Help! Extreme Novice With Apparently Pregnant Platy! :(

[Heather Millington]

Was wondering if anyone can help with my problem.

Received my first tank for christmas, 60cm*30cm*45cm and set it up almost 2 weeks ago, as instructed, and left it to "stabalise" for the required week. Went to fish shop on Saturday and purchased my first installment of community fish (some neon tetras, back tetras, cherry barbs) and two, what I believe are platies. None died the first night, so was feeling pleased, until last night I looked into the tank and saw a baby fish! Did not expect this in the slightest ( probably quite ignorant I suppose). However that fry did not last long, as we couldnt find it 10 mins later. Think I've managed to work out I have a male and female platy, however there were no more babies today, and she is still rather fat ( she also has the dark bit just infront of her fin as described in other articles). She seems ok apart from this. However, I am worried as to how to deal with this. The tank has only had fish in it for nearly 48 hours yet so has in no way stabalised. Worry if she has lots more the tank will get "overloaded." Also it only has plastc plants, due the tank not having anything for live plants to live of yet (the woman in my local fish shop said this) and from some other post in here I understand the baby fry like this Dont have a clue what to do anyway? Dont have another tank I can move the female to so she will have to stay in there. Is it ok to let nature take its course? Dont want to try to save the fry with the result of the tank getting overloaded and toxic and the other fish suffering? Also now I have identified that I think I have a male and female I have read I should realy have more females so the same one is not being harrassed by the male constantly. But that would mean introducing more fish into an immature tank. Really have no idea and any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

Heather

 

[Annastasia]

Welcome to the forum, first off!

Did you fishless cycle your tank? Or just let it run? If you just let it run, it really didn't do anything, I'm afraid. You need some ammonia in there to kick-start cycling. You can read more about New Tank Syndrome, and Fishless Cycling in those links. There's also much more information if you look in the FAQs at the top of the page, or you can do a search on the forum.

Okay, so your tank is about 85 litres, 19 UK gallons, and 23 US gallons. Depending on how many of each fish you got, you probably are near your limit. I'd so survival of the fittest with this/these fry. It's probably your best option, with the tank being as it is. Eventually you may want to set up a small breeder tank, and raise some fry, but that can be a ways off. A live plant or two would definitely help the fry. They have organisms that the fry love to eat, and some make great hiding places. Depending on what kind of lighting you have, getting low-light plants may be beneficial.

And yes, it would be good to get more females, 1-2 more. But how many fish do you have already? Also, be aware, Neons don't always take well to cycling. It's possible they may die. Could you take them back to the LFS, until you are finished cycling? If you're going to cycle with fish, you need to get a test kit for Ammonia, NitrIte, and NitrAte. These levels can get very high and toxic to your fish when you are cycling, so frequent water changes are usually needed.


I wish you the best of luck, and I hope this helps! Let me know if I missed anything, or if you have anymore questions.

 

[Heather Millington]

Firstly, thanks annastasia for help! Much appreciated.

I originally filled the tank and added Sera Aquatan-VBc stress protection, which according to the back "creates clean water, biologically protects the mucous membranes of the fish, binds heavy metals, neutralizes chlorine and chloramine, and is the ideal anti stress agent for use in the aquarium and when transporting". Then, next day added Sera Nitravec- Biostarter, which again accoridng the back "is a special mixture of purifying bacteria, which serves a purpose of breaking down ammonium and nitrate." However did not add daily after this before adding tank, as lady in shop said it wasnt neccessary. would it do the fish any harm to add more now? this is suggested on bottle. Also have Sera Toxivec, which I haven't used yet, but is " a pollutant remover with immediate effect, and removes ammonium and nitrate reliably, removes chlorine and chloramines, reduces frequency of water changes (which again I was advised against until around 6 weeks when they lady suggested I take a sample of water from the bottom of the tank where she would test it for me), stablises carbonate hardness and pH value, binds heavy metals and prevents high nitrate values." The bottle suggests using after stocking the tank with fish, however I am confused as to which to use as this product (toxivec) seems to do all the things that the other two do together. Feeling slightly silly now as possibly went into this without knowing enough. If anyone has any experience with these products it would greatly appreciated for advice on their usage. Should really get my hands on a test kit though. Its now at the top of my list

As to how many fish, I have 6 neons, 5 black tetas and 4 cherry barbs and the 2 platies. No more fry from the platy as yet. Is this really too many for my first stock? Not sure if I can do much about this now as not sure the shop will take them back.

Thanks for all the great advice!

Heather

 

[Annastasia]

You're very welcome, I'm always happy to help!

Unfortunaly, most chemical products do not work. I've never used those personally, though, so I can't comment. I wouldn't imagine the Biostarter would do much though. Pretty much the only trusted brand for that kind of thing is BioSpira, and even that has to be properly refrigerated and stored throughout the whole trucking process. Otherwise the benficial bacteria in it will just die, and then it doesn't do you any good at all! It would be my guess that the tank has started cycling now, since it has something to produce ammonia in it to kick start the cycle. A test kit would definitely be useful here, since you don't want the levels to go out of control. Be prepared, daily or even more frequent water changes might come your way!

Yeah, I think you might have over-done it with the stocking for a new/non-cycled tank. Don't feel bad though, it happens to almost everybody when they get their first ever fish tank. I was lucky enough that my aunt kept fish and trained me how to do it first, but you are definitely in the majority of new fishkeepers. Did you take a look at the New Tank Syndrome topic? That should be very helpful to you in your situation. I'd try to see if the LFS can hold them, or take them back for you. If they can't...I guess you'll just be cycling with fish!