Platies

[Michelleuk]

Hi

i have a few male platies. They spend quite a lot of time hiding and lying on the floor.

Any ideas how to get them i bit happier. Is this normal?

thanks

 

[Gytas]

females???

 

[Michelleuk]

yeah - thats what i thought but dont want a over run tank. I can't get to the shop easy so if you have any other ideas in the mean time.

thanks

 

[amy1994]

Take a look at this..... http/www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http/www.fishkeppingforum.co.uk/forum/UploadedPhotos/jennybugs/2010-04-30_092141_tropicalfish010.jpg&imgrefurl=http/www.fishkeepingforum.co.uk/forum/forum_posts.asp%3FTID%3D5868&usg=__2lxMdBmTc2DYhfMHONo-eMU33ho=&h=298&w=269&sz=58&hl=en&start=0&sig2=x7atlbW9aIU6TnNCQSgAZg&zoom=1&tbnid=v0QN0E0-k4JtKM:&tbnh=136&tbnw=123&ei=QM7WTaPqCdDLsgbb4eSHCg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DfemaLE%2BPLATY%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26rlz%3D1T4ACAW_en___GB398%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D639%26tbm%3Disch&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=315&vpy=103&dur=237&hovh=236&hovw=213&tx=86&ty=116&sqi=2&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0
Then tell us how many female or males you have got, as this would help.

 

[Michelleuk]

3 x males as above.

 

[welshfish1]

3 x males as above.

I may be wrong but I was told its 3 females to every one male

 

[Gytas]

mh i am not sure.....

what is the set up of your tank? how big is it? do you do any tests on it? eg. ammonia nitrite and nitrate PH if yes what are the reedings?


at one point i only had a pleco and a guppy in my 15 gallon and it seemed to be very deprest but when i put the neons in he feels like he is part of the gang but when the guppy had a nother male in with him a few months back he was happy too and not strest at all..... if platies are a bit like guppies and i think they are this makes me believe that there is no reason for them to be sad because af a lack of ' friends' in the tank.

(guppies and platy are very friendly fish and don't do well on their own in tanks and by that i mean to be the only fish in the tank or with no other friendly fish in the tank eg.pleco)

 

[StandbySetting]

What's the tank volume? The recommended ratio of Males to Female is generally 1:2 or 1:3, It's your call, but if they do reproduce expect hundreds of fry.

I'd also want to know why the fish aren't happy, what are your water parameters?

 

[Gytas]

3 x males as above.

I may be wrong but I was told its 3 females to every one male

that is righ.... but that rule only goes if you have females in the tank.... eg. if you only have 1 female between 2 males in the tank the two males would fight and the female would get very strest because she would get stocked a lot

this is not the case considering he does not have any females in the tank with the males

 

[-FighterFishh]

This doesn't sound like it really has anything to do with stocking, more with your water parameters.
Do you have a test kit you can use to check the water paras for us?

 

[Gytas]

This doesn't sound like it really has anything to do with stocking, more with your water parameters.Do you have a test kit you can use to check the water paras for us?

totally agreed...

 

[Michelleuk]

the water is fine. all other fish are fine. i think the males are picking on each other.they keep chasing each other.

The tank is juwel 190 liters corner tank.

they have been like this for ages. a few months. just wanted to no if i can do anything.

 

[StandbySetting]

Specific parameters would be of use to us, do you have a test kit?

 

[Michelleuk]

they have been like this for months - i have done loads of water changes since then.

 

[StandbySetting]

If they have been like this for months then there maybe an under lying cause, what are your water parameters?