Why Is Our Platy Swimming In Place?

[EtherealGirl]

I'm worried..

Our little community was doing pretty well (everybody got along and looked heathy). Then yesterday we bought 2 new fish: another glofish (more about this later) and an oto. The two new fish appear to be quite healthy and adjusting to their new environment quite well (oto went straight to work on the diatoms).

However, one of the dwarf platys is behaving strangely. He just swims in place, like they do when they're sleeping. He mostly faces the back wall, and he didn't really show any intrest in food, which is definitely uncharacteristic. Sometimes he'll seem to snap out of it and swim around with his platy-pal. But then he'll go back to his little "hybernating mode." It looks like the equivalent of sleep-walking!

I know there are problems that can affect the new fish, but are there any conditions that can affect the existing fish when new fish are added? I know that new fish can bring disease, etc, but this one platy is the only existing fish who's acting strangely, and they were only introduced last night around 8pm.

The only other significant info I can add is that the original glofish has become very beligerent. He's attacking most of the other fish, including the new glofish. I don't see any wounds or nicks on the platy (tho' the guppies tails look a bit more ragged than yesterday). {If he can't learn to play well with others, I may "trade him in" for some more otos: useful little fellows who make a real contribution to the community.}

I'm guessing all I can do for the platy is wait, watch & worry, but I thought I'd check to see if this sounds like anything any of you are familiar with, or if you have any suggestions. Thanks.

One other thought: It's only a 10g tank and we've got 2 dwarf platys, 2 fancy male guppies, 2 glofish and an oto. If this is too big a bio-load for a 10g, could that be affecting the platy so soon?

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Distressing Update:

He is no longr "snapping out" of his funk, and hasn't for several hours now. He just stays in the same spot (the middle of the tank, towards the back, but in an open area visible to all). His platy-pal keeps coming over to him, almost hovering, in what appears to be concern.

I hope someone will reply. I must say, I'm feeling very discouraged. So much work and dedication, only to be met with death, diatoms and disease? I'm sorry if that sounds overly-dramatic; it's just that if my favorite fish (from day one) is about to die... it just makes no sense. He made it through my #@!%&*^ fish-in cycle! It's all just so hard.

[RJRofFL]

Hi EtherealGirl,

IMO since it was only yesterday, I would not worry just yet. Although swimming in place in itself seems OK, the lack of appetite is cause for concern, not worry for now.

I'm just jumping in here to share with you my experiences with similar circumstances. Whenever we add new fish to our systems there is bound to be some degree of stress to both the "new-comers" and the "residents." Sometimes, even there becomes a new "pecking order."

One thing I learned early on is that all fish need to feel secure in order to reduce stress. I have always, and to this day, maintained enough "hiding places" for each and every fish in my tank. When I had six fish, I had six caves or rocks or groups of plants. When I had 12 or 15, I added more "hiding places." I have noticed in my community tank that each fish does indeed seek out a "space to call their own."

At the first hint of any "aggression" or possible "aggression" issues, I have purposely moved and re-arranged the castle, caves, rocks, & plants. This gives everyone a fair chance at finding their own space, and seems to have eliminated any "bullying" since the "underdog" can quickly run to safety.

Just a thought, from my experiences.

Good luck.

Bob

[EtherealGirl]

Bob,

Thank you for replying. I feel slightly reassured. It's just we've already lost our favorite fancy guppie to osmotic shock (before I knew how to avoid it) and our middle glofish within 24 hours of introduction, despite proper acclimation process (and he just went like that {snapping fingers}, whereas the guppy had a couple days that were very difficult to watch).

As far as hiding places, etc: it's a bit limited by the size of the tank but this picture shows the set-up.
3 - Not Bad For Plastic.JPG
I did specifically set it all up with the "rooms" within the "coral reef" and lots of plants (albeit plastic) both tall and low, and secluded corners, etc for folks to claim as their "safe house", but what's odd about Skye's behavior is that he isn't seeking a "cave" to hide in: he's right out in the middle of the tank.

I wondered about the stress on the "residents", especially since the 2 platys were the original folk. I thought maybe he just doesn't like having so many "neighbors", especially when one is so nasty. (I tried to scoop the bully up in the net, to take him back to the store, but those glofish are wicked fast!) But somehow that just doesn't explain the behavior. It's been at least five hours, maybe more, since he just parked it in that spot.

I'm off to sleep, cuz I just can't watch him any more. Fingers crossed he'll be back to normal in the morning....

[louistheloach]

Not sure what is causing it, but I have had fish in the past that will get into a funk about eating without any other signs of disease. After a recommendation of the addition of garlic, I bought a product called garlic extreme. It is liquid garlic. I dose according to instructions and have used it with great success to stimulate the appetite of the sluggish fish. Sometimes that has been enough to pull them out of the funk, get them eating again and acting more normal.........if only the fish could actually tell us what is wrong, like that childhood character that could talk to the animals......what was his name?

ltl