LauraFrog
Fish Gatherer
Hi guys...
I was in my LFS about a week ago and I saw a stunning male platy. Livebearer posters might remember my female, Striker, who seems to be an unheard-of strain. As far as I can tell she is virgin. The male seems to be a similar strain, certainly an ideal complement. At the time, I had nowhere to put the male, but I'm cycling a 12-gal so I went back today thinking I could fit one more fish in my current tank until the new one works. There was another female there that I bought instead because the male was looking decidedly unhealthy.
He was sitting under the filter intake in the current with all of his fins pressed against his body and his tail pinned. The other fish were attacking him. The only other platy I have seen behave like this died. The people in the LFS are not optimistic. The Australian quarantine regulations are ridiculous and the fish swim around in tanks of chemicals for weeks until they are cleared - apparently some just don't recover. I'm confused though because he wasn't doing this last week. Does that mean there might be some hope?
This fish isn't mine, but seeing as the LFS has no hope for its survival, I could possibly talk them into giving it to me. They probably owe me a few fish anyway since I've promised them upwards of a hundred free platies over the next few months. (Most of my platies are pregnant females). I have facilities to quarantine it in a 'proper' (cycled, filtered and aerated) tank. My access to medications is very limited, but if you name it I'll see if you can get it.
Anyway, what I'm asking is, does anybody know what causes this? Can it be treated, how and what's the prognosis? Is it worth me trying to wheedle this fish out of them or is there nothing I can do? I would really like to attempt to save it, but if there's no chance of recovery, I'd be wasting my time and money.
I was in my LFS about a week ago and I saw a stunning male platy. Livebearer posters might remember my female, Striker, who seems to be an unheard-of strain. As far as I can tell she is virgin. The male seems to be a similar strain, certainly an ideal complement. At the time, I had nowhere to put the male, but I'm cycling a 12-gal so I went back today thinking I could fit one more fish in my current tank until the new one works. There was another female there that I bought instead because the male was looking decidedly unhealthy.
He was sitting under the filter intake in the current with all of his fins pressed against his body and his tail pinned. The other fish were attacking him. The only other platy I have seen behave like this died. The people in the LFS are not optimistic. The Australian quarantine regulations are ridiculous and the fish swim around in tanks of chemicals for weeks until they are cleared - apparently some just don't recover. I'm confused though because he wasn't doing this last week. Does that mean there might be some hope?
This fish isn't mine, but seeing as the LFS has no hope for its survival, I could possibly talk them into giving it to me. They probably owe me a few fish anyway since I've promised them upwards of a hundred free platies over the next few months. (Most of my platies are pregnant females). I have facilities to quarantine it in a 'proper' (cycled, filtered and aerated) tank. My access to medications is very limited, but if you name it I'll see if you can get it.
Anyway, what I'm asking is, does anybody know what causes this? Can it be treated, how and what's the prognosis? Is it worth me trying to wheedle this fish out of them or is there nothing I can do? I would really like to attempt to save it, but if there's no chance of recovery, I'd be wasting my time and money.
