Battered gold twin bar platy??

**Matt93eg** · 08-11-2012, 01:27 AM

Hello, in my 55 gallon community i had 4 gold twin bar platys. Two of them have died for unknown causes which left me with a male and female. I had thought for awhile that maybe the female was pregnant but didnt know for sure.

This morning before work my Wife and I noticed she was in the top right corner kinda just sitting there. When i got off work i noticed she was still there and looked like she was off balance. I looked closer at her and it looks like she has been beat up. She has red patches against her yellow skin that almost appear as bruises. I did some research but didnt really find anything. Anyone have any ideas?

Water parameters are fine. Temp is 79.7 F.

Thanks in advance.

**homemadepopcorn** · 08-11-2012, 01:30 AM

It could be that she was beat up by the male. Live bearing fish should be kept 1 male to 2 or 3 females so as to minimize the amount of abuse that any one female will receive.

She could also be pregnant as platies tend to act strange in the days leading up to birth.

**Matt93eg** · 08-11-2012, 01:57 AM

Thanks for the reply. I will keep an eye on her. Yeah im aware of the 2-3 females to one male and i had it setup that way but two died and i have not been able to get by store to pick more up.

**homemadepopcorn** · 08-11-2012, 02:16 AM

Understandable... did you ever figure out why the other two died? And how long ago was it?

**Matt93eg** · 08-11-2012, 03:14 AM

I do not know why they died. I got the four platys an estimated three weeks ago and i lost two within the first two weeks. It was one of those things where they seemed fine one day and were dead the next. I am use to keeping Oscars where i just have one fish to care for and keep a check on. I try to check these guys out as good as i can but im not use to community tanks so maybe im missing something?

All fish seem happy and active...except for the female platy of course. My nine year old keeps going to check on her.

**homemadepopcorn** · 08-11-2012, 03:20 AM

Hmm... seems like theres no straight forward answer here... you could always isolate her in a QT...

**Matt93eg** · 08-11-2012, 11:38 AM

She was dead this morning unfornately. I have and old 10 gallon and i think i will do the QT with it so that it will be ready for any future issues.

**fishmommie** · 08-13-2012, 02:26 AM

sorry about the platy.
I'm starting to wonder if they aren't very hardy fish. I started out with 3 - 1 male and 2 female. Both females bore a couple batches of fry - most of which promptly got eaten by the male. Both females have since died. Now I have 3 fry left that grew to adult size and one of them is suddenly very inactive. Of all the fish in my community tank, they are the only ones who seem to consistently just fade then die, when the other species remain very healthy. I will not be getting any more platys when these are gone.