eagerinsight

My local fish expert recommended that I add 1 tablespoon of salt to my 10 gallon tank to help my new platies. I am using a cycled tank, for the past week all six (2 M, 4 F) of my platies have their fins tucked back. I'm told this is due to stress and salt might help. Is this true?

lilsoccakid

salt irritates the fish, causing them to create more slime coat. some fish love the salt, and some cant stand any. i think platies actully like the tablespoon of salt per 10 gallons. i think maybe a little less would be best (a teaspoon probably)

eagerinsight

I might be adopting 3 otto's in the next couple of days, can they handle salt? Table salt is out of the question right?

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

Your ammonia and nitrites are 0, with nitrates 10 or less? What is the water temp? How did you acclimate the platys and did they have tucked fins from the start of being added? What are you using for tap water conditioner? Are you adding anything else to the water? What are they being fed? Are they eating? Do they show any other symptoms besides the fins tucked back?

Otos will not tolerate salt. Only aquarium salt should be used and only for diseases requiring that treatment. Without knowing the problem the platys are having, I wouldn't recommend salt or new fish. Also, the tank is slightly overstocked so I wouldn't recommend additional fish anyways.

SillyTropicalFish

I resently have been having problems with my platys also. I have 2 males and 3 females. My water condition is very good, they are eating okay, they are just acting very strangely. I'll check on them and 4 of them are laying on the bottom on the gravel with their fins tucked all in a group (they looked depressed or tired) and then the next time I check them a few of them swimming around like crazy going up and down and full of energy, but sometimes when they swim normally their fins are tucked also. I lost one resently (sniff...sniff) I had 3 males (2 left) so I purchased 3 females. I'm not sure whether to be worried or not. Is this normal behavior for platys? and should I be considering salt in the water also and if so, what kind of salt?

COBettaCouple

That's not normal and sounds like internal parasites perhaps. But they've had no change in appetite?

SillyTropicalFish

Yes, they are all eating. I just fed them this AM and they all came up to the top and ate. But, they are all very, very calmly swimming with their top fin tucked down most of the time. Now after eating they are gathering behind a rock on the bottom or floating in the corner by the heater. If it is a internal parasite, how can I help them?

COBettaCouple

I'd try parasite clear tablets for them. It's pretty good at dealing with parasites. What's the current ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and water temp? Do they have air bubbles?

Narcicius

yeah those tabs really work miracles on infested fish. although it might be a nitrite concentration in the water.

SillyTropicalFish

I'll give it a try, I've used Tank Buddies in the past, but have ran out. Is there any other kind available? and will it hurt my other fish that are not sick? I'm asking because I don't have another tank and I really don't want to hurt the rest of them. Everyone else is very healthy and active.

I actually just did all the water test last night and everything is perfect. I keep the water temperature at 80 and I have a bubble wall and the kids (fish) love it.

Is it possible that they may act like this if I overstocked my tank (I hope not cause I would have a hard time giving up anyone). My family includes the following: 1 Pleco, 4 neon tetra, 3 Black Skirt Tetra, 3 Mollies, 2 little tiny Molly Fry (in a breeding net), 1 Dwarf Gourami and 5 Platy. My tank is 29G and I keep it very clean (vacuum every week) and the water is crystal clear.

COBettaCouple

The Parasite Clear tablets are a different type of product than Tank Buddies, which I believe is primarily a water conditioner. The Parasite Clear tablets are just an anti-parasite medicine and as far as I know, the mildest one that you can use.

Unfortunately, that tank is overstocked. Especially with the Pleco. They need at least 55-75g and produce a LOT of waste.

SillyTropicalFish

I'll pick up some Parasite Clear tablets tomorrow (hope it works) Thank you very much for the information. I'm still fairly new at this. I purchased the Mr. Pleco to keep the algae from becoming a problem. Can you recommend a smaller algae eater that not grow so much? And I'm not quite sure what to do with Mr. Pleco now!!!

COBettaCouple

A school of Otos or a Bristlenose Pleco could do the trick. Some pet stores will take large common plecos, some even give store credit. Or if you have a local fish club, I'm sure you'd find big tank owners who'd love to have a pleco that's larger.