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Why are my Platies hiding?
Badmans Tropical Fish Message Center: archive:
Why are my Platies hiding?
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PetFinatic
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Monday,
July 16, 2001 - 01:23 pm
I am a new Aquarium enthusist, and I have a 37 gallon freshwater
tank. I have been posting in the "Disease" section of this
message board because my poor tank has ich at the moment. Anyway,
I have a few different questions about just starting up.
Originally we started with 1 Red Platy, 1 Blue Gourami, 1 Black
Skirted Tetra, 1 Dalmation Molly and 1 Pictus Catfish. The Gourami
is happy by himself and stays at the top. The Pictus is happy zooming
all over the place, the Molly seemed content, but the Platy seemed
very lonely and sad.
We got our second batch (a little too quickly which is why we
got the ich) and the ones we got were: 1 Black/Red Platy, 1
Spotted Raphael Catfish, 1 African Dwarf Frog, 1 more Dalmation
Molly and 2 male Fancy Tailed Guppies.
Here are the problems (besides the ich):
1) Both the Platies are ignoring each other and both are lonely.
2) The original Molly is picking on the new one
Any suggestions?
Also, further down the line (in 2 or more weeks) we wanted
to get just a couple more fish to complete our family. What should
we get? I have seen people saying that the Tetras and Guppies should
be schooled...so a few more of those?
How about a small Eel or are there already to many bottom feeders?
Any feedback would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
-Tina
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joycedonley
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Monday,
July 16, 2001 - 01:47 pm
I think your platys would also be happier in a small group. I have
kept only a pair, but they were the same type. I really think they
do better in groups of at least three. I would stay away from eels
they are really off the wall from what you currently have. Your
platy and mollies and guppies kind of compliment each other they
are all hard water fish. Also they can all stand salt which your
mollies really need! I think sadly you may have some problems with
your fish combos. My LFS store won't even sell me mollies unless
I add salt to the water. Your tetra will not appreciate the salt
in his water.You need to slow down a little and do some research
before adding any more fish or they won't stay healthy. If you
can take the tetra back do so. If you have to fill the tank stay
with guppies and platys they live in a similar environment and like
company. Also wait a few weeks after you treat the ich. Sometimes
all the cysts are not killed off and you have a second outbreak.
I did.
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cq
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Monday,
July 16, 2001 - 02:21 pm
Just to let you know, my platies exhibited the same behaviour when
first introduced into my tank. They hid under a plant and wouldn't
take food until they got used to their new home. It may just take
them a while to adjust if you just stocked them. Another possibility
is that one or both of the are pregnant (assuming they are females
of course  .
If they are pregnant and close to giving birth, they will just sit
somewhere quiet in the tank until feeding time.
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Kick
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Tuesday,
July 17, 2001 - 09:36 am
Tina, I answered your other post concerning the ick. Don't buy
any more fish for several weeks until you get this tank cycled and
the ick under control. You are just going to add insult to injury
putting any more in there. One reason your platys may be hiding
is that the other fish are not taking kindly to them, the water
perimeters may be bothering them or like cq said, they are not in
familiar surroundings yet. Also, the ick medication that you used
may be bothering them. Both the mollies and platys really do better
with a small groups as do the guppies,which will stop the pecking
order of these species. From what your LPS has sold you in the last
couple of weeks (I don't know where you shop, but it sounds
like a chain), the only thing they are concerned about is how
many fish they can sell you. They are not taking into consideration
that you are new to this nor are they helping you to be successful
at it.
I know how much fun it is to have an aquarium, but I think at this
point you are a little over zealous in getting it stocked and having
it just the way you want it. All this takes a lot of time and patience,
and if you want to be successful, you really need to take the fish
into consideration. Slow down, get the ick treated, which BTW, just
because you see no more spots does not mean it is gone...there are
other things you will need to do when the ick is no longer visible
as the "cysts" lay in the substrate. I think the main site
here on Badman's tells of its cycle....
