Molly behavior

[humBill]

I have a 10 gallon tank with 2 platys (pair), 1 molly and 3 danios. The
molly also had a mate, but it unexplainably passed about a month ago. I was
told the molly's behaviour should be fine, ecspecially with the platys in
there. However in the last week it has become very nippy. I strongly
suspect it was the culprit who took a small 'bite' outta one of the danios
and part of its tail.

Water parameters are excellent. I am looking for suggestions to improve her
behaviour (ex mate was male). My only two guesses are it does want another
molly in there or in the everpresent advice to "not overfeed your fish" it
is hungry. It always acts excited when I come near (like goody food time)
and it's behaviour does remind me of other fish chasing off others because
they fear they are going to get/find some food they want. However, the
injuries were given when I wasn't watching, so feeding frenzy wouldnt
explain it entirely.
Thanxx
Bill

[NetMax]

"humBill" > wrote in message
om...
>I have a 10 gallon tank with 2 platys (pair), 1 molly and 3 danios. The
>molly also had a mate, but it unexplainably passed about a month ago. I
>was told the molly's behaviour should be fine, ecspecially with the
>platys in there. However in the last week it has become very nippy. I
>strongly suspect it was the culprit who took a small 'bite' outta one of
>the danios and part of its tail.
>
> Water parameters are excellent. I am looking for suggestions to
> improve her behaviour (ex mate was male). My only two guesses are it
> does want another molly in there or in the everpresent advice to "not
> overfeed your fish" it is hungry. It always acts excited when I come
> near (like goody food time) and it's behaviour does remind me of other
> fish chasing off others because they fear they are going to get/find
> some food they want. However, the injuries were given when I wasn't
> watching, so feeding frenzy wouldnt explain it entirely.
> Thanxx
> Bill


Livebearers don't usually take to a life of isolation very well. When
you get him company, it will be a territorial thing, so it might not get
better, just add players to the soap opera. It's a 10g (small) and the
species distribution is not typical, so the behaviour will not be
predictable. Anyone who purports that it will work fine lacks
experience. The solution is to return the Molly to an LFS and perhaps
pick up another Platy (they tend to work better in trios, M-F-F, but as
I said, predictability only goes so far ;~).
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Dick]

On Fri, 04 Feb 2005 15:12:29 GMT, "humBill"
> wrote:

>I have a 10 gallon tank with 2 platys (pair), 1 molly and 3 danios. The
>molly also had a mate, but it unexplainably passed about a month ago. I was
>told the molly's behaviour should be fine, ecspecially with the platys in
>there. However in the last week it has become very nippy. I strongly
>suspect it was the culprit who took a small 'bite' outta one of the danios
>and part of its tail.
>
>Water parameters are excellent. I am looking for suggestions to improve her
>behaviour (ex mate was male). My only two guesses are it does want another
>molly in there or in the everpresent advice to "not overfeed your fish" it
>is hungry. It always acts excited when I come near (like goody food time)
>and it's behaviour does remind me of other fish chasing off others because
>they fear they are going to get/find some food they want. However, the
>injuries were given when I wasn't watching, so feeding frenzy wouldnt
>explain it entirely.
>Thanxx
>Bill
>

High Bill,

Generalizations do not always fit individual experience. Thus a
species that generally is peaceful doesn't predict your specific
situation. I had a single molly in my hospital tank that was moppy
and not eating. I put a platy in with her (growth behind the eye) and
the two became inseperable.

I have several times moved an aggressive fish to another tank and the
aggressiveness went away.

Sometimes extra hidding places can help, out of sight out of mind. If
the aggressiveness is a temporary mood thing perhaps some floating
plants will provide some shelter.

Individual fish don't read the species descriptions. Your fish are
your experience. What to do about individual cases is part of the
creativeness of the hobby. You get to play god!

dick