babies are very hard to catch once they are ready for rehoming. Just a heads up, nothing you can't handle You'll get the hang of it! I'm excited for you too!

I would take the weakling back if you are still worried about him. He can stay in the 29 gallon with the lone krib for now, but once you get a krib friend for her and they decide to pair up, any other fish is in danger.

 

Have had two mollies for 6 months in a 10 gallon tank. Thought they were both female, but one turned out to be male.

I have a male molly and a female molly and recently, he has started aggressively fighting the female when i feed them. She is able to get some food without him looking, but I know it stresses her out. Otherwise, their relationship is normal and he follows her sometimes. They had 4 babies and I want to put them all in a 20 gallon tank, but would like this issue fixed.
Also, should I try and separate the male and female mollies with a partition in the 20 gal, or just try and make sure the ratio of male to female is 1:2

 

I would move them all into the 20gallon, and get another female to help spread out aggression. IMO 29 gallons is best for mollies, but a 20 gallon is ok too.

 

You should get more females.