Platy Hiding In Plants

[Fish Sticks]

Hi I just about had a panic attack this morning when I noticed that I only had 4 platys instead of 5. One of my female platys is hiding in the plants and I've never seen her do that before.

Is she sick? Should she be quarantined?


I've been haveing cloudyness issues in my tank for about 2 days (when my filter was turned off accidentally for about 8 hours). I have a 20 gallon with 4 other platys and 4 snails. It is a new tank so it isn't completely cycled. The LFS said it should be cycled about 5 days from no, but that was before the filter got shut off.

All the other platys and snails seem to be acting normally. The platy I'm having trouble with is likely pregnant bacause... well she's a platy.

The tank temperature is set to 78.

Oh and as you may be able to tell these are my first fish.


ETA: If I want to quarantine her all I have is a 1 gallon glass fish bowl.

 

[GRJ]

It could be the effects of an uncycled tank. Do you have any water readings for ammonia and nitrite? The lfs cant really tell you when your tank will be cycled as all tanks are different. Cycling 'fish in' can take a lot longer than fishless cycling. You need to keep an eye on whether she is swimming normally, not lopsided or off balance and sometimes another sign would be her gasping for air at the water surface. I have lost a few platys and that is one of the warning signs. You need to know what your water test readings are as you will probably have to do water changes to take the levels of ammonia and nitrite below 0.25. My 'fish in' cycle took nearly 8 weeks with lots of fishy deaths. I learnt the hard way and its hard work. How long has your tank been running and how long have the fish ben in there? GRJ

 

[Fish Sticks]

It could be the effects of an uncycled tank. Do you have any water readings for ammonia and nitrite? The lfs cant really tell you when your tank will be cycled as all tanks are different. Cycling 'fish in' can take a lot longer than fishless cycling. You need to keep an eye on whether she is swimming normally, not lopsided or off balance and sometimes another sign would be her gasping for air at the water surface. I have lost a few platys and that is one of the warning signs. You need to know what your water test readings are as you will probably have to do water changes to take the levels of ammonia and nitrite below 0.25. My 'fish in' cycle took nearly 8 weeks with lots of fishy deaths. I learnt the hard way and its hard work. How long has your tank been running and how long have the fish ben in there? GRJ

I brought some water to the LFS for them to test. When it was tested I had zero ammonia but I did have nirites (not sure the exact number though).

She is just very still. Now she is just in the corner of the tank. She doesn't seem to be gasping for air. When she does move she moves very quickly and "darts" around.

I did a small 5% water change last night if that helps.

The tank has been set up for about 4 weeks and the platys have been in there for about 3 weeks.

 

[GRJ]

Ok, you need to invest in your own testing kits, they are essential and not to expensive, around £15 here in the Uk, not sure about the US. Its good that your ammonia is 0, but that means you have nitrites which also have to be 0. Without knowing what the levels are its hard to tell you how much water to change, but basically you will need to do more than 5%, i would do a 50% water change now, and then try and get your water tested again as soon as possible. You need to get the nitrite below 0.25. Dont worry about doing such a large water change, i found that my fish loved the excitement of it all and loved the flow of water ging back in, and its less stressfull for them than the nitrite. I cant tell you whether your platy will pull through or not, i hope she does as they are my fave fish ever! You could also put some aquarium salt in, about 1/2 teaspoon per 10 litres and that will help them. Also, if you have an air pump, get as much oxygen in there as you can. You may find you will have to do a lot of water changes to keep the nitrite level down. Hopefully it wont be long before the bacteria get nitrite down to 0 and your nitrate will go up. It takes twice as long for the nitrite processing bacteria to build than it does for the ammonia processing bacteria. Hold in there, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. The problem we all have is that the LFS's dont give you the proper information, but you did the right thing by asking on here. I hope it all goes well, keep us updated. If you need anymore help or have anymore questions, just post on here or send a pm. GRJ

 

[Fish Sticks]

First off thanks for all your help. I've been scouring the internet and never getting a clear answer.

She is doing abit better now. She is comming out for very brief periods. A little more active than before too.

I just did a 40% change and the water looks alot better. And hopefully I can get the water tested as soon as tonight, or just get the test kit.

