Platy loses an eye

[Gwenkat]

Hi guys. I have a 60 gallon tank that has been set up with the same inhabitants for about 6 months. It has 1 paradise fish, 2 dwarf gouramis, 4 platies, 1 common pleco, a snail and 5 cories. The platies has been breeding so there is a breeder hanging with 6 babies in it. The paradise fish seems to have gotten the rest. Last night I checked on everyone and it was all good. This morning I checked on them and the one platy is missing her eye. No other visible wounds. The only fish I can think would be responsible is the paradise fish. Agree? My questions at this point are:

1 - Why would it suddenly get vicious and hurt the platy?
2 - How do I treat the platy?
3 - What are the odds the paradise fish will continue this behavior?
I will be converting this tank over to only gouramis in the future and want to know if you think the paradise fish will work with the dwarfs, a couple pygmies, couple licorice gouramis, the cories and the pleco? OR, is the paradise to much of a risk??

Thanks in advance for all your help.

 

[Lupin]

Yes, it's the paradise fish. This is just one of the anabantids with a very nasty temperament, not counting Betta splendens killing themselves to death in a cramped compartment. Treat the platy's eye with Melafix but the eye is permanently damaged.

No, you cannot keep the paradise fish with other anabantids, not even licorice gouramis. If you want licorice gouramis, keep them in a tank by themselves or with cories. I recommend 20g as the max. size otherwise they'll feel "lost" in a very large tank. Water must be filtered through peat and Indian almond leaves to maintain soft acidic conditions suitable for them. I have them with my kuhli loaches, cories and sparkling gouramis with 20% daily water changes.

1 - Why would it suddenly get vicious and hurt the platy?

As to this, my answer is that considering most of the paradise fish are nasty by nature, this is hardly surprising to me.

3 - What are the odds the paradise fish will continue this behavior?

I cannot say for sure that it'll stop. Chances are it'll repeat so I will not recommend mixing it with several community fish.

 

[tjg2007]

The platy should be fine with the missing eye. I have a painted platy that is missing an eye due to an attack by my opaline gourami

 

[Gwenkat]

Wow, thanks for the quick response.
No I don't already have the licorice gouramis. I was thinking about ordering them. They would go in the 60, but, I will rethink that thanks to your advice. Maybe I will rehome the paradise fish.