Joyce is right that an eel is not really good for this tank. He
will love to get ahold of your small guppies for dinner. Good bottom
dwellers would be cory cats and these should go well with your present
inhabitants. But for both your sakes, don't add any more to
your tank for at least 3 to 4 weeks. With it being overstocked from
the beginning, you may end up losing them all.
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PetFinatic
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Tuesday,
July 17, 2001 - 10:15 am
Thanks Kick, I agree that I should wait a while, that's what
I plan to do.
I bought my first batch of fish from "Petsmart" (A chain)
and yes they seemed very unconcerned about the fish and about me.
I had a million questions and they answered none of them which is
why I've been surfing the web trying to find a good informational
site where I can speak with people who know AND care. Luckily I
found this site. Yay!
You say the eel is a bad idea... darn, because I really want one.
What type of fish would you recommend that is really crazy and weird
(and would be happy with our current residents). Those are
my favorite. Right now I am in love with our Spotted Raphael Catfish.
He is the coolest thing I've ever encountered!!! I love his
personality and he really looks like he's made out of armor.
I know I need to continue with the Ich medication for 5 days and
then again 3 days after that. I'll make sure I follow all directions.
I love these fish and I don't want to hurt them.
One more question, my Pictus Catfish is VERY active. I mean he won't
stop moving and mainly it's around the top of the tank. Is this
ok? What temperature are they most comfortable with? We have it
at 80 right now because of the Ich medication.
Thanks!!
-Tina (PetFinatic)
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cq
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Tuesday,
July 17, 2001 - 10:37 am
I would definately look around for a better place to get your fish
than petsmart. In my experience (limited as it is), they
do not keep their fish in great conditions and this may have been
a factor in your ich outbreak.
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joycedonley
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Tuesday,
July 17, 2001 - 12:48 pm
Tina be sure to check back with Kick on your choices in a few weeks
when you feel you are ready to add fish. I did a quick check on
your Raphael catfish and although a neat fish he gets to be about
5 inches. They have been known to gobble small neons during the
night since they are nocturnal. I am not sure I would trust one
with the guppies. I have seen pictus cats at my LFS and they were
always bouncing all around the tank, which is why I bought UD catfish
instead. I thought they might freak out my peaceful angels. Remember
compatibility is also important when selecting your fish.
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jeff
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Tuesday,
July 17, 2001 - 01:23 pm
oh tina..please heed the advice given..really slow down..I know
you want this real nice tank and stuff but..you will get into problems
in the compatability dept..and when you go to any LPS get dam fussy!..half
peoples problems stem from there...read the genisis section on this
site and do some research or ask before you carry on..not that we
do not trust your judgment..but when you are learning bouncing ideas
of others is a good place to start...have some fun too...jeff
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PetFinatic
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Tuesday,
July 17, 2001 - 04:59 pm
Thanks Jeff, don't worry though...I said in my last post that
I'm going to wait awhile. Kick emailed me and I think she's
going to help me out and let me know when it's time for the
next step. Right now I just really need some help on figuring out
how to get the water back into shape. Should I do a partial water
change? I posted this same kind of question somewhere else on this
site so don't hate me for a double post but it's an emergency!
Thanks again!
-Tina (PetFinatic)
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jeff
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Tuesday,
July 17, 2001 - 07:58 pm
ok..sorry petgirl..If kick is in helping you I will go with that...hang
in there
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Kick
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Wednesday,
July 18, 2001 - 01:23 am
Tina, we can use Jeff's help on this. So by all means, Jeff,
jump in there, okay?
Tina, before doing a water change, let me know what your readings
are from the test kit that you purchased today. With your telling
me the readings, I will be more able to tell you what to do from
here.
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PetFinatic
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Wednesday,
July 18, 2001 - 10:22 am
Hello every one! First off, Jeff, I didn't mean to sound like
I didn't want your advice, I'm sorry! It's exactly the
opposite, I value your input! I just wanted you to be reassured
that I wasn't going to run out and get more fish right away
and that Kick was going to give me some advice as well. So please,
any help is MUCH appreciated Jeff.
