Aggressive Female Guppies

[FishGeek]

My female guppies (2) are being a little too aggressive to my male guppy. I have watched both of them nip at his tail. The poor thing has chunks out of his tail! Is there a reason for this...? They arent going to kill him are they? In the begining when I first got them I noticed that the male seemed to be possessive of the females. He would chase them around and charge at them. But now it is like the females are getting back at him! lol. And he sticks to himself now mostly at the top of the tank; he seems lonely. I just dont want to loose him he is so pretty (he's blue and when the light shines right you can see green). Is this common or.....?

 

[punkrockfish]

i know that when my roommates female got close to giving birth that she became more aggressive towards the male, but if your guppies aren't pregnant then i am not sure. got enough room in the tank?

 

[FishGeek]

I only have 3 guppies in a 3 gallon. Both of my females a re pregnant. One is not that far along (yellow tail female) and the other is going to give birth anyday (orange tail female). THe orange tail was the first to nip at the male but she has back off a little now, probably cause she spends her time alone right now. But my yellow tail female is the one that I am worried about killing the male. ?????

 

[twoluvcats]

its very common...your females are prob getting ready to drop. They shouldn't kill your male, but they can do a number on his tail. If you have a place to move the male until a bit after the fry are born, everyone will be happier...it will also give the feamles a chance to rest after dropping, cause the male will want to get busy again right away.

 

[FishGeek]

Ok. I seperated my male and the females, but now my yellow tail female is attacking my other female. The orange tail female is the one that is ready to drop not the yellow (she is only about a week and a half into the pregnancy). ???

 

[punkrockfish]

how are you so sure about the pregnancy stages of your guppies? the pregnant females aren't just aggressive towards the male when pregnant but pretty much towards anything else in the tank, especially a 3g where there isn't much place to hide. there is nothing you can really do about it except to seperate again.

 

[revfred]

The other alternative is to provide a dense mat of floating weeds. This will give the "attackee" a place to find solitude. With the weeds in place you should be able to return the male to the tank as well.

 

[twoluvcats]

very true...mine all love to hide in my floating hornwort...has kept many fry alive and out of mom's mouth as well.

 

[FishGeek]

Ok. Thanks. The reason that I say she only about a week and a half into it is because she wasnt pregnant when I got here (or at least not showing), she was thin. And she just started showing about 5 days ago (I have had her for almost 3 weeks). I have a hollow log and some plants in the tank now and I will get those floating plants that you guys are refering too. Thanks again.

guppy_newbe

 

[FishGeek]

I moved my guppies to a bigger tank and the females are no longer fighting; however, they still killed my male guppy . Thanks once again for the help.

guppy_newbe