New Female Platy

Today I got two female red wag platies. I have one male who had been bullied by another platy(who was returned to my LFS) in my 20 gal alon with 11 harlequin rasboras, 2 otos(getting more when they are available), 2 peppered cories, and 1 JuliI cory. I am going to get a few more peppered cories and some julii. I only have three b/c the others keep dying(???). Anyways, the larger female is definiately pregnant(white spot by analfin). I noticed she was at the surface. She has clearish scales and it is sort of 'fluffy'. It's hard to describe, so here's some pics:










Could it possibly be ich? I've never heard of platys gettig ich. Or could it be stress or pregnancy? The other two platys are hanging around her right now. She is in a bag with air for the moment, so I can get a good look at her. She had a log poo, but it was solid and brown(with a hint of green...). Hold on let me test the tank...(I want to upgrade to the API Master Test Kit, but my parents think it's too expensive, even though I told them it's a lot less expensive in the long run. So I am using API Test Strips 5 in1. I wish it had ammonia, I just do frequent 25-30% water changes.)

GH: 0-30
KH: 240
pH: 7.5-8.0
Nitrite: 0-.5
Nitrate: 40
Temp: 77 degrees Fahrenheit

The Nitrates are 20 ppm than last time. The Nitrites also seemed to have risen a smidge. I'll to a water change. Should I be worried??
~FishDreamer

 

Here is a small paper I wrote up for my parents. Tell me what you guys think.

API Master Test Kit

Test Strips:
-$14
-25 count
-lasts 6 months(1/2 year)
-2.4 star rating(18 reviews)

Master Test Kit:
-$31
-800 count
-lasts 186 months(15.5 years)
-4.8 star rating(42 reviews)
•Save $217
•Has ammonia, test strips don't
•I won't become bored with fish anytime soon, so I will use the tests
•It seems expensive now, but I have saved money and it is cheaper in the long run($217 cheaper)
•Ammonia is VERY important and fish can die if there is .5 ammonia present
•Testing every other week will last me 31 years
•It is liquid based, test strips are inaccurate and don't include ammonia

Hope this helps convince them...
~FishDreamer

 

UPDATE:
She is still at the surface. She is breathing faster and her scales look clear and slighting sticking outwards. Could this be the first signs of dropsy? Dropsy and Fin rot are my #1 enemies. She also seems to be pooing more. The other platy is swimming around and pecking at algae. Lets see if see eats...nope. I tried shooting some down to her using a turkey baster, but she ignored it. The other platy ate. I'll keep an eye on her. I also added some blood worms(freeze dried) to their food, but she still wasn't interested. I'll keep updating on what happens.
~FishDreamer

 

Platylover any ideas?
Sorry you're not getting more informed replies.
Platys can definitely get ich, it's my platys worst enemy.
The fuzziness sounds like velvet, but If she's pineconing (sticking out scales) then it's most likely dropsy.
I hope someone who knows more about this comes along soon, sorry I couldn't help more.

 

Hate to say it, but she sounds like she'll probably not make it. It looks like coulumnaris to me(fuzzy). Is she's pine coned then she has dropsy. You'll need to start doing daily waterchanges (50%) 1 for dropsy and 2 for the nitrites, the nitrates seem slightly high to. I suggest getting the liquid test so we have more exact measurements. Now there are several ways you can go, 1. You can treat her for dropsy in another tank(1tsp Epsom salt, melafix, and daily waterchanges) and just hope the infection goes away.2. Keep her in the main tank, treat the infection(you'll need to treat the main tank anyway), and do Epsom salt baths.
I suggest 2. Have you added anything new recently? It's suspicious that the neons keep dying, do you qt them? I'm suspecting they brought something. Are the tanks healthy where you get them from?

 

It was actually the cories that keep dying. I do qt them, but I never noticed anything strange. There's only one huge problem......I am leaving for a week tomorrow to go to a camp. My parents know practically
nothing besides feeding the fish. What do I do? I can't cancell a camp just because of a platy! I don't want it to spread though.. Should I just separate her and give directions for dosing to my parents? Thanks for replied by the way.
~FishDreamer

 

The main tank will need to be treated, so will she. Do you have a breeder? If you do put substrate in there and float plants around it. Put her in there so she is in easy access. If it has a lid put it on there. I'd suggest giving very in depth instructions to your parents. I'd do a salt bath once a day, it has to be Epsom salt. Make sure they correctly acclimate her back to the main tank.

