Platys and poo....

[El Roberto]

Yeah, sorry about the faecal discussion here, but I have 3 platys - 2 fairly
big and one baby one who's growing up quite nicely.... they all seem really
happy and happily gobble up the tropical fish flakes I give them (only one
per fish of course), but almost invariably they then spend a good ten
minutes each trying to rid their sphincter (ouch) of a big stringy grey
length of poo, like a tail, looking very uncomfortable in the process.

Is this healthy? They seem very happy 24/7, but I'd hate to think that my
decision to feed only flakes was causing them pain or discomfort when it
comes to poop time... should I be feeding them lettuce and peas more often,
or occasionally a live or frozen treat food (if so, what kind?).

All I know is that if it was ME in there, it'd be f'n sore. Constipation is
no laughing matter!

R

[Reel McKoi]

"El Roberto" > wrote in message
...
> Yeah, sorry about the faecal discussion here, but I have 3 platys - 2
> fairly big and one baby one who's growing up quite nicely.... they all
> seem really happy and happily gobble up the tropical fish flakes I give
> them (only one per fish of course), but almost invariably they then spend
> a good ten minutes each trying to rid their sphincter (ouch) of a big
> stringy grey length of poo, like a tail, looking very uncomfortable in the
> process.

Only one flake per fish? I feed my platys as much as they can eat at least
twice a day. I feed them a variety of flakes, small pellets and frozen
fishfoods from the pet shop. Your fishes feces don't sound normal...

> Is this healthy? They seem very happy 24/7, but I'd hate to think that my
> decision to feed only flakes was causing them pain or discomfort when it
> comes to poop time... should I be feeding them lettuce and peas more
> often, or occasionally a live or frozen treat food (if so, what kind?).

Feed them a large variety of foods for the best results. Mine don't eat
lettuce or peas. They like the frozen foods the best.

> All I know is that if it was ME in there, it'd be f'n sore. Constipation
> is no laughing matter!
>

