Aggressive Platy's - Have I Done The Right Thing?!

[naomiaustin]

I have 3 platy's - one wee orange one called Gilbert & 2 larger silver ones.
Recently I noticed that Gilbert had a very nasty looking sore on his left side, kind of white with streaks of red in. At first I thought it was fungal but then I saw one of the silver platy's attacking him quite viciously when I fed them. The silver platy was attacking the side with the sore on & poor Gilbert was trying to flap him away with his tail... it was awful!!
I took evasive action tonight as I thought Gilbert needed space to heal & to have some 'time out' from the silver guys, so i took both of them out of the main tank and put them in my 65ltr tank which is left empty especially for situations like this or illness. It has been running for a few weeks now & pH, and all other readings are great but they don't seem to have taken too kindly to being moved! They are both hiding behind a fake plant & both facing upwards barely moving! I fed them a bit but both won't eat - normally they're quite active! They're not ill, just aggressive but I don't know if I've done the right thing quarantining them... will they be ok & acclimatise to their new surroundings or do i need to get them back in the main tank?!

 

[WILDER]

The sore is bacterial fish will attack a sick fish.
What med are you using.
Does the sore look like it might be decaying into a hole.

 

[naomiaustin]

Thanks for replying Wilder.. i appreciate it!
I didn't use any meds because of the problem I had with the ammonia! As the levels have now dropped from 8(!!!) to 0 I really didn't want to mess anymore with the water! I've just done 20% water changes for the past 6 days! Oh, I have added aquastart to the new water & Stresscoat to the tank every 2 days but I didn't class these as meds.
This morning Gilbert looked a bit happier... it was almost like he was saying 'Oh, they've gone - thank you thank you!!!' - the sore also looks a lot better!
I did think it was fungal to be honest but it didn't have the obvious 'white bloom' like signs - it just looked red and raw. It isn't going into a hole or anything - it does look a bit better! I'm hoping the peace and respite will help him to heal rather than using any meds!! Do you think this will work?!
Silver platys are a bit more lively but still hiding!!!

 

[WILDER]

Sores can soon turn nasty.
If you think its healing don't bother with the med for now, maybe the improved water quality is helping him heal.
Good luck.

 

[merry78]

Gilbert should heal up ok with treatment, but is your other tank that the 2 silver ones are in cycled? It sounds like you are already doing daily water changes because of this, but i just thought i'd check and see if you were aware that it would be stressing your silver guys being in an uncycled tank.
If you already know this, i apologise for trying to tell you how to suck eggs!!

 

[naomiaustin]

thanks guys! Gilbert's 'wound' is healing amazingly well - there's barely a mark there now - it's like someone put magic potion on it or something!! He seems happier and livelier too - apart from he's doing this strange thing with the other fish... he kind of shimmies up to them backwards and moves in really close next to them as if he's wanting a reaction - the mollies and clown loaches are not bothered at all and ignore him so he follows them everywhere.. is this normal?! It's like he wants them to play!! He shimmies then darts off, comes back and shimmies again!! bless!!

Anyway, I now know why the silver guys were aggressive and quiet! They're a male and female as Mrs Platy gave birth to baby platy's last night!!!
I can't believe how small they are though & because I didn't realise she was pregnant I didn't get the fry net in in time... I only saw about 4 or 5 but a couple were kind of wedged in the gravel. Parents not that bothered by them but I'm worried they will be eaten - I can't get to them as there's loads of artificial plants and a greek urn and they're quite fast considering they're so small!! Would she have given birth to more or is 4-5 normal?!
What on earth do I feed them and how - they're so wee!!!

 

[WILDER]

Fish can heal themselves in good water quality if there immune system is not weak.
Good luck.

 

[merry78]

feed your fry crushed flake (ground to fine powder), baby brine shrimp, and hard boiled egg yolk mixed with water to create a fine suspension.
no need to remove them, it sounds like they have plenty of hiding places and should be ok.
feed little and often, and increase your water change frequency to keep water stats perfect for your bubbies.
4-5 fry is normal for a first birth, she will have more and more each time as she gets older.
Glad to hear Gilbert's feeling better, congrats on your new babies!!