New Person Same Old Questions

[biggreeny]

ok im back with more questions!!!

looks like im opting for the "hotel tank" aproach (most likley the more difficult but if all works out rewarding)
i am trying to be as positive about this as i can (there is light at the end of the tunnel)

the female i was talking about yesterday seems fatter?(kinda out of proportion and fatter than the rest)
i have done some reading up on this!
but the problem is she is dark blue with a silver underbelly.
(so i cant realy see the "gravid spot").
so the question actualy is: how else can i tell if she is "pregant"
what other signs to look for?
the time frame this cycle takes?

apart from this all else seems fine. and as soon as i get a test kit the results will be posted
( i am doing aprox 30%( should this be more?) water change every night to try and keep chemical levels low)

 

[waterdrop]

Well, have to say I'm impressed!

My take is that Simon has a pretty good solution to a difficult problem and what's more, you've had the sense to copy his solution! And I like the term "Hotel tank!"

For your immediate answer BG, I'd guess 50% water changes would be better for this short period until you get your testing underway. Too much ammonia or nitrite would be the greater of two evils and the lower percentages like 30% down to 20% are just guarding against those "lesser" evils.

I forget, you've had the advice about getting a liquid based test kit? The Nutrafin Mini-Master (I believe the UK version includes Nitrate but the US one doesn't) is very good and also the API Freshwater Master Test Kit are very popular here. I use the API and have had success with it.

As far as your question about whether the female is pregnant, I wouldn't worry about it. She is of course very pregnant probably and will be from now on! I would just hope they eat as many of the babies as possible!

~~waterdrop~~

 

[biggreeny]

as for now id agree. i dont want any fry as im pushing the limit as it is.

but as for the test kit im not to sure what brands are reliable in aus??
but the the main things to look for are:
ammonia?
nitrate?
ph levels?
but is there any thing else i should be testing for?

 

[simonmac2]

BG,

i don't know what the testkits are like in Aus, but the API one that WD mentioned is the one that is widely used (and gives clear results - except when your nitrite spikes...and it goes a weird shade not on the paper ;-)

the API master kit comes with ammonia, nitrIte, PH ,and nitrAte - so basically all you need.

FWIW the "Hotel Tank" concept was a way of explaining to my daughter why the fish weren't in the big tank - they were on their holidays staying at a hotel LOL

Regards

Simon

 

[Miss Wiggle]

sounds like you're definately on the right track there

not sure on brands in aus but i believe the api kit is available there as well.

the things to consider though if it's not available are to make sure you get a liquid based test kit, not paper strips but actual bottles of chemicals which you put into a test tube of tank water and compare the colour to a chart, and make sure you are testing for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.

I also agree that 50% changes would be safer for now, and yes, if the platys has been in with males for even a couple mof days she will now be pregnant even if she wasn't before.

Only thing to be careful of is that it's not dropsy making her swell up. if you do a google image search you'll get clear pics. but basically watch out for scales sticking up in a pinecone effect.