Platys and poo....

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

"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

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!

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

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 -----

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?

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.