Beat up platy

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Oct 20, 2005
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I got three platys a few days ago and they have been getting along swimmingly (haha) with my laetacara curviceps.

Today one of them disappeared and I found her (believe she's a female) hiding with her fins ragged and a mess. I isolated her in a floating tank, did a mini-water change, added some salt.

What else should I be doing? It's too late here to go to a lfs.
 
Why did you use it in this case? Don't just add salt for no reason. There are many reason your poor little platy might be getting picked on.
1. Usually laetacara curviceps are peaceful fish, but if breeding they can be aggressive.
2. Platys can also be aggressive if there are too many males. Was she the only female? If so you may want to trade in one of the males for one or two more girls.
3. Often sick or previously injured fish get picked on. If she was a new fish she might just have an unknown weakness. Pay attention and try to catch any possible symptoms.
 
I used salt because I changed the water and always use salt, I added a little extra because I thought it might help. I have heard it helps.

The curviceps are juvenile and not, as yet, spawning.

I bought two females and one male. However the lfs employee could have made a mistake. I looked and as far as I can tell there are two females, but of course being a newbie I am not absolutely sure.

I am watching the injured fish. She/he seems bewildered but is eating and swimming normally.

I was wondering: melafix? Necessary here? There seems to be controversy about its use.

Thank you for your advice. Your impatient tone: not so much. But what the hell.
 
Sorry if I seemed snippety, I didn’t mean to be.

As far as Melafix goes I don’t have any personal experience. So, I’ll leave that for someone else to answer. For now I would just keep an eye on your other fish. And see if anyone is acting pushy. These are new fish; they may just be establishing themselves. My male platy sometimes bullies my smallest female, thankfully he has never done damage, but I really have to watch him. It dosen’t sound like she is horribly hurt, hopefully she’ll fully recover.

You still may want to consider a third female in the long run (if your tank has enough space). The more females there are the more the male can chase after. He’ll be less likely to pick on any one fish. If you think there are two females and one male you are likely right. You may have heard this before, but the female’s anal fin is rounded and looks like a normal fin, the male’s is slender and more like a tube.
 
Thanks for the help, Jennypenny. I've got a 20 gallon long tank with the three curviceps and three platys, and I'm thinking another female or two would be a good idea.

When I bought the platys the LFS guy told me that the blue/green ones were females and the orange male. I am skeptical, could that be right?

The little orange girl is still alive, she seems okay but not at all perky in the floater tank. Any thoughts or suggestions would be very welcome!
 
I would have second thoughts about what the LFS said too. Color has nothing to do with sexing a platy, The females are typically rounder or plumper, but this isn't always true. That back fin is still the best way to tell. I got a couple of young females recently. One plumed up quickly, the other stayed small and eventually died. I think she was just never healthy.

This link shows a picture of mollies, but it is the same with platys http://www.geocities.com/Athens/9884/livebearer.html


She could be stressed out in the floater tank. It seems like you have room for more females. If you haven't done something already I would get the new females and then release your injured fish. It sounds like you are keeping a good eye on them. Keep it up. I got a couple of young females recently. One plumed up quickly, the other stayed thin and eventually died. She was sometimes chased, but never visibly harmed by other fish. I think she was just never healthy. So, sometimes new fish will just not do well.
 
That picture is very helpful indeed! I did get another Platy, female. I will double-check her with the picture to be positive.

The injured platy has just developed two small white fungal spots, dammit!
I'm planning on treating with PIMAFIX.

I got a little desktop tank for the platy, although I am having trouble figuring out a sure way to cycle the water asap. I'm thinking of using water from my big tank, adding gravel and sponge from my big tank.

I hate not knowing enough.

Thanks,

Cynthia
 
I just wanted to ask how your fish were doing? I hope there are happy and healthy.
 
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