--
RM....
Frugal ponding since 1995.
rec.ponder since late 1996.
My Pond & Aquarium Pages:
http://tinyurl.com/9do58
~~~~ }<((((*> ~~~ }<{{{{(ö> ~~~ }<(((((o>

[Reel McKoi]

Ah, but carol loves to play in ****
She is always strirring up a pot of the stuff.

YOur a loon and moron there ACrol Gulley aka Reel McKoi.you old
buffoon!
On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 11:32:19 -0600, "Reel McKoi"
> wrote:

>
>"El Roberto" > wrote in message
...
>> Yeah, sorry about the faecal discussion here, but I have 3 platys - 2
>> fairly big and one baby one who's growing up quite nicely.... they all
>> seem really happy and happily gobble up the tropical fish flakes I give
>> them (only one per fish of course), but almost invariably they then spend
>> a good ten minutes each trying to rid their sphincter (ouch) of a big
>> stringy grey length of poo, like a tail, looking very uncomfortable in the
>> process.
>
>Only one flake per fish? I feed my platys as much as they can eat at least
>twice a day. I feed them a variety of flakes, small pellets and frozen
>fishfoods from the pet shop. Your fishes feces don't sound normal...
>
>> Is this healthy? They seem very happy 24/7, but I'd hate to think that my
>> decision to feed only flakes was causing them pain or discomfort when it
>> comes to poop time... should I be feeding them lettuce and peas more
>> often, or occasionally a live or frozen treat food (if so, what kind?).
>
>Feed them a large variety of foods for the best results. Mine don't eat
>lettuce or peas. They like the frozen foods the best.
>
>> All I know is that if it was ME in there, it'd be f'n sore. Constipation
>> is no laughing matter!
>>

[Gill Passman]

El Roberto wrote:
> Yeah, sorry about the faecal discussion here, but I have 3 platys - 2 fairly
> big and one baby one who's growing up quite nicely.... they all seem really
> happy and happily gobble up the tropical fish flakes I give them (only one
> per fish of course), but almost invariably they then spend a good ten
> minutes each trying to rid their sphincter (ouch) of a big stringy grey
> length of poo, like a tail, looking very uncomfortable in the process.
>
> Is this healthy? They seem very happy 24/7, but I'd hate to think that my
> decision to feed only flakes was causing them pain or discomfort when it
> comes to poop time... should I be feeding them lettuce and peas more often,
> or occasionally a live or frozen treat food (if so, what kind?).
>
Long poo is normal for platys - only worry if it becomes white and then
just be concerned rather than panic......Generally a good mixed diet is
the way to go - my Platys have even been seen eating algae like
spaghetti......feed as large a variety as you can - flake, frozen -
brine shrimps are supposed to be good for constipation I've heard but
mine also take blood worms readily.....the odd pea here and there should
be fine......

Gill

[[email protected]]

Hi...something sounds odd for sure. I have several platies happily
mating and breeding. I feed them mostly flakes (3 (size of small
fingernail) per fish 3x per day), and intersperse with frozen brine
shrimp or bloodworms or shrimp pellets as a weekly treat. They seem to
love all forms of the food I give them and happily eat it as fast as I
put it in the tank.

Hope this helps.

>----- The Old Wolf -----<

On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 15:01:17 -0000, "El Roberto" >
wrote:

>Yeah, sorry about the faecal discussion here, but I have 3 platys - 2 fairly
>big and one baby one who's growing up quite nicely.... they all seem really
>happy and happily gobble up the tropical fish flakes I give them (only one
>per fish of course), but almost invariably they then spend a good ten
>minutes each trying to rid their sphincter (ouch) of a big stringy grey
>length of poo, like a tail, looking very uncomfortable in the process.
>
>Is this healthy? They seem very happy 24/7, but I'd hate to think that my
>decision to feed only flakes was causing them pain or discomfort when it
>comes to poop time... should I be feeding them lettuce and peas more often,
>or occasionally a live or frozen treat food (if so, what kind?).
>
>All I know is that if it was ME in there, it'd be f'n sore. Constipation is
>no laughing matter!
>
>R
>
>----- The Old Wolf -----<

[Tynk]

On Mar 1, 9:01?am, "El Roberto" > wrote:
> Yeah, sorry about the faecal discussion here, but I have 3 platys - 2 fairly
> big and one baby one who's growing up quite nicely.... they all seem really
> happy and happily gobble up the tropical fish flakes I give them (only one
> per fish of course), but almost invariably they then spend a good ten
> minutes each trying to rid their sphincter (ouch) of a big stringy grey
> length of poo, like a tail, looking very uncomfortable in the process.
>
> Is this healthy? They seem very happy 24/7, but I'd hate to think that my
> decision to feed only flakes was causing them pain or discomfort when it
> comes to poop time... should I be feeding them lettuce and peas more often,
> or occasionally a live or frozen treat food (if so, what kind?).
>
> All I know is that if it was ME in there, it'd be f'n sore. Constipation is
> no laughing matter!
>
> R

White or grey, stringy poops are usually symptom of internal
parasites.
I would suggest you research a bit and look for pictures to compare
with what you are seeing.
How long have you had these fish? Were there any new additions lately?

[[email protected]]

On Mar 1, 10:01 am, "El Roberto" > wrote:
> Yeah, sorry about the faecal discussion here, but I have 3 platys - 2 fairly
> big and one baby one who's growing up quite nicely.... they all seem really
> happy and happily gobble up the tropical fish flakes I give them (only one
> per fish of course)

Hi Roberto! I don't look in here very often, and in your last post you
were considering switching from goldfish to tropicals because you had
a smallish aquarium. Congratulations on your choice of platies, aren't
they great fish? Mine are solid orange-red; what colour(s) are your
platies?

Re feeding platies and their poo, yes they tend to have a big string
of feces attached from time to time. I feed mine much more than 1
small flake per fish at a time but it does depend on the size of
flakes. Sometimes I get the big flakes meant for larger fish, and my
rainbowfish and clown loaches attack the flakes, making smaller bits
for the smaller fish. Because you may have a smaller aquarium it's
good you're being conservative on feeding - but don't starve the fish
either. I feed only flake food, but my platies eat algae and surface
slime too - they're little pigs and help keep the aquarium tidy.
d.