GIANT PLATY

[Lucy]

Hi all. I started my first tank this January and bought some 3-4cm platies at that time. My blue/black male platy has grown to almost 9cm now (the other platies are all about 4cm) and has developed a 1 inch extension to the bottom of his tail fin. He looks rather magnificent. I've got a book on platies and as far as I understand, they don't normally grow this big, and, the book talks about swordtail tail fin extensions of up to 1cm - not 1 inch! Has anyone else had this kind of experience? I only have a small starter aquarium and think that he is now too big. What do you do when a fish gets too big? Answers please?

 

[bigfish]

Sounds like a sword tail to me. How big is your tank?

 

[LesGerber]

would love to see a pic of this moby dick of the platy world


Les

 

[William]

Just got out a ruler, I'd say its probably a swordtail, my swords have extensions which are about one inch long as well. When you say 9cm does that include any of the tail ? if so then thats average swordtail size

It could also be a platy hybrid with swordtail, often when you buy "variatus platies" they are just that various and various may mean hybrid as swordtails and platies breed together fairly readily

 

[Jamnog]

as for the actual question

What do you do when a fish gets too big?

well i would suggest getting a slightly bigger aquarium. i think two foot by one foot by one foot would be big enough with proper filteration and heating. bigger tanks would show them off to nice effect but the main question on my mind right now is how big is the tank you have?

 

[Lucy]

Thanks for all your replies. A bigger tank is not an option at present as I've got no room for it (yet). I may have to find someone who has a bigger tank and donate him - sad to see him go though. He didn't have a tail extension when we bought him so I just presumed he was like the others. Well, as long as he doesn't get much bigger he can hang around for a bit longer - until I find another home for him.

Thanks you guys
xx

 

[Andyman1]

Does sound like a swordtail - they can get up to 4 inches in body length - not including the tail!!!

Can you take him back to the shop?

 

[Lucy]

Well now - after all that - I came home on Wednesday night and my bloke had bought me a bigger tank - which I didn't think he'd want! Bizarre. So, problem solved. Thanks for all your help. xx

 

[William]

Great Its always nice to hear a happy ending

 

[wetwetwet]

Wish someone would by me a bigger tank