Can anyone tell me if platies and swordtails are especially vulnerable fish? I have a 10 gal tank with 2 black mollies and 3 neons. Everytime I add a platy or a swordtail, they seem to be fine for a few days, but then all of a sudden mysteriously end up dead. I haven't seen any signs of illness with any of them. This has happened 4 times.Why do my platies and swordtails always die?
- Thread starter Stacey269
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Can anyone tell me if platies and swordtails are especially vulnerable fish? I have a 10 gal tank with 2 black mollies and 3 neons. Everytime I add a platy or a swordtail, they seem to be fine for a few days, but then all of a sudden mysteriously end up dead. I haven't seen any signs of illness with any of them. This has happened 4 times.Angry_Platy
Sleepy Chook
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They may have come with diseases from the LFS...hence not your fault....also it could just be one of those things...some people don't have luck with certain fish breeds....it could just be one of those things.
Or perhaps the platies don't like your water...the softness/hardness...something in it etc.
You could try another LFS or testing your water to make sure the water parameters are OK
Or perhaps the platies don't like your water...the softness/hardness...something in it etc.
You could try another LFS or testing your water to make sure the water parameters are OK
noelberg
Fishaholic
I've had pretty rotten luck overall with my swordtails. I have heard that they're definitely not the easiest livebearers to keep and are more likely to get bacterial infections and some other diseases. They like a slightly higher pH, too.
If you don't do this already, then I recommend putting a couple tablespoons of your tank water in with the water from the lfs while you're acclimating your new fish. Some people also recommend a little crushed coral for swordtails ... this would not be good for the neons however.
If you don't do this already, then I recommend putting a couple tablespoons of your tank water in with the water from the lfs while you're acclimating your new fish. Some people also recommend a little crushed coral for swordtails ... this would not be good for the neons however.
justupgraded15
Fish Fanatic
Platies and Swordtails are both livebearers and require aquarium salt in the water or they will die. Buy some aquarium salt (like Doc Wellfish's) and follow the instructions. 
What is "aquarium salt"? Is it salt like making water to brackish or is it salt like containing some minerals to make e.g. ro-water suitable to use?
Sometimes e.g. mollies need salt addition if they have been raised in brackish water. If not, then it's useless to add salt. Some big fish-breeders in Asia use salt when breeding fishes and those fishes usually are more difficult to keep in tank, especially if you don't add salt.
Those fishes aren't so hard to keep, when you offer right water for them. Usually platies, mollies and swordtails are raised in medium/hard water and they should be kept in similar water. If you put this kind of fish in soft water, it takes lots of energy to adjusted to new environment (osmotic pressure in water and fish' cells) and sometimes fish becomes exhausted, get ill and die finally. Unfortunately very often, because hobbiests don't test water or they don't know how to keep fishes - many of them suppose that when you have water in your tank, it's enough.
So, what would I do? I wouldn't buy any new fishes in a short time. If some older fish dies, it's definately something wrong in a tank. First you need to know pH, GH, KH. It would be also very good to know NO2- and NO3- and because you're going to keep fishes that live in basic water, then you definately need NH3/NH4+ test. Ammonia is very toxic to fishes and when pH is over 7, there might be ammonia in water too.
Sometimes e.g. mollies need salt addition if they have been raised in brackish water. If not, then it's useless to add salt. Some big fish-breeders in Asia use salt when breeding fishes and those fishes usually are more difficult to keep in tank, especially if you don't add salt.
Those fishes aren't so hard to keep, when you offer right water for them. Usually platies, mollies and swordtails are raised in medium/hard water and they should be kept in similar water. If you put this kind of fish in soft water, it takes lots of energy to adjusted to new environment (osmotic pressure in water and fish' cells) and sometimes fish becomes exhausted, get ill and die finally. Unfortunately very often, because hobbiests don't test water or they don't know how to keep fishes - many of them suppose that when you have water in your tank, it's enough.
