Platy acting weird

[stacic8679]

I have had my mickey mouse platies(male and female) for about 3 months now and one of them is suddenly acting strange. It is the female that is acting strange. She is hiding in the skull and won't come out much to eat or do much of anything. I did get her out last night because I wanted to look at her to make sure I didn't see any obvious signs of distress. SHe kept hiding in plants and along the bubbler in the back. She looks normal except her belly is huge. Do you think she could be pregnant? I didn't know if they act different when they are pregnant.I haven't noticed the little dot by the anal fin though. I have noticed the male hanging out in the skull with her too but not as often. Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20.

Thanks,
Staci

 

[homebunnyj]

Not only is she (likely) pg, but the male is stressing her out by chasing her all the time to mate. Wouldn't you hide too? lol

You should have two or three females to each male to keep them from stressing the females to death. Is it more practical for you to remove the male to another tank or to purchase a couple more females? And if you want the fry to survive, make sure they have lots of fine-leaved plants to hide in, so as to have some chance of not being eaten.

 

[stacic8679]

I have 2 other female platies. One is a sunburst and the other I am not sure. She is orange with a black line down her sides. He picks on them too but not as much lately. Maybe because he got this one knocked up

Can they be fake plants? I don't have any real ones. I have lots of good hiding spots though. (skull, driftwood, and many fake plants)

 

[Newman]

Yea fake works. have something with fine-shaped leaves. something hat looks like hornwort or cabomba. or just buy a hornwart. they cost next to nothing.