Micky Mouse Platys

Question
QUESTION: We have a 10 gallon fresh water tank in our office which we've had for about a year.  We have 4 neon tetras, 6 Mickey Mouse platys (2 male, 3 adt female, and 1 baby female), 2 spotted platys, and a bottom feeder.

We lose about about 1 fish every 2-3 weeks - just neons and MM platys though.  I know the neon tetras are sensitive, and the need for 2-3 females to each male for the platys.  

The female MM platys continually seem pregnant, but we have only ever found 1 baby, and kept her in an incubator until she was large enough to survive.

Our tank has a heater and filter which we change regularly, and we clean the water as needed.  Is there anything else we should be doing to keep the fish healthy and alive?  

Thanks for any help you can provide.

ANSWER: Kathy,
This first problem I see is the tank is grossly over populated. In a ten gallon tank you can have 2 to 3 fish tops. Do you put the new fish in the hospital tank for 2 weeks before putting them in the main tank? This helps if the new fish is sick and does not transfer its illness to the to the other fish. If it is still going good for 2 weeks then it is safe to put him in the main tank. Since you have males and females, the females will continually become pregnant. You don't see the babies because the other fish are eating them. You should be doing weekly water changes of 25%. Since you have so many fish in the tank this is very important and will probably need to be done maybe every 5 days. Just make sure the water going in the tank is the same temp as the water already in it and that you are using a good water conditioner. Make sure you are feeding a good quality food.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Jaymie-
Well we lost one of the male MM platys overnight. And the baby is sort of hanging at the bottom not being very lively.  We were always told the population for a tank is an inch of fish per gallon - that must not be correct then. Our MM platys are about 1 1/4 in, the baby .5 in, the neon tetras between .5 in and .75 in, and spotted platys 1.5 in... so the total is 9.75 plus the bottom feeder.

Are you recommending the hospital tank be the same size and pump/heater as the main tank?  Or can we hold them in a smaller tank.  The folks at the pet store told us to float the fish in the bag in our tank for 20 mins to a half hour.  Then when adding the fish to the tank, don't add the water they are currently in.  So what you are telling us is very new info.
Thanks again!

Answer
Kathy,
The rule of 1" of fish per gallons has a few flaws. When they talk about that rule, it is adult fish measurements not juveniles. This rule has been debated and most experts say that the rule just does not work anymore. The hospital tank is just like the main tank. It run at all times with a heater and a filter. When a fish gets sick, you put it in the hospital tank to treat it and not hurt the rest of the population. Make sure the hospital tank has been cycled just like the main tank. The hospital tank can be no less than 5 gallons. Most of the time there will only be one fish in there at a time. The info you got from the store is kinda old school stuff now. If you add a fish to the main tank right when you bring it home you run the risk of contaminating the tank if that fish is ill. Floating the bag is a good idea as well as not adding the water the fish came in into the tank. You will still do this, but you will be doing it to the hospital tank and then again when you move the fish to the main tank.