Grrr...new fish problems

[darthjoe]

I posted some of this stuff in the livebearers section earlier, but I have a problem that I think needs immediate attention now.

I did a fishless cycle on my 10 gallon tank, which completed yesterday. I did a 90% water change today, and headed off to my LFS to get some new fish. I brought home 3 bronze corys and 4 platies.

I remember reading here, in the past, that when you do a fishless cycle, it is okay to stock the tank full, as long as it is not overstocked. Just tonight, I read some information that seemed to contradict this. My first question is if I added too much, too fast?

Secondly, a little algae built up in my tank, as it took about 2 months to cycle. Not a lot, but a little, nonetheless. The platies gorged themselves on it, and have been pooping out green waste nonstop, since I put them in the tank. I'm worried they are going to eat themselves to death. Is it normal for platies to feed on algae?

My last, and most important concern is that one of the platies doesn't seem too healthy. It sits under some plants at the bottom of the tank most of the time, with it's dorsal fin pressed flat against it's body, and is the only platy not showing any interest on gorging itself on the algae. Worst of all, I've seen it rub/scratch itself against the bottom of the tank, and on plants, on three different occasions now. I'm worried it may have ich. Should I take this fish out now, and put it in a seperate tank, or should I start ich treatment? I'm a little worried about treating the fish, as I don't want to stress them too much, since it's their first night in the new tank. I'm at a loss for what I should do about this unwell platy.

 

[cutechic]

If you're sure the fishless cycle was completed, I don't think you added too many fish.

It's normal for platies to eat algae- my adults do it all the time. I don't think they'll eat so much that it'll kill them. If you're worried you can feed them a little less for the next couple days. You may also want to scrape the algae off your tank.

My platies hung out near the gravel with clamped fins for two weeks after I added them to my 5 gallon. However, the fact that you've seen one platy rub itself against objects is reason to suspect a disease. If you have a quarantine tank you may want to move him. However, I wouldn't start treatment for ich just yet because you're not sure if that's what he has. If he's in a quarentine tank it'll be easier to examine him for white spots.

HTH.

 

[cutechic]

The platy that is rubbing itself against objects may actually have external parasites. Scratching itself is more a sign of parasites that of ich, I believe.

 

[darthjoe]

It's normal for platies to eat algae- my adults do it all the time. I don't think they'll eat so much that it'll kill them. If you're worried you can feed them a little less for the next couple days. You may also want to scrape the algae off your tank.

Thanks for the info.

There is no algae on the glass, just a little here and there on some of the plants/decorations in the tank. Actually, most of it's gone now after the platies have pigged out on it for almost 4 hours.

My platies hung out near the gravel with clamped fins for two weeks after I added them to my 5 gallon. However, the fact that you've seen one platy rub itself against objects is reason to suspect a disease. If you have a quarantine tank you may want to move him. However, I wouldn't start treatment for ich just yet because you're not sure if that's what he has. If he's in a quarentine tank it'll be easier to examine him for white spots.

Well, since I've posted this topic, the ill-acting platy has been a little more lively, and has raised it's dorsal fin on a few occasions, and I haven't seen it rub itself on anything again, but still doesn't act right on the whole.

I think I'm gonna give it until tomorrow morning, as it's getting late, and I need to get some sleep. If it's still acting funny tomorrow, I'm gonna set up my 5 gal and put her in there for awhile.