Guppy?????

Question

I have 4 guppys in aa ten gallon tank and one is smaller than all the others(younger but not small enough for the others to eat) and the others seem to be chasing it alot and picking on it. Should I find something else to put it in for now like a rubbermaid container untill it grows or hopefully ill get another tank

this fish is a female and i have 2 other females and one male(yes I am prepared for babies)

Answer 1

I keep the artificial breeding grass that you can buy at pet stores, in the tank, I have one floating at the top of the tank, and two anchored on the bottom. Baby guppies hide in the grass. Adult guppies will eat babies as soon as they are born, and the grass gives the babies a place where they are safe.

I have sometimes seen a fish that was smaller than the others, and also had a belly that was sort of sunken in instead of rounded like the normal guppy's belly, and the other fish picked on that one because it wasn't a healthy normal fish. In that case you can isolate it, just to be nice to it, but every fish I ever had that showed that smaller appearance with sunken belly, died anyway.

If the fish is just a younger smaller fish, the grass will give it a hiding place as it grows, and if your others are boys AND girls together, your little fish may end up with the company of other baby guppies in the grass!

Answer 2

Guppies, esp bigger males and females, will try and show dominance by nipping at smaller ones. Actually, all fish do this. If the nipping/attacking cont. ruthlessly, then put the single guppy in another tank, w/o any other companions (well any that are bigger than it), I'd recommend you buy a 5 gal. since its appropriate for smaller and single species of fish.
It should grow into its full size w/o the stress of others attacking it. Also add some remedy salt to the new tank to prevent any infection/bacteria from growing on any wounds the poor thing might have.

Answer 3

Do you know the gender of your fish? If 3 are male they may be chasing the 4th female to breed. If 3 are female, they may be chasing away the 4th male because... sometimes livebearers just do that. Isolating the 4th fish will probably cause it to grow more slowly, which ultimately won't fix the problem. I'd give it some places to hide. And if it turns out to be 3 males chasing 1 female, I'd go back to the store and buy more females.

Answer 4

Well, it's probably just because they want to show their dominion over him. Make sure there are lots of plants in your tank. They probably won't pick on him as much then. You could also try putting him in isolation for a couple of days and see what happens.

Answer 5

Provide more hiding places such as plants. If it is the male doing most of the chasing chances are he is trying to mate with her. they are very prolific breeders.

Answer 6

yes separate them