Vivienne Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Hi guys, I’m kinda a newbie fish keeper here so I apologise in advance if this is a silly question. I have a 45 gallon community tank, 10 neons 6 glowlites 1 gourami (gonna get a couple more soon) and 3 swordtails, 1 male 2 females. The male is chasing one of the females to the point of what must surely soon become exhaustion! She finds a lot of places to hide but he systematically hunts her down each and every time. What should I do about this - will it help if I get some more females? Another male? Get rid of the male (give away / flush - what?!?) Please, any suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I'd suggest getting more females. The recommended ration of male to female livebearers is 3 females to 1 male. Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I'd vote for more females too. Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vivienne Posted January 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Thanks Jude and Alan. I hate the conflicting advice that you can receive from different lfs. When I bought the swordtails I was told that if I had more than 2 females for 1 male, the females would start to morph into males? I’m quite happy to buy another female but can you tell me why it is that he only chases one particular female and never seems to bother the other one? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Remind me not to go to that shop Viv, or at least to that person that sold them to you. MMMMMMMMM Alan 104 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jude Posted January 10, 2006 Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 Females can turn into males but I don't know why. It might have to do with the ratio of males to females. As for why he is only chasing one, I wouldnt have a clue - is she prettier than the other one? :lol: :lol: :lol: Cheers Jude Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vivienne Posted January 10, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2006 I think it is maybe because she is so passive? I feel so bad about this, she is now exhausted. I bought another female earlier today and also a moonlight gourami. I know it’s not a brilliant idea to add fish without quarantining them first, but if I had another tank and heater I would have removed the harassed fish to give her a break. The new swordtail and the existing female don’t take any nonsense from the male. I assume herein lies the problem of why she is being attacked. I have got some flat rocks from the garden on the boil right now to try and give her a few more hiding places. It’s so distressing to see her in this condition. If I’m doing something wrong here please speak up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vivienne Posted January 16, 2006 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 Took the harassed female back to the pet shop. Couldn’t stand to see her distress any longer. Adding another female didn’t help and I don’t think adding another one would have helped either. His obsession was totally focussed on her. Thank for the advice though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 Try getting the little bugger and sticking him in a floating breeding net until hes needed - say for 2 weeks every 2 months - They can probably do it through the net tho - Don't give up - you will soon have lots of babies every where - sounz like the female may have been heavily pregnant and just the easiest target at the time - I'd vote need more females as well - but you could stick him in jail if its getting up ya - just don't give up on these neat fish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanksman Posted January 16, 2006 Report Share Posted January 16, 2006 What other fish do you have viv? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fizgig777 Posted January 19, 2006 Report Share Posted January 19, 2006 I had the same problem with a male. More females will not do anything for the aggression (mine had 5 females all to himself and still chased one to death). I'd say, get rid of the male -- which is what I eventually had to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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