Observation of amazing fish behavior

[Ilsa]

I have a fresh water thirty gallon tank. One of my red platys appeared to have gotten stuck on the filter, so I shut it off. It took about a minute for the fish to be able to release itself, which I don't understand since it doesn't appear to have any external injuries.

Anyway, the fish couldn't swim with its tail fin, but it managed to settle against a rock at the bottom of the tank. Another red platy came over to it, and has been trying to stimulate it by rapidly flipping its tail fin around it. It is amazing, because that kind of activity is normally used to propel the fish rapidly forward. The second fish has stayed close to the first one and periodlically tries to "beat" to help it move. These fish seem to care about each other!

If anyone has had this experience and knows what is going on, please let me know. The injured platy can't seem to beat its tail fin and its attitude goes vertical when it tries to swim.

[Gato Moteado]

1. it's possible it's trying to mate with it

is the injured fish a female and the other one a male?

[Ilsa]

2. I'm not sure I can tell...

I guess that sounds naive, but the only way I can tell is when one looks pregnant. I guess the male fish look more streamlined? This helper fish didn't look like it was trying to mate. And it isn't staying with it anymore.

[Deja Q]

3. You forgot to tell her the best part!

Not only are platies livebearers who, like guppies, will bonk at every opportunity, it is also known that the parents will devour their young as any of us would be inclined to devour a piece of French Silk Pie. :9

[Shell Beau]

4. I have Mollies and they are like rabbits. I started

with 6 of them about 6 months ago. Now I have over 100. One female has given birth about 6 times! It is crazy!

[Ilsa]

6. Really? Wow, they haven't eaten their little ones.

The baby fish all appear to be doing well, but I've noticed they stay out of the way of the older platys and neon tetras.

[AlienGirl]

5. This is probably social behavior

Not too long ago scientists discovered a whole range of apparent helping behavior in fish. For example, if a fish is taken out of the tank and exposed to alcohol, then returned drunk, the other fish will swim next to him and hold him up until he can swim well again.

So your interpretation of the fish's behavior as an attempt to help his friend is probably accurate! Fish are turning out to be a lot more intelligent and complex than was thought.

Fish intelligence link: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/31/1062268467932.html?oneclick=true

Tucker

[Ilsa]

7. Wow, that's an interesting story.

I had heard something over the last month about fish being more social than we had ever given them credit for. This is neat. But right now, the helper is off doing its own thing.