I just bought my first 2 platies 2 weeks ago. I don't know much about them. One of them died yesterday, I don't know why. I cleaned out the tank completely. Now the other one seems depressed, he doesn't move much, just sits at the bottom. Is it possible he's mourning the death of his tank mate?

Did you cycle the tank before adding the fish? How long did you cycle the tank for?
Is it a planted tank? How many gallons? What do you feed your fish and how often? What sort of filter do you use?
Can't really tell you why your fish died until you provide more info.
Fish don't form attachments so it is unlikely it is mourning it's mate's demise.

I cycled the water for 48 hrs. it's a new tank, 1 gal came with an air pump. I feed them tropical flakes once, sumtimes twice daily. thx for your help.

Rookie, you need to keep your tank for about two weeks before you add any fish to it. Your food sounds fine. I feed my fishes fish flakes in the morning then give them Freeze Dried Worms in the evening. Also did you dechlorinate the water? before putting the fishes in?

We still need more information. Like the questions Gus asked you for.

Kind Regards

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I dechlorinated the water first. but it doesn't matter anymore, the other one died today. I guess it wasn't meant to be. I seem to do better with bettas. thx anyways.

platies are hardy fish.. i'm suprised both of your platies die so quickly.
try using filtered water if you already have a filter in your home. i did and skip the dechlorinator completely, no fish deaths or diseases..
1 gallon tank with air pump? might be of dechlorinator overdose? or over stressed fish in the first place?

i might have misread your post but a 1 gal tank is insufficient in my humble opinion to keep platies.. i have a 2 ft tank previously with 6 platies in it and they keep swimming from side to side.. they are really active swimmers and might need the extra space..

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I don't have a filter, this is the first time i've even used an air pump. we don't keep many fish in my house, usually just a betta, so the 1 gal works fine. That was probably the problem for the platies though. I would like to get an angel fish... do you have any suggestions before I get one? Don't worry, I won't put more than one fish in my tank again...

A 1 gallon is only suitable for a fighting fish. The smallest size that I would recommend for community fish would be a 2ft tank. Anything smaller would be hard to maintain water conditions and would cause the fish stress.

In my opinion, the ideal size for a fish tank is a 4ft. That is certainly the smallest size tank that I would recommend for keeping angelfish in. This is because angelfish have deep bodies and the deeper the tank, the better their finnage can develop. A 3ft tank has the same depth and width as a 4ft tank but angelfish are territorial fish (though considerably less territorial than most other cichlids) and a 3ft tank doesn't give them enough space to establish their own space and that will cause them stress. If you only have space for a 2ft tank then I suggest keeping fish like small tetras or guppies and platies. You have to tailor your fish variety to your tank size.

Your platies died because the tank didn't have a filter. A filter is essential for all fish - even for fighting fish - because the filter removes ammonia and nitrites from the water. An air pump only aerates the water - it does nothing in terms of filtration unless you attach the air pump to a filter. If you don't have a filter in the tank, fish waste and uneate fish food will accumulate in the water and make the water poisonous for the fish. It would be the same as if you lived in a bath tub of water - just sat in it day and night, peeing and pooing in the same bath tub of water then having your bath in that water and after you eat, drinking that same water!!! That is what an unfiltered tank is like for fish.

Filtered tap water is not recommended for fish keeping because the filter process moves minerals which are essential for good fish health. The only alternative to using a dechlorinator is to age the water - leave tap water in a bucket overnight for the chlorine to dissipate from the water.

Cycling a tank is NOT for the water but for the filter. You are supposed to run the filter in the tank of water for 2 weeks, sprinkling a pinch of fish food every 2 days, before adding the fish. The fish food will rot in the water and feed the bacteria in the water which will then breed in the filter. The purpose of cycling a tank is for bacteria to colonise the filter. That bacteria in the filter is what will break down the ammonia and nitrites in the water from fish waste. The alternative to waiting 2 weeks for the tank to cycle is to use a product from Nutrafin called "Cycle" which is a solution of filter bacteria which will speed up the filter colonisation process.

thanks gus-gus, that was really helpful. well I'm off to buy a filter!

Should we wash the filter since bacteria already colonise in it?