Need Emergency Platy Help ! !

[SummerGirl]

Hi everyone, first time aquarium owner here needs help ! !

I just got a mickeymouse Platy yesterday. At some point during the night she was having some problems where she was just staying at the top of the tank, not even moving. She looked like she was going to die. (I treated the water with accu-clear 2 times to clear cloudy water about before I put her in that day. It did clear the water up.) Even when I put my hand near the tank of where she was, it seemed like she was blind. Today, she was swimming more and she is more alert. But she still is very calm and she seems to staying by herself most of the time in one spot. And she is mostly staying at the top of the tank. But a big improvement from during the night.

A few hours ago I went out and bought another platy. I thought the one I got yesterday maybe needed another fish with her. This one from today is older and hyper and she seems to like to swim up and down next to the glass. She didn't seem as hyper in the petshop. The one I got yesterday followed the new one around today for a minute. But she is now staying by herself.

I have stress zyme in the water. Should I do a water change? If so, can it wait another day? I don't have a tester for ammonia. . One is so calm and especially what happend to her during the night it is causing me concern and the other is way too hyper, also causing me concern. I had a sample of water conditioner that I used when I set up the tank originally that I threw away because it was non-resealable. So I have to buy a bottle. During the day I work so I have to wait till tomorrow night to buy the conditioner if I need to do a water change. The tank was running a week before I put the first fish in yesterday.
I have not a clue what to do

also, Is it true that I should put aquarium salt in the water??

Any thoughts, advice, opinions would be greatly appreciated !
(I have a heater and the filter running.)

thank you in advance ! ! ! !

Oh, I had to add, I think the one I got today is pregnant. What do I do if that is the case? I can't keep any babies !!

 

[PumaWard]

Salt can help but it is not a must.

Take your water down to your local fish store and have them test it for you. If your water is cloudy, that means your having a bacterial bloom, this is from all the ammonia that was in the tank, so the water needs to be tested for ammonia and nitrite at least, as this may be causing problems.

The one going up and down the glass seems like more normal behavior for a livebearer in a new tank (at least in my experience with mollies and swordtails..though I admit I've never owned platies). If the other one is not affraid to you at first, then something may be wrong. Watch for any sign of disease on her.

Sorry I can't help you out more, but I hope that this at least helps.

 

[tricksterpup]

How long has your tank cycled? Did you have it running for a period of time before you placed in your fish? Did you test your water before putting in your fish? What size tank to do you have?

One type of water conditioner I would try for your tank is Amquel. It is a proven conditioner for many of us on this board, and i like it alot.

Now the salt issue. I placed this in another subject. I also highly recommend this site for those who own live bearers.


Hmm.. from what I have read and noted is that many liverbearers do not need salt and survive very well with out salt. Please check out the following website.
http://tcoletti.tripod.com/molly_salt_debate.html

The main issue for many livebearers is a hardness factor and clean water. If you have clean hard water, 9 out of 10 times you will not encounter any issues with your fish. The salt makes the issues caused by irregular water changes and over crowding tolerable.
Salt is basically a myth that has been passed around our trade for a very long time. Another great site for links is this:
http://tcoletti.tripod.com/thelivebearer.html
by Dr. Ted Coletti


jim