jere1558
12-17-2006, 4:22 PM
I previously posted (12/14) on the newbie side about split fins (not fin rot) and it seemed when I posted everyone was getting along nicely. However, the last couple of days of observation (Saturday and Sunday, when I actually get to enjoy my tank) I have noticed my male Mickey Mouse platy chasing and nipping at the tail of the two guppies with split tails. I think I may have found the culprit....Platy turned evil!
4 month old 55 gal tank, fluval 304, 2 heaters (tank kept at 80), 2 12 inch bubble wands, live and plastic plants, 1 medium sized driftwood (from That Pet Place). 10-15% water changes weekly (now will be upped to 25-30%, as was done yesterday) with gravel vacuum.
2 adult platys were purchased to "season" this tank when started. I started with filter media and some gravel from a cycled tank. Placed the two platys in after 4 weeks, fully expecting death (not that that was my intention, just thought for 99 cents each, if they died for the ultimate health of the tank they would be sacrificial fish). Anyway, they thrived and I began to introduce new fish at the rate of about 6 per week to the total seen below.
On advice on this site I started treating with Melafix and Pimafix. One of the males seems to be much better, no further splits. The other has 3 tears nearly to the body. There are no further signs of distress. Eating and swimming well.
The male guppies were added about 3 weeks ago. The tail splits started this past week (again, only 2). Why would the Mickey start chasing and nipping all the sudden? Why only 2? How do I address this, short of sending him to a watery grave?
Fish:
4 male guppies
8 female guppies
1 red tail shark (1.5”)
5 neon rainbow
2 platys (1 male, 1 female)
7 platy fry
8 glo fish (1 inch)
1 cory catfish
Water parameters:
Ph – 7.2
Ammonia – 0
Nitrite – 0
Nitrate – 20
Kh – 89.5 ppm
Gh – 179 ppm
4 month old 55 gal tank, fluval 304, 2 heaters (tank kept at 80), 2 12 inch bubble wands, live and plastic plants, 1 medium sized driftwood (from That Pet Place). 10-15% water changes weekly (now will be upped to 25-30%, as was done yesterday) with gravel vacuum.
2 adult platys were purchased to "season" this tank when started. I started with filter media and some gravel from a cycled tank. Placed the two platys in after 4 weeks, fully expecting death (not that that was my intention, just thought for 99 cents each, if they died for the ultimate health of the tank they would be sacrificial fish). Anyway, they thrived and I began to introduce new fish at the rate of about 6 per week to the total seen below.
On advice on this site I started treating with Melafix and Pimafix. One of the males seems to be much better, no further splits. The other has 3 tears nearly to the body. There are no further signs of distress. Eating and swimming well.
The male guppies were added about 3 weeks ago. The tail splits started this past week (again, only 2). Why would the Mickey start chasing and nipping all the sudden? Why only 2? How do I address this, short of sending him to a watery grave?
Fish:
4 male guppies
8 female guppies
1 red tail shark (1.5”)
5 neon rainbow
2 platys (1 male, 1 female)
7 platy fry
8 glo fish (1 inch)
1 cory catfish
Water parameters:
Ph – 7.2
Ammonia – 0
Nitrite – 0
Nitrate – 20
Kh – 89.5 ppm
Gh – 179 ppm