Platy Behaviour At Lfs Vs. On Youtube Videos

Hi!

So i'm probably going to buy some platys.
My question is how to platys behave in a fish tank.

At my LFS and every LFS I went, they stick to the front glass all the time going up and down like crazy. Very hyperactive.

In the videos on the internet the platy behave much more natural. swimming in the tank and not just on the front glass. I mean they are active fish.. but it just seems less erratic.

Here in this Video you see in the beginning they behave naturally and in the end (at 1 minute mark) they go to the glass.

Now i'm questioning why this happens, and also how they will behave in my own tank.
Is it because there is a person near?

Anybody has a theory on why they behave like that at my LFS.

Thanks!

EDIT: Oh I forgot. Is it true that Platies need Salt in their water? And also is it true that Platies are very unhealthy fish due to breeding?

 

Realize though the platies in the store only stay in the tank usually for less than 2 weeks while those in a home aquarium have been their for a couple of months or years!

Also the platies go up to the glass because when they see a dark figure they associate that with food! In any home aquarium this will be the same! If you are about 3+ feet away from the tank the fish can't really see you and will have their normal behavior! But once you come up, all the fish will follow you hoping you will feed them. Live bearers in general are pigs, and love food

 

Realize though the platies in the store only stay in the tank usually for less than 2 weeks while those in a home aquarium have been their for a couple of months or years!

What does this mean in terms of behavior? Will it change over time?

But once you come up, all the fish will follow you hoping you will feed them.

That makes sense and that is cute. Thanks!

 

What does this mean in terms of behavior? Will it change over time?

Yes it will! But again now I the second reason is more likely !

 

Ok thank you very much Al. Gonna get some Platys!

 

To add to your [EDIT]: No, platies do not need salt in their water. As far as breeding, it is possible with Platies that their fry can be born with a bent spine like one of my platy fry; however, I don't think this is a direct result of poor breeding as other breeds can produce this issue and it's not a very common occurrence. I mean, of course with any animal anymore, there will always be poor breeding and animals will get messed up somehow since humans are curious beings. But, speaking from my experience with platies and other livebearers, the curiosity, activeness, and attentiveness of the platies all depends on the fish: I've had some plates who come up to me every time I get near them, but never came to me in the LFS, and vice versa. I'd say, don't expect any specific behavior from your fish because they're all very unique and you'll learn to love their individual personalities.

 

Ok thank you very much Al. Gonna get some Platys!

No problem! As mentioned above each fish is unique but they will swim every when and you will probably still love them.

Didn't see your edit! What do you mean by unhealthy? If you mean weaken immune system than I don't think they are there yet, however I know guppies have been affected. As far as defects such as bent spine this normally happens after a lot of inbreeding has occur, normally though this doesn't happen. When I bred guppies I would in breed of course but once in awhile o would introduce a new female