Platy With Fin Nip.

[AdrianB]

About three weeks ago I bought 3 male Mickey mouse platies for my 110 Litre tank. Also in the tank are 5 gold barbs and 2 female silver mollies. (Plus 11, 6 week old molly babies)

I noticed today one of the platies has a nip on his fin and usually seems to be on his own whilst the other two are together. Could it be that three are the wrong amount to have as two gang up? Any advise welcome.

Thanks

 

[BWBettas]

my platies do the same but then after feeding time they usually go back together until tomorow lol

 

[Annastasia]

Yes, 2 will gang up on one. That's why, if you want all males, I usually recommend at least 5 to spread out aggression.

Does his fin look okay? No signs of infections, or anything wrong?

 

[AdrianB]

I wanted all males as I didn't want any more breeding going on.

The fin looks fine just a tiny bit missing and the fish even seems ok just a bit shy hiding in plants.

They are very pretty fish so I don't mind getting another two, but I'm not sure if its safe to do so yet. They came with whitespot infected every other fish and I've been treating the tank for nearly weeks now! All the adult fish don't have any more spots but some of the babies still do and occasionally the gold barbs itch themselves on the plants.

Do you think I should wait? Also would it matter if I had to get another type of male platy or should it be the same red ones?

 

[Annastasia]

Yeah, I totally understand why you'd want all males.

Since they came with white-spot, when you get more is it possible to quarantine them in a small tank for a few weeks, so they don't infect the other fish all over again? It doesn't have to be a big tank. Do you have any spare tanks?

Color doesn't matter, any kind of male Platy will be fine.

 

[AdrianB]

Thanks for the reply. There are no more signs of whitespot in the tank now thankfully!

I have another fish shop that I trust its further away but if I get any more fish ever it will be from them, that why I asked if they had to be the same type.

 

[Annastasia]

Good to hear. However, you should keep treating, because when the parasites aren't on the fish (white spots), they are free-swimming and multiplying, and that's the only chance you have to kill them. Water changes are good at this point, as is some salt as long as you have salt tolerant fish. I did daily 25% and the normal dose of salt, and it worked very well.

Also, if you ever do have a small tank you aren't using, setting it up as a hospital/quarantine tank can be a useful thing, because you never know what new fish could have.