Red Wagtail Platy Problem.. Sick Or Sad?

[Gourami_Girl]

I set up my new 2g tank about a month ago. I'm worried about my 1 Red Wagtail Platy. He/she seems to just sit in the corner (Bottom) under the intake. He/she doesn't swim around like he used to (had been going on for about 2 weeks) but he doesn't seem to have any visual physical problems. I've never had one of these fish before so I'm sure sure what their personality type is. Although, the entire tank seems to be not eating as well either. The zebras are still pretty playful but only nip at the food now, and the Tetra seem to be only occasionally nipping at the food. Should I feed them some Brine Shrimp to pep them up? Other than their lack of interest in the food, the rest are perfectly fine.

*The fish are fed twice a day morning and night, same amounts, about a small pinch*

The water is still within normal quality, though I'm doing my first water change tomorrow (Wanted to wait out the first month to generate a full spectrum of good bacteria).

My tank includes:

1 Red Wagtail Platy
3 Zebra fish
2 Red Eye Tetra

They are all very small and seem to be happy with their tank mates. I might also be adding either a frog or a small plecko tomorrow for tank maintenance.


Thanks,
Mady

 

[Nick16]

2g is too small for those fish! i wouldnt even keep a betta in that. have you not got a bigger tank?

how often do you do water changes?

 

[Gourami_Girl]

First, No. I went to Aquatic Critter in Nashville TN, and the guy I spoke with said they should be fine in the tank. The dimensions are H: 8" W: 10.5" L: 5.25"

The 2 gallon was all I could afford for my son at the time. The fish don't seem to be struggling for space, and swim quite freely and are happy (Other than the Platy). Even the Tetras play with the Zebras. I was going to upgrade the tank at a later date when I could afford a larger tank. But they show not signs of over crowding, which yes I was worried about, but I do trust the guys at Aquatic Critter. They have never failed me yet.

All the fish are very small and seem to fit just fine, with room to spare. I've included a pic, though all I have is a camera phone which doesn't work well with a fish tank come to find out...

But as I said, the fish other show no signs of over crowding and are perfectly fine save for the lack of interest in their current food. The platy just seems to be hiding a lot.

I have no plant life or decorations to maximize the size until I get a larger tank.

Second, the tank is only 1 month old, so this will be the first water change. Here after, I will be doing water changes ever 2 - 3 weeks.

As you can see the gravel needs cleaning yes, but that has only developed since their lack of interest in food in the past week and a half. But I didn't want to do a water change until my tank was a month old. Which I am doing tomorrow.

The red lines indicate the blurry zebra fish as the flash from my camera startled them

 

[WILDER]

None of them fish should be in that tank size.

Livebeares are active fish and shouldn't really be in tanks less than 10 gals.
Tetra should be kept in no less than a group of six and shouldn't be kept in less than 10 gal.
Are the other fish zebra danio's.

I would get your water tested.

 

[Gourami_Girl]

Currently, I'm on a tight budget so getting a new tank would be very hard unless its under $30 and is a full set which is almost impossible to find.

Is there anything I can do in the meantime to keep them happy until I can get a larger tank?

And yes, I believe they are zebra danios.

I'll bring a sample in tomorrow when I get the cleaning kit.

 

[Nick16]

take them back to the shop....... you shouldnt have got them in the first place.

2g is like giving you a 2mx2m cell and telling you to live in it. its nigh on impossible.

 

[WILDER]

I would rehome the fish. Or phone the lfs to see if you can swap them for a betta.

 

[Gourami_Girl]

Well, after some hunting and a few phone calls, I found a 10 gallon tank with hood for $30. They are pretty much going to rig something for me so I don't have to buy a whole set up and can just transfer the bio wheel over to the new tank. So I'll get it set up and transfer everything over tomorrow.

I'll probably get a beta or gold fish later on for the smaller tank so it will still have something in it and not just sit empty.

Thanks for your advice. I guess I got too used to having a 55g tank. When your used to putting a lot of fish in, you don't realize how little the 2g tanks hold.

 

[WILDER]

You can't keep a goldfish in a 2 gal tank.

Goldfish need 20 gallons for the first goldfish alone. They are massive waste producers so need double filteration.
40 gallons filter.

Good Luck.

 

[shelaghfishface]

NO dont get a gold fish..


if i was you i would go back and start at the very beginning, read up as much as you can, itll all be worth it in the end

 

[Gourami_Girl]

So what would your suggestions be on good fish to put in the 2g tank?
I'm sure I will only be putting in one or 2 fish max, but I have no idea what good non schooling fish would work.
The smallest fish I could research was the Neon Tetra, but they say the need to be in groups of 3 - 6 or more.

I really feel like a moron now for getting such a small tank. And I'm sure the LFS won't take the tank back since its been used so I need to fill it with something.

Oh, and just a thought... Since gold fish are so hardy and need a large tank, how do some people keep them in those bowl tanks? They cant be more than a gallon or 2... Just curious.

 

[WILDER]

There hardly any fish that can go in a 2 gal.
One betta and that would be it.

Research the fish before you buy.

 

[Jazzzz]

So what would your suggestions be on good fish to put in the 2g tank?
I'm sure I will only be putting in one or 2 fish max, but I have no idea what good non schooling fish would work.
The smallest fish I could research was the Neon Tetra, but they say the need to be in groups of 3 - 6 or more.

I really feel like a moron now for getting such a small tank. And I'm sure the LFS won't take the tank back since its been used so I need to fill it with something.

Oh, and just a thought... Since gold fish are so hardy and need a large tank, how do some people keep them in those bowl tanks? They cant be more than a gallon or 2... Just curious.

They die Its that simple my goldfish is 6 and is in a 55gallon and I expect him to live till he is at least 13-15 years old kept in a bowl a year would be hard.

Also I would go insane and quackers but could live in a tiolet cubicle if someone fed me and gave me water but what a life that would be and I would probably get ill and die eventually just like the fish

 

[pippoodle]

2 gallons is even a bit on the small side for a betta
the minimum recommended on most sites is 3 gallons and that has to be filtered and heated

the only thing that could go in that tank would be a couple of snails or a few shrimp

 

[Jazzzz]

agreed