Author Topic: Sick Platy (tropical fish) (Read 1930 times)

Abbiesaurus · « **on:** June 06, 2011, 06:47:51 PM »

I posted this on facebook, but will post it again here to get some more ideas. I haven't moved the fish from the main tank yet as I don't have an extra heater for my quarantine tank. I can move them on Thursday when I go out to buy a heater.

1. Test results for the following:
Ammonia Level? 0
Nitrite Level? 0
Nitrate Level (Before and After WC's)? Less than 2 (looks like 1)
Ph (in tank and out of tap)? 7.4
GH and KH?

2. Tank Size? How long has it been running? How many gallons? Approximately 35 gallons, and has been running since the start of the year.

3. Name and size of your filters? It is a trickle filter which is built into the hood of the tank.

4. How many fish in the tank? Their size? 2 platies, 10 white clouds and 2 peppermint bristlnoses.

5. How often and how much water do you change? Weekly usually around 40%. Though have been doing more frequent water changes since the illness.

6. Water additives or conditioners used?

7. What do you feed your fish? Hikari micro pellets, algae wafers, peas, some other tropical pellets, cucumber, zucchini

8. Any medications added to the tank? So far I am treating with salt and pimafix. Though I only treated pimafix for a few days as the bottle ran out. Still treating with salt.

9. Any new fish added to the tank? When? No

10. Any new plants added to the tank? No

11. Any unusual behavior from the fish?
Fungus or white cottony patches on the fish? Yes - though it is not a cottony growth, more of a white slimy growth. Fish are still eating and swimming around, though one of them seems more lethargic than usual.

12. Well, city or RO water used for WC's? Tank water

13. Tank/Pond Temperature? 24 degrees C

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #1 on:** June 06, 2011, 06:52:06 PM »

Here's a photo. Though the camera makes it look less noticeable than what it is.

Kaida · « **Reply #2 on:** June 06, 2011, 08:32:57 PM »

Sorry honey but that photo doesn't really help at all. I know it's hard to get something clear.

Pimafix needs at least 5-7 days to show results. It's important to continue treatment once you start b/c other wise an intermission can allow fungi and micro organisms to build tolerance to meds and become harder to treat.

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #3 on:** June 06, 2011, 08:59:39 PM »

Quote from: Kaida on June 06, 2011, 08:32:57 PM

Sorry honey but that photo doesn't really help at all. I know it's hard to get something clear.

Pimafix needs at least 5-7 days to show results. It's important to continue treatment once you start b/c other wise an intermission can allow fungi and micro organisms to build tolerance to meds and become harder to treat.

Yeah it is really hard to get a clear photo

Mum is picking up some more pimafix today so it has only been one day without treatment. Hopefully it will work.
In the meantime I will try and get some better photos. Maybe a video is a better idea.

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #4 on:** June 06, 2011, 10:19:52 PM »

So I just added todays dose of pimafix

Would it be a good idea to move the platies to the quarantine tank when I get a heater on Thursday? That way I only have to treat 10 gallons rather than 35. Or is it best to keep treating the whole tank?

Hanna · « **Reply #5 on:** June 07, 2011, 12:08:19 AM »

Now that is has been more than a week with your platy in there I'd keep treating the whole tank.
Also feed with Vit C rich food, also a bath in a commercial remedy may help.

This fungus your platy got may follow an injury. Is it whiteish, furry looking?
If yes it could be Saprolegnia.

All the best.

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #6 on:** June 07, 2011, 12:42:26 AM »

Quote from: Hanna on June 07, 2011, 12:08:19 AM

Now that is has been more than a week with your platy in there I'd keep treating the whole tank.
Also feed with Vit C rich food, also a bath in a commercial remedy may help.

This fungus your platy got may follow an injury. Is it whiteish, furry looking?
If yes it could be Saprolegnia.

All the best.

I thought it could have been an injury, but you see both of them had it which makes me think it was something contagious. I don't understand what could have caused it though. Nothing has been added to the tank, and the parameters are always very stable. Maybe it was something that has been lying dormant in the tank for a while?

