redlessi

Help, my platies look like they are having trouble swimming straight. They are turning sideways and look a little crooked and the 2 that I am sure are females are trying to nip at each other. Like their heads are going one way and the body is going another. The male just looks fat. My water params are 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 10 nitrate, just did my routine water change sat of about 20-30%. Any suggestions!!!!

Tony G.

hmm could it be your filter's current is too strong and it's pushing them?

redlessi

Dont think so, I have 2 filters both turned down with sponges on the intake since I have fry in the tank. They arent near the filters and still look strange. Almost like they cant keep their balance.

Tony G.

hmm.. are their backs bent?

mare2009

Hi.. What your explaining doesn't sound any alarms for me. but you know your fishes normal behavior. Is this something totally new? After your wc did you slide the flow adjuster to + and increase the current, is the water at the same level that it was before? Have you introduced any new tank mates? The females and platys always chase each other in my experience, dominance and all that stuff. Are their any fry in the bottom of your tank? hmm... keep us posted and good luck

redlessi

No their backs are not bent. The only thing added was a few pieces of water sprite and its just floating at the top, I wrapped the roots around the top of the plastic plants for the fry. I have not spotted any additional or new fry as I already have 5 guppy fry that are about 1 month+ old. Hopefully they will be ok in the morning.

Thanks much

mare2009

Hi..you actually answered my questions before I posted it (a testament to my slow typing abilities) Im sorry about that. I would maybe just look closely for any sign of ICH, and then check them in the morning. Oh and the water temperature, thats what I would do and can suggest at this point. Hopefully its nothing.. I hope this helped somewhat good luck

Chrisson

This may seem like a unlikely reason but is there alot of light coming from one side of the tank? Fish position themselves correctly based on gravity and the direction of light which should be above.

redlessi

The platies seem ok today. Thanks much for everyones input.............

aquarist48

Hello Redlessi. Glad to hear that everyone is doing well.
Ken

redlessi

Thanks Ken

This is my first time having platies and I thought they looked like something was wrong. But now after watching last night, I noticed that when the male got next to the female they both started doing it again. They were twirling towards each other, maybe they are playing or something.

Ekrindul

I realize this post is old, but what you are describing is territorial behavior between two male platy. They will contort their bodies into an S shape almost and raise their fins, much like a betta does with its gills. Male platy can develop very late sometimes, so it may be a late bloomer that passed for a female. Anyway, the fish know who's male and female better than we do sometimes.