Any luck with platies ?

[tankbusterlover]

Hi,

I kinda like those small multicolored fish. They are not moster fish and they don't have much personality. However they are nice to look at. It's kinda peaceful to see a tank full of mix colored platies.

For some reason, i don't have much like with those fish. They are fine for some time then start dropping dead. I don't have problem with other species of fish.

Any advice on how to keep those fish ? I don't know if i should mixx different breed of platies. They are all mixed up at the pet store. Chances are the females are already pregnant.

 

[Yuki Rihwa]

*How big your tank? How often you maintain? How your water parameters? These questions would help us identify the cause, trouble happening with your tank.
*Of course a tankful of them does look nice but also the taxing of bio load on your filtration. You said they are fine for sometime then then start dropping dead then pretty much your water parameters are out of control and your filtration is failing for a long run with heavy bio load (For example 50 platies in 20 gallons tank is a lot different compare to 50 platies in a 55 gallons setup). Another thing is do not ever buy all of your fishes and put them in your tank same time, that will cause bio load spike up and your filtration fail to handle a sudden spike of bio load.

 

[tankbusterlover]

Hi,

It's a 30 gallon hex tank. The filtration is an Aquaclear 70. A hang on the back filter. The stocking is 3 platies and 4 gold barb. I want to move the gold barb. I really want just a platy tank.

 

[Stanzzzz7]

Most platy's sold in local fish stores are overbred over many generations and tend to be weak and very prone to bacterial infections.
The closer to wild type fish these are the more resilient they seem.
Lots of hobbyists also keep them too warm,this will also shorten their life span.keep them between 70 and 75 and they will do fine.
They also like hard alkaline water.I would also be enclined to add a little salt to your tank when you next introduce any,half a tea spoon per gallon just to help fight any infections new fish may bring in.
Wild type platies are seldom available but wild type swordtails are colourful and resilient, you may have more look with those.

 

[tankbusterlover]

Thanks Stanzzzz7. Would the salt harm my gold barbs ? Those fish have been with me for 3 years already. I started the tank in June 2013. I also forgot. I have one giant danio.

Here is a pic of my tank. You can see a small platie in the bottom right. They like to hide and play in the fake plants.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Yeah, they are a mass produced fish that take a beating in your typical LFS sale tank. Being a livebearer, they typically don't live that long. It was a very healthy fish from the get go and you did REAL well if you get 2+ years out of one. I personally enjoy their personalities a lot more than that of a tetra or the likes I'm with Stanzzz above. I think most of the issues with them are when people keep them in too warm a tank. Most would frown upon this, but I've currently got 3 young rescued platys in my 55g goldfish tank that runs at room temperature and is currently 66-67F. These platys are doing awesome at that temp. They colored right up, are super active and happy with the big goofy goldies in this tank.