Just Lost A Male Platy - Strange

[for_my_fish]

Can fish have some kind of sudden failure?

Been watching two of the male platies getting with it with the females. Nothing untoward (fighting etc). Next thing one of the males shoots to top of tank and the rolls down to bottom of tank. Watched for about ten mins and he continues to be unable to swim upright. I net him and float net in quiet corner of tank and test water (second time today as Sundays my normal water test day), everything fine, amonia 0, nitrite 0, ntirate 25 (slightly darker but not quite 50). Ph 6.8 - 7.0 as normal. Fish shows no external signs of any illness. All fish ate earlier (frozen bloodworm and daphnia - not a new packet, so not food related?)

Any how his breathing slowed and he finally died about 15 mins ago. I've done a precautunary 25% water change (not fun at 10pm when little ones are in bed!).

Had just spotted 5 or six fry yestrday and was thinking would be good if about four survived (natural selection) but now seem to have lost one of the daddies

Any clues?

 

[corey01]

hmm thats strange that it just died instantly but maybe he jumped into the light and got electricuted or something. anyway platie sprefer alkaline water so add some PH booster

 

[K.J.]

NO!!! No PH booster! This will kill them all. They'll have adjusted to the PH already and since they're so domesticated they will live in almost any conditions. However sudden PH fluctuations are a common killer. Corey, no offense, but please do a little research before advising.

 

[corey01]

sorry........i meant you can buy special blocks that slowly dissolve in the water SLOWLY raising the PH i didnt mean the stuff that u drop in and the PH autimatically rises lol and yes you are right platies can adjust to a wide range of water conditions..i was only giving some info...