My Platys Keep Hiding

[KieranBoyne]

Did you get the results from the test? And if it's getting bigger and bigger every day then the chances are that she is pregnant. Soon you should see a gravid spot appear. It's a black spot where the fishies are born from. It's normal so if you see it don't panic. It happens with every pregnant livebearer.

 

[goldfish98]

No, i'll test right now. 

GH 10
KH 40
PH 6.0
Nitrite 1
Nitrate 10
 
Looks like a water change is needed.

 

[daizeUK]

I get the feeling you haven't been taking what I told you seriously
 
Your test strips do not measure ammonia so you still can't tell how much toxic ammonia is in the tank.  The presence of 1ppm nitrite is not good and ammonia could be much higher.
 
Change as much water as you can straight away.  Like I've been telling you, you will need to give these fish water changes every day if you want them to live.

 

[goldfish98]

Test strips are all I have

Okay, i'll do a water change today. 

So the high nitrite means the tank is cycling? 

 

[daizeUK]

Yes, cycling is in progress.

 

[goldfish98]

Would a 50% change be too much? 

 

[daizeUK]

No it's not too much.  Right now I would change more than 50% because you simply don't know how high the ammonia is.

 

[goldfish98]

Okay, will do. Thank you for your help.

 

[KieranBoyne]

Yeah, i'll just leave this one to Daizeuk.

 

[daizeUK]

Okay, will do. Thank you for your help.

 
Great, your fishes and any future fry will thank you for it!
 
Bear in mind that a 50% water change will reduce the nitrite from 1ppm to 0.5ppm which is still highly toxic.  Do add about 1/2 teaspoon of salt to the tank after the water change, this helps the fish cope with the nitrite (but won't help with ammonia).

 

[goldfish98]

I think im about to lose the MM platy. 

 

[daizeUK]

Give them another large water change.  I hope she pulls through but it doesn't sound hopeful

 

[KieranBoyne]

Yeah another water change is always a good idea. Sorry to hear your about to lose her by the way. Hope she pulls through

 

[goldfish98]

I hope so to. They always die right as I get attached to them.

 

[KieranBoyne]

I know right. Always the favourites. Did you do that water change?