And when I go to the LFS I'll look into an air pump and salt

 

[GRJ]

You are more than welcome. You seem to be doing a grand job! I hope she pulls through, it sounds like she is a little fighter! Good luck. Keep us updated! GRJ

 

[Fish Sticks]

Oh and I found a pretty cheap kit online.

http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?...ly&keepsr=1

It looks pretty good for 20 bucks

 

[GRJ]

Oh and I found a pretty cheap kit online.

http/www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?...ly&keepsr=1

It looks pretty good for 20 bucks

Thats the kit i use and its a very good one. Its better to test your own water, you know where you are with it. Thats a good price too (dont know about exchange rates with canadian dollars!). When you get your kit and test your water, write it down in a log/diary. Now, here's the science bit!LOL! If your test for ammonia or nitrite, and levels are 1ppm, and you need the levels to be below 0.25, you will need to do a 75% water change to get it down to 0.25. If its 0.5ppm, you will need to do a 50% water change to get it below 0.25 and so on. Just keep up with the testing and water changes, its hard work but well worth it in the end. I had to do this so if you get stuck or need to know anything, just pm me and i will go thrugh the process with you again, its no problem. It will slow the cycle down slightley but the fish will be much better off. Your not alone and help is always here. Good luck. GRJ

 

[Fish Sticks]

Everyone in the tank seems to be more active now that I did the change. Even my ivory mystery snail is out which is very rare of him to do while the lights are on.

When I went to feed the platys she didn't go to the surface like the others did but she did come out from the plants to see what was going on and caught a couple of the flakes that got pulled down by the filter.

Two pounds is equal to about four dollars Everyone is excited because the Canadian dollar is about equal to an American dollar now.

 

[GRJ]

Sounds like it must have been the nitrite. Its really important to keepthose water changes now. She still isnt out of the woods yet as her immune system will be very vulnerable but you are doing the best you can for her now. If she is eating, hopefully she will recover. I hope everything goes well for you. GRJ

 

[Fish Sticks]

OK so I got the test kit.

Here were the reults after that 40% water change.

PH 7.4

Ammonia 0.12 ppm

Nitright 0.25 ppm

Nitrate 3 ppm



And the platy seemed to get worse for awhile. Being very still overall.

For now I've put her in a breeders net that is about 1/2 gallon and she seems to be ever so slightly more active. It will keep her closer the the water line atlest (will there be more oxygen there?)


Also with those results do you think the tank has cycled yet? What are good readings for a fully cycled tank?

 

[GRJ]

OK so I got the test kit.

Here were the reults after that 40% water change.

PH 7.4

Ammonia 0.12 ppm

Nitright 0.25 ppm

Nitrate 3 ppm



And the platy seemed to get worse for awhile. Being very still overall.

For now I've put her in a breeders net that is about 1/2 gallon and she seems to be ever so slightly more active. It will keep her closer the the water line atlest (will there be more oxygen there?)


Also with those results do you think the tank has cycled yet? What are good readings for a fully cycled tank?

Hi Fish Sticks. No, the tank hasnt cycled yet. You need both ammonia and nitrite to be 0 and nitrate to rise. Now its a case of doing plenty of regular water changes to keep levels down and be patient. It will take a while and you will be sick of changing water but it WILL cycle if you do what i told you. Dont worry about the water changes stressing the fish out as its more stressfull with for them with those levels. I suspect its a combination of ammonia and nitrite poisoning that is affecting your platy. You could also use a product called Ammo-Lock by API which will convert the ammonia to non toxic ammonium, but still allow cycling to take place. I think Sechem do a similar product called 'Prime'. As for the nitrite, aquarium salt will make it less toxic. Its a mistake most newbies make, i know i did so your not alone. Any more help you need just post on here or pm me! Hope that helps, GRJ

 

[Fish Sticks]

When I came home today the water was very cloudy again. So I just did another 25% change today.

The platy is still alive but just barely. She was in the same spot that she was in the morning when I came home today.

I'll test the water again later on tonight.

Oh and one question. Once I have done all the tests on the water what do I do with the water that had the chemicals put in? Is it safe to put down the drain?

 

[GRJ]

Yes, just wash them out in your sink, that would be fine. Your platy may not pull through this, i hope she does but she may not and i think you have to be aware of that. You are doing everything you can so she is getting the best chance she can have to get through it though. I know how horrible it is watching them struggle like that, thats the reason i went and got myself a quarantine tank which use for a nursery now. The cloudy water could be a bacterial bloom and while it doesnt look very nice, it will go away in a few days and wont hurt the fish so i wouldnt worry about that too much, just concentrate on your water stats. Keep us updated and i have my fingers crossed for the platy! GRJ

 

[Fish Sticks]

I had to go away for about two days (I had someone to feed the fish though).

The water is now very green looking.

I just did another 50% change so hopefully that will help.

But everyone is looking just fine at the moment. The platy is now swimming around with the others adn she went and got some food with the others. She is swimming around just fine and is acting exactly the same as the others in the tank.