Problem With Platys In My Tank

[Florence3]

Hi everyone.

I'm have a problem with the platys in my tank.

They seem to breed, get to around 2cm & die. They just start to sit at the bottom of the tank and after a short while pass away.

I have tested the water & had it tested at the local tropical fish specialist who said that all of the readings were perfect.

Also, all of the other breeds of fish are fine & I have not lost many at all over the past 2 years. They are neons, guppies, clown loaches & a plecostomus.

Does anyone have any idea what it could be & what I should do?

Could it be something hereditry? As all of the platys originate from the same 2 parents.

 

[KrystaK]

In breeding does seem like a possibility. How many platys do you now have in the tank?

Another possibility is that, as the fry grow the release a hormone into the water, and if that hormone gets to a certain concentration the fish in the tank will not grow anymore. It usually happens in over stocked tanks or in tanks where water changes aren't large enough so residual hormone hangs around in the water (as filters won't process it)
The result of this not growing stunts the fish which can cause internal problems and eventually may lead to death.

But as you say they're from the same ancestor I would say it may be possible that that may be compounding the problem.

If you want to breed your platys further, I would recommend getting rid of all of one gender that you have, either all the males or all the females, trade them, sell them, do whatever, but we don't want to make sick or unhealthy Platys. Then restock your tank with all new ones, (So if you get rid of all the males, go out and buy a few new males, and try to get them in different colors, as that increases the genetic variation and will produce not only interesting colors, but also a healthier off spring)
Also, perhaps increase the volume or frequency of your water changes. When I'm trying to breed my Platys (or when I have new fry in the tank) I move from doing one 40 lt water change a week to two 25 lt water changes. The volume is increased a little and the fish are less stressed because the water level doesn't fall as far (Smaller water changes also don't take as long so the time of stress is shortened)

 

[Florence3]

Thanjs for the reply.

The tank is 90L is volume.

I would estimate that there are around 20-25 two centimetre platys and there also quite a few small babies in the tank.

I then have 10 other fish in total.

I never intended on breeding them & have no real desire to do so if it is going to cause problems.

How would you recommend best to resolving the problem? What percentage water change and how often? Or would you go for the "removing males" approach?

Obviously I don't want any fish to suffer, so I just want to get it sorted.

 

[Florence3]

Anybody know what the best thing to do would be?

I'm a novice, so all help is appreciated.

 

[Gilli]

Hello Florence - welcome to the forum. You have come to the right place - there are plenty of people here who will try to help you

Is your tank cycled? You really should have your own water quality testing kit as a fish keeper cannot really keep fish without it - you simply dont know whats going on without one and its the first thing you do if a problem arises. I wouldnt trust any fish shop telling me my water is perfect. The fact that you dont seem to know about changing the water seems to imply that you dont really know much about fish keeping, but its good you are concerned about your fish and we all have to learn when we start so read up on this thread for beginners in this forum.

http/www.fishforum...esource-center/

You should be doing a weekly water change of around 30-40% along with a through gravel vac to remove uneaten food and fish poo to keep your tank healthy. If you are not doing regular water changes your nitrates will be sky high.

The only way to stop platys breeding is to have one sex only.

 

[the_lock_man]

Thanjs for the reply.

The tank is 90L is volume.

I would estimate that there are around 20-25 two centimetre platys and there also quite a few small babies in the tank.

I then have 10 other fish in total.

I never intended on breeding them & have no real desire to do so if it is going to cause problems.

How would you recommend best to resolving the problem? What percentage water change and how often? Or would you go for the "removing males" approach?

Obviously I don't want any fish to suffer, so I just want to get it sorted.

25 platies, + 10 other fish + unquantified fry strikes me as somewhat heavy stocking for a 90l tank. Then you consider that one of those additional 10 fish is a clown loach, which should grow to be a foot long. You also have an unknown type of plec - many of these species grow to be huge - and pretty much all plec species produce more than their faire share of waste.

I appreciate that your LFS says your test readings are "perfect", but is this the same specialist that said a clown loach would be ok in a 90l tank? If so, I'm sorry, but I have to say I am sceptical about this shop's ability to correctly interpret a set of water test results.

Action list?

1) Rehome the clown loach. Have a read of the article linked to in my signature area entitled the Big Fish Campaign.
2) Identify which plec species you have, as it may, too, need to be rehomed. If you can post a photograph of it on this forum, someone will identify it for you.
3) Rehome about 10-15 of the platies.
4) Invest in your own liquid test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH. These are essential parts of a fishkeepers inventory. Any reading above 0ppm for ammonia or nitrite is BAD.
5) Ask any further questions you like, the only stoopid question is the one that isn't asked.