How To Tell If Platy Is Preg Or Sick

[QueenBethers]

This is the first time I have had a tank. Last week we bought three red platys. Two females and one male. Two days later the male was dead so I returned it to the store and replaced it. Two days later the new male was dead. Now I have noticed that the two females have distended abdomens and was wondering if they are preg or if that is a sign of a sickness?

Also in the tank is one male betta and two white snales.

 

[theotheragentm]

Did you cycle the tank first to allow the buildup of bacteria to handle the bioload the fish waste produces? If not, your fish are swimming in their own waste and a 20% water change should be done daily for a week to two weeks until the bacteria has established itself.

Are you acclimating the fish to the tank? The males may just be coincidentally less hardy fish.

That being said, it is quite possible the females are already pregnant. Bloat could be a sign of illness as well. Do you have pictures? Maybe there are other signs of illness we can identify?

Is it possible the Betta is killing the males? Bettas are touch and go with community tanks and are normally not recommended with community fish. It would just be a coincidence that the Betta is only killing the males.

 

[QueenBethers]

I was just topping off the tank after evaporation but after reading the newbee section on how-to on cleaning and such I am going to change out some water. I had started the tank with the betta only. He was a gift from a friend and my DH didn't want to put him in a lonely 1 gal tank so we bough a 10 gal and we are both unsure of what to do to maintain it.

The betta had spend two months alone in the big tank before we got any more fish and I would just take the net and scoop up things as I saw them floating. I don't know anything about cycles. When we brought the new fish home I let them float in their bags until up to temp, I had heard years ago that that is what you do with new fish but that's about it.

I haven't seen the betta bother the other fish he is pretty much a loner.

I am going to get some plants for my tank today, a friend of mine said to not get live ones, something about little black snales that are attached to live plants

I will try to get pics later, I don't have that kind of time right now.

 

[theotheragentm]

Well if the Betta was in the tank first, there should be some bacteria built up. If you weren't doing water changes, you probably had high nitrates. Live plants are a whole other issue as far as care for them goes, but there are some plants that are easy to care for, such as Elodea. You can give plants a copper dip to kill any hitch hiking snails, but yes snails are common riders with plants.

Do your water changes and your fish will be happy. Be sure to dechlor the water and match the temperature of the warmer water in the tank. A hand test is sufficient.

 

[QueenBethers]

Thanks for all your help.