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when one male guppy nipps the tail of another male guppy is he actually eating the tail?

I think he is being aggressive.

they bothe the double sword tail male guppies have been doing this to a variegated snakeskin male guppies tail since yesterday around 530pm... the variegated hides alot.. so is he nipping/eating the tail?

How many females do you have in the tank? He could be trying to set up order in the tank, saying that he is the dominant male...you should have 2-3 females for each male, this way there isn't too much fight over who gets who...

Also, some hints to help settle the young man down...

1. Take the nipper(s) out of the tank for a bit, move things around inside add a new decoration. Then put him back in...this will cause him to believe that he is the new fish in the tank.

2. As you are redecorating, add some new plants this will give the fish a place to hide. Keep in mind out of sight out of mind...and thus they can get out of sight. Also it will give the future fry a place to hide...

Best of luck, let us know how it turns out...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

There are no females in the tank...

Then they are nipping out of frustration.

Oh heck...go get those boys some ladies to keep them company, that will settle everything down :%) Also be sure to add some plants to the tank, it will also help so that those being harrassed will have a place to go hide...sorry for repeating myself, but :%)

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

here is a link so that you can see my tank and its

click below if it worked
http://www.wtronix.com/officefish/

Last edited by redzoom2001 at 15-Jan-2005 17:59

Ok I take it back don't add any ladies, you don't have the room, and it is truelly a beautiful tank...so let's go with the other suggestion. Take out the nippers (either put them in ziplock baggies or I use the see throug 2 cup measuring cups and do some rearranging...add a couple more plants, real ones. Again I'm thinking Anacharis, just get one bundle of it, and plant it around the back of the castle...Move the castle a little, move the other "plants" around some...do a little redecorating of your own, then set Mr(s) Nipps back in the tank with his compadres (friends). He will suddenly think that he is the new fish in a new tank, and won't be feel quite so nippy since he doesn't know what has happened.

Do this and let us know how it works...Heidi

"I've got a great ambition to die of exhaustion rather than boredom." Thomas Carlyle

if i need to i can take some out and put them in my 75 gallon community tank that has all peaceful fish in it... i have plenty of room in there... lmk what you think?

It sounds alright to me, but what other fish do you have in there? It is so big they probably will never even see eachother! If i were you i would move some males to the community and then add females to your little tank.

It sounds alright to me, but what other fish do you have in there? It is so big they probably will never even see eachother! If i were you i would move some males to the community and then add females to your little tank.
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I was thinking of moving some of the males to the community tank and getting some girls.. But then i was thinking wont the guppy boys be aggressive like they are with the boys i am taking out but with the new females?

well the one they were bothering and chasing died last night... bad bad bad guppies... so now i have 3

I HAVE AN IDEA!!! how about u put the males in the larger tank, get a few females, and get some fluffly plants for the small tank, and uses the small tank as a fry tank! put the new females in the small tank if they seem a little preggo, birth em in there and when u have a few good batches in there wait till they get about 1/2 in than throw em in the big tank, later on u can sell they fry, they should grow quicker in the larger tank