Tight fins

Hello Every one

I have a fairly new tropical tank, with a variety of Platy, a couple of Mollies, Guppies, Tetras, a pair of Betas. My question concerns my platies. They seem to keep their dorsal fins clamped to their bodies. They stay in quiet corners of the tank, and are not very active. They eat well. I feed a variety of foods, flakes, a fresh mix my son had made for me. The veggies tablet thingies.
I'm worried that these guys are missing something. I couldn't find anything in this forum regarding this.
So, here is my question to you'all . What a I doing wrong that my different varieties of platies are clamping their dorsal fins to their body?

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Claudia

We will need more info about the tank, size, stocking numbers on the fish and what your water tests read at.
When you say new, how new?
What kind of betta do you have? is it a male/ female pair?

Its most likely poor water conditions and stress

The tank is 20 gallons, has a male/female pair of betas, two male guppies, two loaches (black and dojo) three rasbora harlequin tetras, one black striped tetra, one emerald cory, two ghost shrimp, and six platties of different variety,(sword tail, sunset, wag, and mickey mouse)
The water levels are all in the normal levels as of 4 days ago ( ran out of test strips)
Every one else is doing well, active and eating...
Thanks

When did you set up the tank? A lot of fish stores with test tank water for you. I'd find one or purchase a new test kit(btw, liquid reagent kits are generally more accurate). Also, when you say "normal levels" what do you mean by that? For example, "normal" pH is going to be specific to the tank and inhabitants. Also, what is the ratio of male to female for the platies?

If they are betta splendens you need to separate them before they kill each other
you have way too many fish in that tank, you need to rethink what you want to keep. you have quite a few schooling fish in there that need to be in groups of 6 or more (guppys, loaches, tetras, cory) I wouldn't have more than 12 fish in that tank, you need to decide who needs to go or get a much larger tank in the 55g range so you can fill out the schooling fish.
You need to get a liquid test kit the strips are very inaccurate, I recommend the tetra laborette, good kit for a decent price.

Do a 25% water change daily, I bet its water quality and stress, I have a feeling that male betta is picking on them big time .

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you do have too many fish in there.......

how long has the tank been set up 4 days? do not put a male and female betta together!!! they will fight until female is dead if the female is not ready to breed. males can be with community but not with a female or a male betta together. females can be together tho just not male and female. i hav 13 female bettas in my 55 but my males hav their own tanks

Too many fish...I was afraid of that....
The Betta is not picking on any one. I had some black skirt and long fin tetras in there that were picking on every one, I took them back to the store...
I had the tank for about a month now...Maybe I do need to stick with my gold fish :) Never a bit of trouble from them ..
But I will try the different test kits and do a water change now :)
The platies are all males...

The two bettas are not going near each other...Every one is just hanging out having a good time, except for the platies

They are all right about the Bettas. You need to seperate then. Your platy sounds like it has clamp fin. If that is the case it will infect the rest of the fish. i would take out the effected ones and put them in a quarentine tank. Also if you treat them in the tank they are in right now with all the other fish do not use Melafix with the Bettas in there. Melafix is very toxic to Bettas.

stress can do that but its best not to risk the betta like even if they r fine with eachother, it does sound like clamp fins i would raise the temp of ur tank, and always qt fish that u get as well

A tropical community tank is pretty easy if you don't listen to the people at the store! Get the male betta a little 2g tank.
I would take back all the plattys and that dojo, he will reach 9" easy.
Give the tank a week or so to settle out then bring everyone's number up to 3, the guppy and shrimp are fine at 2. Just do one kind of fish a week so you don't overload the bacteria.

Oh and by the way

I do appreciate the advice from everyone. there is a lot to learn browsing this forum...

Again, thanks

not a prob, hope u like it here

seawolf,

Go to the introductions and greetings page and introduce yourself. Tell us a bit about yourself and your fishy friends.

Fern will keep you on the right track with your tank. Definitely get those schooling fish in schools, otherwise they will become lethargic. Thinning out the number of species can be difficult, but it will be crucial to keeping that tank in good condition. You can almost never go wrong with a partial water change when things start looking out of sorts. Water changes can do wonders!

Welcome aboard!!

Hey Claudia, Listen to people who are keeping fish not someone trying to sell a fish or equipment to pay the rent. There is great threads on starting tanks and upkeep of tanks. Remember the only dumb question is the one not asked. We've all been there and even after years I still ask questions. There is always something to learn in this hobby. Congrates and good luck with your tank. I agree with evryone as far as removing your bettas,