Me And Platies Again

[PrairieSunflower]

I swear it will take me some time to get used to platies, they are not at all like guppies! LOL


Anyhow... some time ago I posted about my one platy who seemed to occasionally flash for a bit after a water change. Now, I no longer think its linked to a water change as I have observed a behavior pattern.

1) She will flash, maybe 4-5 time in about 10-15 minutes
2) After that she is quiet
3) then she starts coming up beside my guppies and swiping them with her tail and freaking them out.
4) the it passes and she doesn't do it again for about a week or more.

Now... I introduced a second platy as I figured maybe she just needs someone who speaks her body language.... and what happened....

1) new platy started flashing
2) other platy started flashing in response
3) new platy started tail swiping the guppies and other platy cowered off and watched
4) behavior passed and nothing more.


So... what do you make of that? I was really concerned to see them both flashing (none of the guppies of tetra flashed) that I tested my water but all was well and nitrates were at 10 which is where they always are.

Oh and no sign of disease or parasites on the new platy and there has never been anything wrong with the other one all this time either.

 

[basboi85]

I swear it will take me some time to get used to platies, they are not at all like guppies! LOL


Anyhow... some time ago I posted about my one platy who seemed to occasionally flash for a bit after a water change. Now, I no longer think its linked to a water change as I have observed a behavior pattern.

1) She will flash, maybe 4-5 time in about 10-15 minutes
2) After that she is quiet
3) then she starts coming up beside my guppies and swiping them with her tail and freaking them out.
4) the it passes and she doesn't do it again for about a week or more.

Now... I introduced a second platy as I figured maybe she just needs someone who speaks her body language.... and what happened....

1) new platy started flashing
2) other platy started flashing in response
3) new platy started tail swiping the guppies and other platy cowered off and watched
4) behavior passed and nothing more.


So... what do you make of that? I was really concerned to see them both flashing (none of the guppies of tetra flashed) that I tested my water but all was well and nitrates were at 10 which is where they always are.

Oh and no sign of disease or parasites on the new platy and there has never been anything wrong with the other one all this time either.

You say this I noticed one of my guppies and platys flashing yesterday about half 6 pm. By half 8 once kids put to bed ect ect I did a big water change say 40% about 200l de chlorinated the water and filled the tank back and the flashing stopped and I've not seen them do it since, I've just seen my little rainbow shark flash ???

I Did a water test and the results was

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrite 0ppm
Nitrate 5ppm ( I thought it was 10 but wife reckons 5)
Ph 8.0

The only think I can think of that the ph is a bit high for them

Tank temp is dead 25.c either end.

Ill keep a eye out for any other signs its just strange.

 

[lilguppy]

Hmmm this is a puzzle indeed! I've never had any problems with flashing and I have guppies and plattys and a molly. All I can think of is tell you what I do to my water.

I change my water and filter together maybe once every 3-4 weeks (usually when I see a green tinge to the water and it's not that crystal clear look) I take about 10 litres out to my 55 litre tank (I don't know what that is in galleons sorry)

When I put the new water in I put algae control and water ager in the new water to get rid of the nasties in the tap water.

I also have my water temp to 26 degrees C and my fish are very healthy and give birth often. Infact the plattys I have in their now were born and bred in my tank...

This might still not work for you though because I live in Australia and the tap water is different than UK water... (If you are from the UK lol)

Anyway I wish you all the best in finding a solution to the flashing and that it might just go away with the smallest change that you do like Basboi85's did.

have a good day

 

[PrairieSunflower]

In the past, I have had flashing from bad water, but unless there is something in the water now that I can't test for, that's not it. I do a partial water change 3-4 days into the week and a larger one near the end of the weekend.

There is absolutely no sign of parasites or anything else on my fish to make me think that is what irritates them. I will do a water change anyway, but I don't think that is it. I have been scrutinizing them a little extra thinking maybe I'd find ich but nothing visible at all.

Oh and yes in the UK... I need to update that, I always mean to have that visible. I am in London and supposedly its amongst the worst water.

 

[WILDER]

Is there any fine particles in your water as that can irritate fish skin?
Have you changed water conditioner?
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Is there any fine particles in your water as that can irritate fish skin? Sometimes, usually its just a bit left after a water change but they disappear, more or less, within the hour... at least visually.
Have you changed water conditioner? No, same one. New bottle but bought the new bottle after getting the first platy and after her behavior started.
What does it look like when your fish go to the toilet? Normal, usually food color. I do have one guppy that occasionally eats some of the plant roots that stick up and that poop looks quite different but none of the guppies are doing anything strange.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Right, so I've gone away and given my filter a complete scrub over (the right way to preserve the bacteria of course), maybe if there is anything that has been irritating it will be removed now.