Second, Kick, I had my water tested at a Tropical Fish Shop (much
more specialized and friendlier than the chain I made the mistake
of going to before). All my readings were perfect he said except
for the ammonia (which we all knew was going to be the problem.)
The ammonia level was off the charts. He advised me to go home and
do a 25% water change and get some of the gravel surface waste stirred
up and taken out. In addition he gave me some quick dissolving tablets
that remove extra ammonia. I followed all those steps. I also added
the additional StressCoat and Cycle (I know you said Cycle was
probably useless, but I'm just finishing off the bottle)
that you're supposed to add when adding new tap water. I put
the "Maracide" in for the Ich and stood back to see what
happened. My fish seem happier and more alert. Even Mr. African
Dwarf Frog came out of hiding. I have also cut down the feedings
to once a day till things start to get into the right groove.
The man at the shop said to come back in a week for another water
test.
-Tina (PetFinatic)
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jeff
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Wednesday,
July 18, 2001 - 12:58 pm
ok..petgirl..well..humm..It was you with the ich thing too..ok..well..I
still would have gone a different route with treatment..but..you
are already underway so that's fine...and where you looking
for tetra medidicated flakes too?..I thinks so?..getting some of
you guys mixed up here..anyway..you can get them at your LPS..they
are really good..sometimes they may have to order them in for you...medi-gold
is good too..but harder to get...and perhaps if you want to use
water conditioners and ammonia treatment..try amquel(for ammonia)
and novaaqua(conditioner)..they are great products...kept
at it things get better..
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OPAL FISH
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Wednesday,
July 25, 2001 - 02:41 am
HI TINA. I HAVE 6 PLATYS AND I HAVE READ THAT YOU SHOULD PUT AT
LEAST TWO FEMALES FOR EVERY ONE MALE AND I HAVE OBSERVED THE THE
MALES LIKE FEMALES THAT ARE THEIR SAME COLORING. MY MALE ORANGE
MICKEY MOUSE PLATY ONLY COURTS THE ORANGE MICKEY MOUSE FEMALES AND
THE WHITE PLATY WITH BLACK FINS AND A LITTLE ORANGE AT THE BASE
OF HIS TAIL ONLY COURTS THE FEMALES WITH HIS SAME COLORING. THE
MALES ARE CONSTANTLY COURTING.
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Kick
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Wednesday,
July 25, 2001 - 08:48 am
Opal Fish, you are correct in your thinking, however in Tina's
case, she cannot at present add any more fish. This is a brand new
tank, and was very overstocked at start-up. As soon as her tank
settles down, she can indeed add a few more platys if she desires.
Please do us a favor and don't type in caps. It looks like you
are shouting at us and is not real pleasant to the eye. Welcome
to the board and thanks for posting.
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Opalfish
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Thursday,
July 26, 2001 - 01:27 am
Hi Kick, sorry about the caps.
I hope Tina gets her tank worked out. My platys have been a great
pleasure to watch. They are much more aware of my presence than
any other of the fish in my tank when I am observing them. Each
platy has just a little something different about their appearence
from each other so we have been able to identify the markings of
each one and the my kids named each one. We still can't make
out the diffrences of the harliquin rasboras.
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PetFinatic
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Thursday,
July 26, 2001 - 10:33 am
I just wanted to tell you all that my 2 Platies are doing great.
The original one has a little bite out of his tail (I don't
know who did it, but they're not picking on him anymore).
The 2 platies are interacting a little more and have befriended
the guppies. Plus they're getting more adventureous and active.
I still need to wait for my tank to cycle, but they seem pretty
happy right now.
-Tina
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Anonymous
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Thursday,
August 02, 2001 - 06:05 pm
Hi petfinatic
I have three platies and a male guppy (the sole survivor of
8! ) in a 10 gal tank and he is always with them, at first even
courting the female platies. poor little guy... no girls of his
own, but i've given up on the guppies around here, the females
are the first to die every time i get some oh well he gets on fine
with the platies now
just thought i'd add that,
and good luck with your tank!
Kelsey
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