my platy's growing whiskers?

[dwarfgourami]

As you may remember, my male platy was sent into exile in the cory tanklast week for being such a bully. This has worked fine, the all-girl tank upstairs is a haven of harmony and peaceful coexistence, and as for Mickey... well, not only is he not moping, but he is schooling with the corys!
I got worried at first when he took to disappearing at daytime, but I've found him now- he hangs out with them in their cave. He comes out now and then to patrol the tank, but only gets really active when they do in the morning and evening. They all chow down together at cory mealtimes. They seem to accept him as just another cory albeit of a slightly different (did I mention that he is bright pink?) and there is no fear or aggression on either side.
So all I need to work out is how do I feed him? So far I have been giving him his daily ration on flakes, but this does not stop him from joining in round the tabimin trough. Are catfish tablets good for him? Should I stop feeding the flakes? Otherwise he will be getting double meals, I can't stop him from joining in with corys. And it is true that the corys aren't eating a whole tablet anymore since they lost their 5th companion.

 

[masterfishes]

i would think it should be fine....my gups love to eat my algea wafers when i feed my albino cory and common plec

 

[dwarfgourami]

And how long do you reackon it will take for his whiskers to grow.

 

[masterfishes]

lmao.....unfortunately i dont think it can....unless some how it was cross bred with a cory...lol

 

[Ddraig Goch]

My platys always try to eat the pellets I put in for the corries!! They chase them all the way to the bottom of the tank. lol
I usually feed the corries after I switch off the light at night so the platys don't see where they all go!! It won’t do him any harm but I would still feed him flakes.

 

[dwarfgourami]

"I usually feed the corries after I switch off the lights at night so the platys don't see where they all go"

Ha, you don't know my platy. I always feed the corys in the dark too- but he thinks he is a cory, so he's right there!
He is changing his day round to suit theirs, dozing in the cave all day and hunting at night. Strange creature. I'll carry on giving him flakes too- but he will get fat.

 

[Ddraig Goch]

The fatter he is the slower he'll swim!!!!! He won't be quick enough to chase your female platy if you decide to put him back in the other tank!!

The reason I said to keep on feeding him flakes is that he may need the nourishment as the pellets will comprise of different ingredients (presumably??)

 

[Annastasia]

I think you should keep feeding flakes. And maybe some kind of high-protein food too. A variation of foods is the best for them, and will keep them the healthiest. After all, you wouldn't want to eat the same food for your whole life would you? If you worry about feeding him both, feed less of the flakes and other foods.

And the tablets will be fine for them. Most fish will eat tablets, and I have seen no ill effects in my tanks from them. Also, have you considered feeding some kind of veggie to him? My Platies went after the tablets less once they got their own veggies.

 

[dwarfgourami]

Don't worry Annastasia, I do feed both veggies (peas, spinach etc) and bloodworms, daphnia etc on a regular basis, at least once a week for the protein stuff and twice a week for the veggies. I have an allotment so I rather enjoy growing the fish's food.

I only didn't mention that as those feeds don't involve Mickey getting double rations- I feed the same to the whole tank so he only gets fed once. But with an ordinary feed he first eats all his flakes, then after the tank lights are out swims down to the cories and eats at least as much as they do of their food. I have a similar problem in the livebearer tank where one of the platy is just a hog and eats more than she should.

I have cut down on his flake rations as a sort of compromise, I suppose that's the best I can do.

 

[Polardbear]

I have a male swordie that I had to exile to a cory tank as well (beating up on the younger males). The only tank that I had room to put him in though was my cory spawning tank. I fully expected him to mope and be upset without his harem, but, oh no - he joined right in to the spawning dance. It is so bizarre to watch him swimming up and down the glass with the spawning corys. They don't seem to mind him joining in and he looks as happy as can be!