I used to have 9 platies (or platy) in a 70 litre tank with 2 Chinese Algae Eaters, sold as ‘Sucking catfish’. The two catfish and 4 of the platies were rehomed as there were too many males, leaving me with 3 females and 1 male. Soon after, I bought 6 (Golden) White Cloud Mountain Minnows as it is an unheated tank kept around 18 degrees Celsius (room temperature) and I finally invested in live plants. Two weeks later (around 2 weeks ago), one of my female platy passed away, she seemed to be pregnant once again and sinking. Another week later and one other female passed away, she had clamped fins and a sinking tail though always seemed to be skinny. Now, all of the remaining platy seem to be hanging at the bottom of the tank and hiding, though 2 are pregnant and due in about a week or less.
Does anybody know what could’ve harmed the fish? Diseases brought by the live plants or white clouds? Water parameters? Brought from low quality chain stores?
Weekly water changes are done and PH is quite high, around 7.6 last test though I can do it again to make sure. Tank has only been set up for around 3 months. I do not have a test kit for nitrate, nitrite or ammonia yet and am unable to get one as we’re in lockdown and I am a young hobbyist so am unable to go anywhere and my parents don’t agree that the fish are worth the trouble. I will get one in a few weeks though once out of lockdown. Have started to cut down on feeding as I may have been overfeeding slightly. Water also seems to have floating particles, is this normal? How do I get rid of them if not? They float to the top of the water but are pushed down again by the filter current.
Any answers or advice is greatly appreciated.
Does anybody know what could’ve harmed the fish? Diseases brought by the live plants or white clouds? Water parameters? Brought from low quality chain stores?
Weekly water changes are done and PH is quite high, around 7.6 last test though I can do it again to make sure. Tank has only been set up for around 3 months. I do not have a test kit for nitrate, nitrite or ammonia yet and am unable to get one as we’re in lockdown and I am a young hobbyist so am unable to go anywhere and my parents don’t agree that the fish are worth the trouble. I will get one in a few weeks though once out of lockdown. Have started to cut down on feeding as I may have been overfeeding slightly. Water also seems to have floating particles, is this normal? How do I get rid of them if not? They float to the top of the water but are pushed down again by the filter current.
Any answers or advice is greatly appreciated.