Platy Problems

[platyranch]

Help! I have had a very small tank (my first one) for about a year. It's only a 12 gallon, with a charcoal filter, heater and a bio wheel. (I am anxiously waiting to have room for a larger tank.) Everything was going along great. I have a few platies, one guppy and did have some little freshwater crabs. First one of the crabs died and I replaced her, only to lose the other two within a few days. Then one fish develped a whitish patch on it's head and died. Then 2 of the smaller platies (does anyone know how to make them stop breeding?) developed something stange about their mouths. The bottom is protruding downward and the top almost looks as if it's missing. I don't think they are able to eat, and one finaly died. I think my tank is probably a bit crowded, but most of my fish are very small (babies) and most of them seem fine. I treated the tank with Jungle Fungus Clear, then someone recomended a copper cure, which really didn"t do much and I was afraid it was very toxic. I have been doing 25% water changes once a week with quality water and everything is testing ok for ammonia, nitites and nitrates. any ideas? Would Melafix help? I would greatly appreciate any ideas!

 

[LesGerber]

Platyranch, First off did you remove the charcoal filter when you treated? If not your med was fitered right out as charcoal removes all meds from the water.
From what it sounds like your fish may have mouth rot. Fortunatly I have not had to deal with this problem but it is a fungus so the fungus clear should help.
As far as how to stop your platies from breeding just put them in my tank for a week and they wont breed...lol I have had platies and swords from the start of my tank and I have never had one breed or give birth....lol

HTH

Les

 

[bigfish]

I wouldn't bother trying to seperate the platies as i was told that the female can store sperm packets from the males for 3 batches of fry or more, you could see if you could give them to a friend or raise them until they are an inch or more then maybe your local petshop could take them off your hands.