Lethargic platy...

[Alfcea]

Hello you guys,

Four days ago I got three new platies (two females, one male -- I want lots of babies!!!) for my 30 gal tank. The girls are doing OK so far but the boy seems lethargic. He was fine at the lsfs but now I am getting worried. He barely moves at all and spends most of the time lying on the gravel and resting his body on the glass...

My water is acidic (pH 6.2-6.3 buffered with tannins) and very soft. I initially thought that, since platies prefer harder, more alkaline water, he was having a bit of a hard time trying to get used to my water but now I'm not so sure... does anybody have any idea of what is happening? what can I do to help him? should I just wait and see how this evolves? any suggestions? Thanks.

[toddnbecka]

A handful of crushed coral in a filter would help with the water chemistry. It will gradually raise both the pH and the hardness to a more comfortable range for livebearers. If your lfs has harder water than your tank osmotic shock may be part of the problem. It's rather unusual for a male of just about any species of livebearer to ignore 2 females in the same tank.
As long as the females are healthy and active adults you'll still have fry even if the male dies. The females will have mated already, and will produce several broods from a single mating.

[fishymommy]

I had the exact same problem with a female swordtail I bought a while ago.. Unfotunately she was the only one left at the lfs so Idk if it was because she was lonely or what but she had the same exact symptoms and there were other kinds of fish in the tank but she died. I hope it goes better for you poor fish!!

Good luck :o)

[Alfcea]

Well, it is too late...

I found him this morning barely alive. He was still breathing but was very weak. He was just moving enough to keep away from those mean zebra danios who were bugging him and wouldn't leave him alone.

I decided to take him off the tank and put him in a flower vase with some tank water. I wanted to give him, at least, a few moments of peace... He didn't oppose any resistance...

Half an hour later, when I went to take a look, he had already passed to a better life...

It is always sad when these things happen... I regret that the last few days of his life were not the best ones, and all because I didn't even try to fix things earlier...

Too bad:ssad:

[fishymommy]

Don't think like they weren't though! They were good days for him. He went from a lfs tank full of other fish constantly pestering him to his own tank with a nice owner and a couple of his very own girlfriends. Maybe he had a heart attack from his joy :o) Don't feel bad. I know exactly what you mean. My family teases that I get too attached to the fish but I think its good to get attached. You are a good fishy mommy! :o)