Advice: My Platy Is Acting Strange

[GregCalderin]

Hello and good afternoon,
 
Long time lurker who's learned an incredible amount regarding aquarium fish and care. 
 
I was hoping some of you could provide some insight as to what is happening with one of my platties. We've had this platy, "JR" (it's much smaller than the rest), since we first began our 30 gallon tank. It's aquarium mates consist of 2 additional platties (not including 1 fry - we don't who birthed it), and 3 mollies. Over the last  2 days or so, I've noticed that JR has been skipping out on meals and sticking towards the bottom of the tank - barely moving at all. Most of the time it'll find a spot underneath some of the artificial plants and stay there. It has a faster than normal breathing rate, which concerns me a bit. There are no noticeable spots or scars, and the fish has a lot of color. I haven't noticed it being chased around by anyone. All of the other fish look healthy and happy.
 
We had our water tested a few days ago and everything, according to PetSmart, was good. Unfortunately, I am currently unable to provide you with exact levels until we restock on test strips. We keep the temperature at around 80F, and have just started to slowly bring it down to about 75F. We just changed the water about an hour ago.
 
Is JR actually a female and getting ready to give birth? Or am should I be more concerned about the quality of the water/tank. 
 


 
Thank you

 

[Ridasha]

If it was me the first thing I'd check is my filter. Even if it is handling the nitrogen aspect if it is heavily fouled the co2 created from decay can be brutal to the aquarium. Especially with plastic plants.

 

[NickAu]

 
We had our water tested a few days ago and everything, according to PetSmart, was good.

I doubt that, From experience most Petxxx employees wouldn't know their elbow from their knee.
 
My advice is to do a minimum of 25% water change making sure you treat the water with a good quality dechlorinator such as Seachem Prime.  It may not help but it wont hurt.

 

[GregCalderin]

 

 
We had our water tested a few days ago and everything, according to PetSmart, was good.

I doubt that, From experience most Petxxx employees wouldn't know their elbow from their knee.
 
My advice is to do a minimum of 25% water change making sure you treat the water with a good quality dechlorinator such as Seachem Prime.  It may not help but it wont hurt.
 

 
We did a 30% water change about an hour before I created the original post. JR is still down by the substrate, under some vegetation. I will post the water parameters tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Akasha72]

please don't waste your money on test strips, they are really inaccurate. Your money is better spent on a liquid drop tester. The API masterkit seems to be the one readily available in all countries. It will give you tests for the main things - pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
 
Once we know those readings we'll be better placed to offer help or advice

 

[GregCalderin]

please don't waste your money on test strips, they are really inaccurate. Your money is better spent on a liquid drop tester. The API masterkit seems to be the one readily available in all countries. It will give you tests for the main things - pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
 
Once we know those readings we'll be better placed to offer help or advice

 
Thanks for the tip. Do you recommend any specific brand?

 

[Akasha72]

the API masterkit is the one you can get everywhere and it's simple to use

 

[AbbeysDad]

A day or two after I purchased three red wag platy's from Petsmart, one began showing signs of stress. Hunkering down on the bottom, shimmy and such. The other fish seemed fine. Then I began noticing a few other fish gulping at the surface. I thought, that's odd. I hadn't been using any air so I wondered about O2 levels so I added an air wand. Then I tested and was surprised to learn that I had a slight ammonia spike (odd in such a well established aquarium). Then it hit me that I had cleaned the one filter and rinsed the bio-media - perhaps I upset things! I dosed with Prime and by the next day the other fish were back to normal...but this one Platy continued to show signs of stress. Since it was a new fish, I was thinking she came poorly and I'd likely lose her. However, after a few more days, she perked up and is swimming all over.
I'm now thinking either she was ill from the get go or the transfer or just maybe she's the sensitive 'canary in the mine' !