Molly aggression? - Aquarium Advice

jfwilson · 10-25-2003, 09:58 AM

We have a happy 20 [acronym:712296eff4="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:712296eff4] planted community tank with good water parameters, but this morning poppa molly became very aggressive toward momma molly. I do not mean the romantic chasing that occurs from time to time and accounts for her pregnancy (probably still a few weeks to go), I mean streaking across the aquarium and nasty biting, leading her to look stressed and try to find places to hide. Is this normal, what could cause it? If it goes on, we'll probably separate her.

LondonGman · 10-25-2003, 11:02 AM

Your story is familiar to me.
I had an aggressive female molly who kept on picking on the male and every other fish in my tank. When she had babies, I had to give them all away, but kept the male for his own safety.
The person I gave the female and baby mollies to, has already complained about the aggression between them all. Do not know why, but it seems common.

Terry · 10-25-2003, 11:23 AM

jfwilson, Welcome to Aquarium Advice:

This is one of the joys of keeping fish, you never know whats going on in there heads.
It could possibly be that because your female is pregnant, and the male isn't getting any joy on the breeding side and he is frustrated and getting agressive.
This is one of the things about live bearers, the female don't need the male that much so he gets frustrated.

myriam · 10-25-2003, 02:11 PM

Welcome, jfwilson.

Do you have only one male and one female? I do believe a 3:1 female:male ratio works best for livebearers. That way the male has 3 females to bug and none of them would hopefully get too stressed out from his aggression.

William · 10-25-2003, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Terry

jfwilson, Welcome to Aquarium Advice:

the female don't need the male that much so he gets frustrated.

So humans and live bearers have the same problems?

oscarbreeder · 10-25-2003, 02:50 PM

william,
I liked that last post...lol
That sounds WAY to familiar.

LondonGman · 10-25-2003, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by myriam

Do you have only one male and one female? I do believe a 3:1 female:male ratio works best for livebearers. That way the male has 3 females to bug and none of them would hopefully get too stressed out from his aggression.

this would work for me too.

jfwilson · 10-25-2003, 08:13 PM

Thanks everybody. Yes, we have just one male and one female molly. They got along fine for months, then just today, this aggression. Should we just sweat it out, or do you think we should separate them? She looks freaked.

myriam · 10-26-2003, 12:48 PM

LondonGman, LMAO!

jfwilson, I have heard of female fish getting so stressed out from the male's aggression/attention that they get very sick or even (gulp) die. I don't know if I'd sweat it. If you have room in your tank, I'd add a couple more mollies.

jfwilson · 10-26-2003, 07:37 PM

In this continuing saga: This morning she was floating on her side and looking dead among some floating plants. When poppa took a few swats at her, she moved a bit, so I quickly set up quarantine fish bowl and now she's safe and happy in her battered wife shelter.

Any female aquarists out there with an opinion on what to do other than grow the harem?

10-25-2003, 09:58 AM	#1
jfwilson Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Silver Spring MD USA Posts: 3	Molly aggression? We have a happy 20 [acronym:712296eff4="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:712296eff4] planted community tank with good water parameters, but this morning poppa molly became very aggressive toward momma molly. I do not mean the romantic chasing that occurs from time to time and accounts for her pregnancy (probably still a few weeks to go), I mean streaking across the aquarium and nasty biting, leading her to look stressed and try to find places to hide. Is this normal, what could cause it? If it goes on, we'll probably separate her.

10-25-2003, 11:02 AM	#2
LondonGman Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Leytonstone, London Posts: 224 Images: 2	Your story is familiar to me. I had an aggressive female molly who kept on picking on the male and every other fish in my tank. When she had babies, I had to give them all away, but kept the male for his own safety. The person I gave the female and baby mollies to, has already complained about the aggression between them all. Do not know why, but it seems common. __________________ old signature here my fish tank

10-25-2003, 11:23 AM	#3
Terry Aquarium Advice FINatic Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Harlow, Essex. UK Posts: 676	jfwilson, Welcome to Aquarium Advice: This is one of the joys of keeping fish, you never know whats going on in there heads. It could possibly be that because your female is pregnant, and the male isn't getting any joy on the breeding side and he is frustrated and getting agressive. This is one of the things about live bearers, the female don't need the male that much so he gets frustrated. __________________ " There is to much information in this hobby to learn in one lifetime " But with the help of Aquarium Advice we can have a good try.

10-25-2003, 02:50 PM	#6
oscarbreeder Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Columbia,S.C. Posts: 3,084 Images: 13	william, I liked that last post...lol That sounds WAY to familiar. __________________ Please remember to vote for Aquarium Advice! http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/kyman_33/sig.jpg

10-25-2003, 08:13 PM	#8
jfwilson Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Silver Spring MD USA Posts: 3	re: Molly aggression Thanks everybody. Yes, we have just one male and one female molly. They got along fine for months, then just today, this aggression. Should we just sweat it out, or do you think we should separate them? She looks freaked.

10-25-2003, 02:11 PM	#4
myriam Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 500 Images: 6	Welcome, jfwilson. Do you have only one male and one female? I do believe a 3:1 female:male ratio works best for livebearers. That way the male has 3 females to bug and none of them would hopefully get too stressed out from his aggression.

10-26-2003, 12:48 PM	#9
myriam Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 500 Images: 6	LondonGman, LMAO! jfwilson, I have heard of female fish getting so stressed out from the male's aggression/attention that they get very sick or even (gulp) die. I don't know if I'd sweat it. If you have room in your tank, I'd add a couple more mollies.

10-26-2003, 07:37 PM	#10
jfwilson Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Silver Spring MD USA Posts: 3	In this continuing saga: This morning she was floating on her side and looking dead among some floating plants. When poppa took a few swats at her, she moved a bit, so I quickly set up quarantine fish bowl and now she's safe and happy in her battered wife shelter. Any female aquarists out there with an opinion on what to do other than grow the harem?

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