Color Loss

[StarfireGraves]

Ello,
 
I have a pregnant red wag platy. She is in a 10 gallon community tank, along with another male, a female, and a 3 week old baby who recently graduated from the nursery tank, as well as a few ghost shrimp. I was looking at the red wag though (Named jane). She use to look like any other when I first got her. The solid black on the tail and dorsal fin, as well as the little fins near her 'vent' I guess. For poop and babies XD 
 
Anyway, I was looking at her and I noticed she is losing her color. Her red is fading and so is the black. On closer inspection I noticed my other female, Lucy, is losing color too, her green in her body is faded and same with the red in her tail. The male isnt however. My water  parameters right now are: no3: 0 no2: 0 pH: 7 Carbonate Hardness: 120 General Hardness: 120. The food I have been feeding them is a combination of "Wardley Goldfish flake food" "Topfin Algae Thins" as well as the occasional "Wardly betta food" pellets because a friend whom has tanks said they can be beneficial to pregnant platys.
 
The color loss isnt really bad, but its enough that I noticed and that worries me. Any information would be greatly appreciated.
 
Hugs and Smiles,
~holly

 

[Ninjouzata]

Are you using strip tests or liquid? Do you have a test for ammonia? What is your water change schedule like? Temperature of the tank?
 
I'd get some different food personally. A brand I like and that I hear from others brings out good coloration is New Life Spectrum.

 

[sawickib]

You can use color enhancing foods, and keep the water clean is all I can think of, she may be stressed as well, plates should be in larger tanks than a 10 gallon.

 

[StarfireGraves]

Are you using strip tests or liquid? Do you have a test for ammonia? What is your water change schedule like? Temperature of the tank?
 
I'd get some different food personally. A brand I like and that I hear from others brings out good coloration is New Life Spectrum.

Test strips, all I could afford. I do not currently but I plan to get soon. Once a week, 15%. It goes between 70-72 F. And I have been wanting to, I will have to now though. 

 

[sawickib]

You might want to look into buying a heater, i believe platys are warm water fish.

 

[StarfireGraves]

You might want to look into buying a heater, i believe platys are warm water fish.

It has a heater, that's why the temp stays between 70-72 F. The LFS said that is the optimum temperature for them.

 

[Ninjouzata]

Their range is a little wider than that, though suppose 70-72 is fine going by THIS. How are they doing now?

 

[iceloly15]

You should use more colour enhancing food to help enrich the colours.

 

[StarfireGraves]

I got better food and everyone is looking brighter then ever  

 

[Ninjouzata]

Awesome, got any pics?

 

[StarfireGraves]

Not this second but I can take some if you would like

 

[StarfireGraves]

So, well, a few days ago I did a health check on all my platys and now, looking at one of my males, he seems to be either injured or sick. The others look great but he has this white patch above his left gill cover. It looks torn and inflamed.

 

[StarfireGraves]

Never mind, we dont have to worry about him... My dad walked into my room and looked at him, scoped him out and fed him to our chickens. 

 

[Ninjouzata]

Oh my, sorry to hear that  

 

[StarfireGraves]

Yeah. He will be missed, but now he wont infect the other fish, and he isnt being bullied anymore. He use to be top fish but then I got what was suppose to be a female but turned out to be a male, a big one at that, and he took over and constantly bothered him if he wasn't in his jar.