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Hello all,

found this board recently in my search for fish answers. I have a 55 gallon tank. It is currently stocked with 6 mollies (2 male, 4 female) 6 tetras (not sure what they are), 3 dwarf gouramies (1 striped, 1 powder blue and 1 gold), 1 pleco (who is growing like a beast), 1 glass catfish, 1 angelfish, 2 pineapple swordtails (1 male and 1 female that appear to be a pair since they never leave each other for long) and 1 female red swordtail (wag?)

My issues have dealt mostly with aggressive mollies. 1 of the males is a silver lyretail with a really long dorsal fin (maybe a sailfin?). He never seems to give any of the females a rest. I noted that the other male (large black) and he were constantly chasing each other and in the last few days it has gotten progressively worse. The silver is either chasing the females and nipping at the anal area or he is doing the same to the black male. Is this normal or something i should be worried about. I separated him last night by putting him in a breeder tank when he got so bad it was even annoying me. How long should i leave him in the breeder tank and will it even make a difference? I also noted that 1 of my females appeared to be beating up the black male mollie who has not really seemed to bother anyone. By beating him up it looked as if she were ramming him and whipping her tail into him. Could this be a strange mating or is it actual aggressive behavior? After a while the black male went and hid under some stuff with his rear fin pinned down instead of open like normal as if he were afraid.

A few other things i had questions on, am i overstocked? I would like to add 1 more dwarf gourami, possibly one more angelfish, and one more glass catfish.

i have also considered adding some more pineapple swordtails since they seem more hardy than my other swordfish i have had. But would this upset the pair in there or make them happier. (2 more females was my thought and leave another male out of the equation)

Also how can you tell if you have enough plants (i use plastic ones because i have no experience or luck with live ones)

Well i am sure i have more questions but i feel i have already overloaded this post as it is. Any help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Of main concern right now is will separating the silver for a time help his aggressiveness (or at least give the others a break for a while heheh) and if anything how long should i leave him in there? (if at all)

Thanks again.

Huh, the only time my mollies were ever agressive was when mother was about to pop more young uns out. and then after. and only seemed to be keepin the others away (although she did wolf down a few)