Disappearing platy fish is a common phenomenon in an aquarium. Because platy is one of the fish which love to hide. Why platy fish disappeared from your tank is a common question for new aquarists.
There can be many reasons behind it such as hiding, jumping from the tank, being eaten by other fish, etc. Whichever the reason is, you need to know accurately to take further precautions.
You will find detailed reasons for the platy fish’s disappearance in this article.
How Can Platy Fish Disappear Suddenly?
Platy is a small fish that is around 2.5 inches in length. They tend to hide in places whenever they are stressed.
There are also some other causes for platy to disappear overnight. Here are some of them to get you the idea.
Hidden Fish
Platy fish tends to hide for several reasons. They are very creative in this case and find some places to hide, you never thought a fish can hide.
So, if a platy fish is missing, the first thing you need to do is search for the hidden fish. If they are hiding somewhere inside the tank, you will find them in no time.
Predation by Other Habitat
If you cannot find the platy anywhere inside the tank, predation can be another reason your fish may be missing. As they are very small, they can be a pray any time in an aquarium.
The predator can be cichlids, snails, tiger barbs, crabs, or wolffish. In fact, their own kind can also be their predator.
If another habitat has eaten the platy, it concludes the reason for not being able to find it.
Jumping Fish
Swimming around in the tank and jumping is some of the favorite sports for platy fish. They tend to jump off the tank and explore more.
If you cannot find your platy fish there are high chance, they have jumped off. Look around the fish tank for the fish. They jump pretty large scale for a small fish. So, you should search basically everywhere in the room.
If you are lucky enough, you will find it soon enough. Otherwise, they will not survive long.
Dead Fish
It does not matter how the fish died, but once they die other fish in the tank eat the dead fish. If you do not notice soon, you will not be able to trace anything.
This way, your fish can go missing without you knowing anything. To prevent this, you need to pay close attention to the tank, water as well as on fish. So that, you can take preventive measures when anything goes unnatural.
How to Find Platy Fish When Disappeared?
There are some common places where platy fish loves to hide. If you cannot find your platy fish, search for two areas first. The fish tank and surrounding the tank.
Fish Tank
Where you need to look first inside the fish tank:
- In and outside of the decorative items.
- In the plants.
- Behind and inside the filter.
- Under the rocks and gravel.
Before searching, turn on the aquarium light. So that, if they are asleep somewhere, they wake up and show themselves.
Sometimes they get stuck in a hiding place and cannot come out. Inside the filter and décor items are some of the places they can get stuck.
They can hide in some most unusual places, like under the sand. That is why you need to search the tank thoroughly.
But do not disturb the tank mates while doing so.
Around the Tank
If you cannot find the fish anywhere inside the tank, it is most likely that it has jumped from the tank or has been eaten by other fish.
In the former case, you need to search a few meters around the tank. Though they do not survive very long outside water, you need to find them soon enough after jumping.
The best thing you can do is cover the top of the aquarium to prevent this occurrence.
Why do Platy Fish Hide?
It is not necessarily always a problem when platy fish hide. It is in their nature. But if they do it constantly there may be something that needs to be taken care of.
Sickness
Platy tends to hide more and unusually when they are sick. Some symptoms you need to determine if they are sick or not:
- Lost appetite.
- Dull color.
- Gasping for breath.
- Having sores in the body.
- Scratching on hard surfaces.
If you notice any of these symptoms, do not wait for long. Take the fish to a marine vet to get diagnosed. Otherwise, chances are high, more complications will arrive.
Stress
If your platy fish is stressed for any reason, they hide. There are many causes your platy fish may get stressed. Some of them are:
- Whenever they are sick.
- If any new fish is added to the tank.
- When they feel threatened.
- Your aquarium is small in size.
Observe closely if any of these reasons making them stressed. If so, they will behave abnormally.
Changing Water Condition
Every fish requires a very specific water condition. If that is not fulfilled properly, they get stressed. It is also true for platy fish.
If anything changes suddenly in the water, such as temperature, oxygen, pH level, etc. it will cause stress to the fish. Ammonia poisoning is another reason they can get sick and hide. It causes when you do not clean and changes the water on a regular basis.
But in case of ammonia poisoning, the chances are all of your fish will go hide.
Pregnant Platy
Platy do not lay eggs, instead, they give birth. That is why they hide in a secret spot when they are pregnant.
So that, they can hide from the other male who stresses them as well as for the safety of the babies.
It is better to separate the pregnant platy into another tank where she can be alone and without any stress.
Sleeping Platy
Platy fish are shy in nature. So, whenever they sleep, they try to go to a place out of sight. That is their way to feel safe and comfortable.
You can turn on the light to wake them up in case they are hiding while sleeping.
Ways to destress Platy Fish
The best way to reduce fish stress is to ensure a balanced environment for them. This includes cleaning the tank on regular basis, changing the water timely, check time to time all the chemicals are balanced in the water.
Constant temperature is also important to fish. Sudden changes in water temperature can also make the fish stressed. So, routinely check the water temperature as well.
You have to choose the right tank mate for not only platy fish but also every fish you choose to put into the tank. If the tank mates are not suitable for accommodating together, they will not survive long in the aquarium.
Make sure the tank size is big enough for the fish. Small and narrow space in the tank make the aquatic creature sick.
Verdict
Platy fish are playful and enjoyable to watch. They can bring life to your fish tank. But when they go missing it is sad and not acceptable.
To prevent this, always observe the tank closely for any kind of sign mentioned in this article. Hopefully, it will secure the place of your platy fish in your aquarium.
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