So, what would I do? I wouldn't buy any new fishes in a short time. If some older fish dies, it's definately something wrong in a tank. First you need to know pH, GH, KH. It would be also very good to know NO2- and NO3- and because you're going to keep fishes that live in basic water, then you definately need NH3/NH4+ test. Ammonia is very toxic to fishes and when pH is over 7, there might be ammonia in water too.
snowyangel
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Um gotta budge in here and say I've been breeding my guppiess for over 6 months in non-salt water and they've been doing fine. Some of my females have had more then 4 batches of fry each. Saying "they'll die" without salt seems a little dramatic to me. I could see if you bought them out of tank that has always had salt in the water then introduce them to a non-salt water tank maybe the shock could kill them, but besides that my guppies seems to do fine without it.justupgraded15 said:Platies and Swordtails are both livebearers and require aquarium salt in the water or they will die. Buy some aquarium salt (like Doc Wellfish's) and follow the instructions.
justupgraded15
Fish Fanatic
What I mean by aquarium salt is that it is the type that provides the electrolytes that fish require to get to peak coloration and vitality. Aquarium salt like "Doc Wellfish's" by Aquarium Phar,aceuticals improves the gill function, reduces stress, improves the osmoregulation, and enhances the effectiveness of medication and disease recovery. It looks like rock salt but it is not. My LFS told me to put it in with some platies that I had and that they required it. They died before I had a chance. I put 1 tablespoon in every time I do a water change and it does nothing but help the fish. Let me say though that this is not "Instant Ocean" type of salt that can harm freshwater species. I reccomend to everyone to put aquarium salt in their tanks because of its qualities and effectiveness.
I've had my tank set up since December, and I've tested the water continuosly until the nitrites and ammonia registered zero. I keep aquarium salt in the water because of the mollies; they like it. I also found it helps to get rid of things like Ich in no time. My fish don't have Ich, that was all cured a long time ago. My PH is around 7, but the water hardness could have something to do with it. My tap water is somewhat hard, but I do put in the water conditioner, so maybe I'm softening it up too much. They are fine for a few days (swimming and eating), but then all of a sudden just end up dead.
Angry_Platy
Sleepy Chook
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Platies....or any other livebearers for that matter will NOT die because there is no salt in the water...I have never had salt in my water and all my platies are perfectly healthy with beautiful colours....I too have fry and if they were that unhappy the fry wouldn't exactly survive would they. I also have guppies, neon tetras, glolight tetras and whiteksirt tetras....all with brilliant colours.
The only time I use salt is in my quar tank when I notice ich etc. on my fish....I certainly do not use it as a matter of routine.
I'm not blaming you for your advice, I think the LFS gave you bad advice in order to sell you that particular brand of aquarium salt. And along those lines, Doc Wellfish is only one brands among many brands of aquarium salt which would be suitable for freshwater aquariums.
The only time I use salt is in my quar tank when I notice ich etc. on my fish....I certainly do not use it as a matter of routine.
I'm not blaming you for your advice, I think the LFS gave you bad advice in order to sell you that particular brand of aquarium salt. And along those lines, Doc Wellfish is only one brands among many brands of aquarium salt which would be suitable for freshwater aquariums.
justupgraded15
Fish Fanatic
Have you tested the NitrAtes. In high levels, over 40, they can cause harm to the fish. Ammonia breaks down into nitrites, which break into nitrates. Dead fish in the tank, leftover food, or excessive fish droppings can cause a spike in nitrates.
J.R.
J.R.
justupgraded15
Fish Fanatic
Maybe I went overboard saying they would die, but the fish will be happier and more nice to look at with aquarium salt in the water.
J.R.
J.R.
I've had my tank set up since December, and I've tested the water continuosly until the nitrites and ammonia registered zero. I keep aquarium salt in the water because of the mollies; they like it. I also found it helps to get rid of things like Ich in no time. My fish don't have Ich, that was all cured a long time ago. My PH is around 7, but the water hardness could have something to do with it. My tap water is somewhat hard, but I do put in the water conditioner, so maybe I'm softening it up too much. They are fine for a few days (swimming and eating), but then all of a sudden just end up dead.
justupgraded15
Fish Fanatic
I am asking about NITRATES not NITRITES. There is a difference. Check your NITRATES.
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