new platy owner

Question
my platy just had babies. i'm new to this kind of fish- now the 2 adult fish are swimming tail to tail with each other and kind of patting tails back and forth- is this a mating ritual or just two wierd fish.  :) ..thanks, jen

Answer
Hi Jen;

Sounds like they may be "getting romantic" again already. If you only have one female in there it would be a good idea to get an extra one or two if your tank is big enough for all of the adults as well as the babies. The female can become worn out and tired from all the attention of the male. They can even get sick and die from the stress of being constantly chased. Having at least two females per male helps them get a break.

Platies like very clean water and will do their best with one or more partial water changes every week. Replace 25% of the tank water and vacuum the gravel. Use water conditioner every time and make sure the new water is exactly the same temperature as the old to prevent shock.

Have Fun! Sounds like your fish are! ;-)

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins