Over the past week I have had some very sad platy deaths. At first I thought it was do to a filter problem, but that no longer seems to be the case. I give you the whole story, then any suggestions would be helpful.
In May I had a health well established tank of three platys, one swordtail, one cory cat, and a few small platy fry. Then I went away for Memorial Day. Before I left I did a small water change of about 15-20% (I had done larger water change earlier I the week). I also gave the fish a hearty meal (there are also live plants in the tank). All part of my normal going away routine. I was gone 4 days.
When I returned my filter had been clogged by the leaves of the one fake plant in the tank. The fish must have broken them off somehow. The filter was down to the tiniest trickle. Obviously I am not sure when the clog happened. The fry and one platy was dead (She the meekest of all my fish and if any fish had some stress it was her). I tested the water and my nitrate was a little high, but the rest of my parameters were good. I have continued testing as have not had any sign of ammonia or nitrite.
Anyway I did a huge water change and decided to keep any eye on everybody. Since then my other two platy have had clamped fins and my other female (a very dominate fish) has bee porn to hiding. At first I was hoping that she was just getting picked on because I now had a 1:1 male, female ratio. But she started to loose color over the course of the week ad the male also had clamped fins. I have continued to do water changes and test. Yesterday the female was swimming around more and I saw her eating, so I was hopeful, but this morning she was dead. The male still has clamped fins, but is acting normal. The swordtail and cory have looked perfectly fine the entire time (Actually they are older fish the I inherited from someone else).
Well any thoughts or suggestion? I actually have some other fry that I would like to move into the tank soon, but not until I clear up whatever is affecting the other platys.
In May I had a health well established tank of three platys, one swordtail, one cory cat, and a few small platy fry. Then I went away for Memorial Day. Before I left I did a small water change of about 15-20% (I had done larger water change earlier I the week). I also gave the fish a hearty meal (there are also live plants in the tank). All part of my normal going away routine. I was gone 4 days.
When I returned my filter had been clogged by the leaves of the one fake plant in the tank. The fish must have broken them off somehow. The filter was down to the tiniest trickle. Obviously I am not sure when the clog happened. The fry and one platy was dead (She the meekest of all my fish and if any fish had some stress it was her). I tested the water and my nitrate was a little high, but the rest of my parameters were good. I have continued testing as have not had any sign of ammonia or nitrite.
Anyway I did a huge water change and decided to keep any eye on everybody. Since then my other two platy have had clamped fins and my other female (a very dominate fish) has bee porn to hiding. At first I was hoping that she was just getting picked on because I now had a 1:1 male, female ratio. But she started to loose color over the course of the week ad the male also had clamped fins. I have continued to do water changes and test. Yesterday the female was swimming around more and I saw her eating, so I was hopeful, but this morning she was dead. The male still has clamped fins, but is acting normal. The swordtail and cory have looked perfectly fine the entire time (Actually they are older fish the I inherited from someone else).
Well any thoughts or suggestion? I actually have some other fry that I would like to move into the tank soon, but not until I clear up whatever is affecting the other platys.
