Help Platies Gone Quiet

[esxdave]

Can anyone help.
I have a tank that has been set up for about 4 months now with no problems. Over the last few days though all of my platys have taken to sitting on the bottom of the tank all day and hiding behind bogwood. All of the other fish seem fine, in fact the cardinals seem to be loving the extra swimming space. Temperature and levels all seem fine. No sign of any disease. Any ideas?

 

[LilMuppet]

Have you made any changes to the planting of the tank? Several of our platys went to the bottom and turned out to be a swim bladder problem in the end, but I don't think it's the only reason they do that, but I know my platys at least like a lot of plants to hide in, especially if one is pregnant, as they like to give birth hidden away.

I'm sure more experienced aquarists will come up with other ideas, but these are the only two I've experienced it being a sign of.

 

[lilfishie]

do they look bloated, hows there breathing?

 

[esxdave]

The platys do lokk bloated but that's because they're both heavily pregnant. The males and other females now seem to be swimming around more happily. I did take a broad leafed plant out the other day 'coz they'd chewed it right up so maybe that is the cause, never thought of that, cheers

 

[K.J.]

Maybe they're giving birth.

 

[theotheragentm]

Platies will hide away before giving birth, possibly for a couple days at a time. Keep an eye on the fish and let things occur naturally. I'm sure the fish don't like us watching them all the time. I try to observe from across the room.

 

[esxdave]

All are fine now so I'm pretty sure it must have been the tank rearrange that made them a bit quiet. Thanks for all the posts, put my mind at rest, ta.