Tropical Fish Forum

Tropical Fish Keeping => General Fishkeeping Chat => Topic started by: Resa on June 01, 2013, 12:56:23 AM

Title: Platy
Post by: Resa on June 01, 2013, 12:56:23 AM
Found another of the little coral platys dead tonight...so that's two out of the three that I bought.
Very depressing...

Resa
  :(
Title: Re: Platy
Post by: Sue on June 01, 2013, 10:00:07 AM
It's the same variety that keep dying? That suggests something wrong with that particular batch of fish. Maybe a weak strain or sickly fish from the way they have been treated since birth.
Title: Re: Platy
Post by: ColinB on June 01, 2013, 10:45:53 AM
Sorry to hear that, Resa.  :(

I've only got one platy left out of five I got around 10 months ago. Perhaps they're going the way of guppies with weakness due to intensive breeding? :-\
Title: Re: Platy
Post by: Sue on June 01, 2013, 11:08:21 AM
I've read a discussion on another site about why this intensive breeding causes weakness in a species. The answer seemed to be that it's not breeding closely related fish to get a particular colour or fin shape, it's that a lot of intensive breeding is done with fish that have undesirable genetics, and these 'weak' genes just get passed on and on and on. It's happened to guppies and neon tetras, who knows which species will be next.
Title: Re: Platy
Post by: Resa on June 02, 2013, 10:20:49 AM
Hi Sue,

Yes, I bought 3 little male coral platys, which was strange to begin with, as they are a very deep blood orange....and I hate the colour orange!  They were so striking though, and I thought they would inject a flash of colour in the tank.  I don't know why 2 have died but I got them at the same time as my 2 original pandas and the tiny one of them died too.  So, I have decided not to get any more fish from that particular shop.  At the risk of jinxing things, my other pandas and peppers bought in a massive fish shop in our nearest big town, have settled well and all seem happy and healthy.  That was also where I got my blue marble platys from, and as you know, they are certainly doing alright, popping babies out left, right and centre! ;D

Perhaps, as you say, it is a problem caused by too much interbreeding....such a shame when we mess too much with nature.

Resa
  :)
Title: Re: Platy
Post by: Resa on June 02, 2013, 10:26:16 AM
Hi Colin,

I'm really sorry that you only have 1 platy left, but slightly reassured that hopefully it's not something I have done. :(  I don't know why, but I had the idea that these little fish were almost bomb-proof, and I felt terrible that 2 had died in my care.  So, no more platys for me :(  On a more positive note, that means more room for more pandas! ;)

Have a good Sunday, Colin.

Resa
  :)