 

Ok I'll do that. Good thing I have Epsom salt handy! I'll write up instructions for them. Thanks for the help!
~FishDreamer

 

This morning when I checked on her, I noticed she had white on her lips. Could she also have cotton mouth? I never knew they could have two diseases at the same time. I'll keep up the qt.

 

Columnaris is cottonmouth. Is the main tank being treated for columnaris?

 

Yeah I just read that recently. Oops. I haven't started treating the tank yet. Could I use Kanaplex from Ken'sFish? It says to mix it with your food. I thought I had Epsom salt, but it turns out it has milk and honey in it and I only have Aquarium salt....Some people suggest raising the temp and some say to lower it. Which should I do? The temp is 77 right now. I added a sponge filter that I made to the breeder box with the platy. I added a little de-clorinator to calm the platy down. Also, should I use Aq salt instead of Epsom salt?
~FishDreamer

 

Do not use aquarium salt, it does the opposite of what you want to do. I just use kanaplex in the water, I don't mix it with food. But it should be fine to do so, I've just heard that it is tougher on the fish. I'm not sure on the temp, I think it's fine where it's at for now. Do you not add dechlorinenator each time you add water?

 

I do add dechloronator each time, I just added a few drops to help it. We'll sorry to say, but she died. She started floating around and thrashing. I bagged her, and she died. I am going to my LFS to get some treatment. Probably Triple Sulfa. I read this is good. I just finished emptying 30% of the water and I am just now going to replace the water. Thanks for the info!

 

So sorry, may she swim in peace. Keep us updated please.

 

Ok.

UPDATE:
There's good news and bad news.

Good News: I went to the pet store and got some more cartridges, some stress coat, and The Freshwater Master Test Kit. You do not know how hard it was to make my dad let me buy it...I spent $50 on all of the supplies. My fish seem very healthy and are swimming around. I am keeping a close eye on the platies, especially the other new female. Right now she is swimming up and down along the wall and her fins are spread. The male is hanging with the harlequins and checking the female out. He seems to be much more active since I got the female. He used to hide and stay at the surface. No signs of disease, just lonliness I guess. Now he is showing off to the female.

Bad News: I couldn't get any treatment. I tried to explain to my dad, but he just doen't know anything about fish. He's a budget freak. E.M. was $20 and he thought is was a waste, since I don't know for sure there is any bacteria left. I actually read there is always the bacteria, it just activates at favorable times. I'll tell my parents to look for signs like lethargy, gasping, and white or red areas.

Haha the female is following the male. She must be desparate, lol. Thanks for all the help @Platylover!!
~FishDreamer


My other female.




Parameters:

pH: 7.8
High Range pH: 8.2(not really sure what this means)
Ammonia:0-.25(closer to 0, I'll keep an eye on it. Just did a water change...but some 'dust' did shoot out of the filter cartridge from when I swished it in tank water. It was almost black...eww)
Nitrite: 0(yay!!)
Nitrate:20-40(I'll keep an eye on it also)

This is tested from my new Freshwater Master Test Kit.




Just to clarify, the cartridge was almost black, not the tank!
(sorry for so many posts, I keep remembering things..)

 

Beautiful female! Keep a very close eye on the others. I really hope all goes well and your fish get feeling better.

 

Thanks! I will. I hope they stay healthy when I'm gone. I said I was leaving today, but I'm actually leaving very early in the morning. I guess it worked out for the better.

 

It's nice that you can monitor the tank for another day! Hope that everyone stays healthy while you're away.

 

Yep they're all doing great. I also left for 5 days to go to Indiana with my family for a short vacation. The female looks much larger, and the gravid spot is starting to show. I'll keep an eye on her and put her in a breeder when she looks ready. Thanks everyone for all the help!!!

 

Yep they're all doing great. I also left for 5 days to go to Indiana with my family for a short vacation. The female looks much larger, and the gravid spot is starting to show. I'll keep an eye on her and put her in a breeder when she looks ready. Thanks everyone for all the help!!!

Glad to hear that! I don't suggest putting her in a breeder, it can be very stressful for. It can cause miscarriages, abortions, and other complications.

 

Ok I'll remember. I just don't want the fry to get eaten.

 

I have a ten gallon planted tank with one dwarf gourami, two adult male platys, a juvenile female platy, and a smaller platy in between fry and juvenile. I originally had two the two adult male platys and one female adult platy, but unfortunately she passed away
I have noticed that my painted platy is clamping and seemes to be bullied by my Mickey Mouse platy, which wasn’t happening before my female died. Should I add another female adult platy?

 

Yes, probably.

 

Yes, probably.

That’s what I was thinking, I just didn’t want to overstock the tank.

 

I think that it is recommend to have two females for every male.. however I am not quite sure how your stocking is... BottomDweller can you please help with this??

 

Hi, ideally you should have at least 2 females per male but 3 or 4 females per male is better. This is because males chase the females almost constantly which is pretty stressful for the female. Having a few females for each male means that the attention is divided between females.
However that would mean having a minimum of 6 platies (2 males and 4 females) in the 10 gallon which would be overstocked, especially since you already have a dwarf gourami which needs 20 gallons minimum. Also having both genders means you will quickly become very overstocked when they breed.

I would recommend either rehoming the males and dwarf gourami and just having 3 females or rehoming the dwarf gourami and females and having 3-4 males. Be aware though that males may fight in a small group and in a small tank.

It would be ideal if you could get a 20 gallon long. You could move the male platies and dwarf gourami in there and add some cories or something. You could have a group of 6 or so which should spread out any possible aggression. Then you could keep the females in the 10 gallon with some shrimp and snails.

 

Hi, ideally you should have at least 2 females per male but 3 or 4 females per male is better. This is because males chase the females almost constantly which is pretty stressful for the female. Having a few females for each male means that the attention is divided between females.
However that would mean having a minimum of 6 platies (2 males and 4 females) in the 10 gallon which would be overstocked, especially since you already have a dwarf gourami which needs 20 gallons minimum. Also having both genders means you will quickly become very overstocked when they breed.

I would recommend either rehoming the males and dwarf gourami and just having 3 females or rehoming the dwarf gourami and females and having 3-4 males. Be aware though that males may fight in a small group and in a small tank.

It would be ideal if you could get a 20 gallon long. You could move the male platies and dwarf gourami in there and add some cories or something. You could have a group of 6 or so which should spread out any possible aggression. Then you could keep the females in the 10 gallon with some shrimp and snails.

Okay! I’ll look start looking for a twenty gallon! Thank you for your help!

 

Hi, ideally you should have at least 2 females per male but 3 or 4 females per male is better. This is because males chase the females almost constantly which is pretty stressful for the female. Having a few females for each male means that the attention is divided between females.
However that would mean having a minimum of 6 platies (2 males and 4 females) in the 10 gallon which would be overstocked, especially since you already have a dwarf gourami which needs 20 gallons minimum. Also having both genders means you will quickly become very overstocked when they breed.

I would recommend either rehoming the males and dwarf gourami and just having 3 females or rehoming the dwarf gourami and females and having 3-4 males. Be aware though that males may fight in a small group and in a small tank.

It would be ideal if you could get a 20 gallon long. You could move the male platies and dwarf gourami in there and add some cories or something. You could have a group of 6 or so which should spread out any possible aggression. Then you could keep the females in the 10 gallon with some shrimp and snails.

Would a 20 gallon that’s not long work alright?

 

The long is preferred for the DG, and corys if you go that route.

20Ts are very popular and I have several but the long spreads out aggression and corys need the space to roam.

 

Would a 20 gallon that’s not long work alright?

A 20 long is ideal because it has a larger footprint so provides more space. You could get more platies than in a 20 tall and the gourami would be happier. It would also mean you could get cories. A 20 gallon tall would work just not so well.

 

A 20 long is ideal because it has a larger footprint so provides more space. You could get more platies than in a 20 tall and the gourami would be happier. It would also mean you could get cories. A 20 gallon tall would work just not so well.

Well I found a good 20 tall, but that should be an upgrade over the 10!