It it not furry at all, it is like thick white and slimy looking.
The platy that has it now has always been very small and skinny looking ever since that lady gave him to me. So I think maybe he is a weaker fish.
He is still eating, but not as active as usual. I hope he pulls through.

marlin08 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 07, 2011, 05:42:13 AM »

Good luck, Abbie.
Kaida knows so much about all this, if anyone can help you pull them through it is her

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #8 on:** June 07, 2011, 06:37:28 AM »

Thanks everyone.

Though it would appear things may have taken a bad turn!
The yellow platy is swimming around crazy, hitting into the side of the tank, and sometimes even its tail looks curved (kind of like its spine is broken) though then it straightens back out again. He seems really out of it...
It then goes up to the surface and just rests there...I have never seen a fish do anything like this before...I have no idea what to do.
I have been monitoring it all day and it has only started doing this in the past few hours.

On a plus the fungus growth hasn't got any worse, and may look like it is clearing. Though I don't think that is my main concern anymore.
The other platy seems fine. Though I am keeping a close eye on all the fish.
Btw all the bubbly crap at the surface of the tank is from the pimafix and the air pump.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should do?

Thanks in advance!

Heres a video.


http://s1179.photobucket.com/albums/x382/Abbiesaurus/?action=view&current=platysick.mp4

April · « **Reply #9 on:** June 07, 2011, 08:11:29 AM »

It almost sounds like your platy is having a seizure by the description of it's tail being contorted from time to time. I don't really know Abbie but I am glad to hear the fungus is tapering off. Perhaps it is an internal problem and that could be causing some discomfort and this causes him to zip around. Wish I knew what it was so I could help your little sweetie. Hope some other members have more ideas and advice for you. The pimafix does this bubbly crap at the surface in my tank too. You've got a gorgeous tank there too!

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #10 on:** June 07, 2011, 03:21:10 PM »

Thanks April.
I think it is some sort of internal problem too, maybe some sort of bacteria? I am not sure. Hopefully someone can suggest some sort of treatment that I can actually get my hands on here in Australia.
I just fed him a small amount of peas, he is still eating which is one good thing I guess. I have tried looking online for people with a similar problem, though there is a lot of mixed answers. So I'm just going to keep treating with pimafix and salt until someone suggests otherwise.

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #11 on:** June 07, 2011, 05:06:51 PM »

He isn't swimming as erratically as he was in the video last night. Though when he swims he like kind of wobbles from side to side and seems a bit disorientated.

April · « **Reply #12 on:** June 08, 2011, 11:03:32 AM »

poor little darling

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #13 on:** June 10, 2011, 03:37:08 AM »

I was really happy to come home this afternoon and see that the little guy is on the mend

No clamped fins, no erratic swimming and the fungus growth is nearly gone.

I have no idea what caused this...but for the next few weeks I am going to be closely monitoring the water parameters to make sure there are no sudden changes.
I will continue the salt and pimafix treatment for about another week to be on the safe side of things.

Here is a video from earlier today!

< Man I love those guys on the rollercoaster haha!
Excuse my parents radio in the background.

April · « **Reply #14 on:** June 10, 2011, 09:00:05 AM »

Hooray!!!! This is such good news Abbie. What a cute little guy touring all around his lovely tank and chillin' with his good buds. Glad he is :clap: feeling much better.

Hanna · « **Reply #15 on:** June 10, 2011, 12:09:09 PM »

This is very good news, I am so happy...

, sweet little fella

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #16 on:** June 15, 2011, 04:56:24 PM »

Soooo the 2 male platys in the tank are now starting to become 'pineconed' where the scales stick out. Other than that they look fine...no other symptoms or anything. They are both swimming around and eating though one of them seems a little more lethargic than usual.
I am really starting to think that they have some bacterial, or parasitic infection as the water parameters were good yesterday (I will test again today and post results)
Since no other fish in the tank are affected I am thinking that it may be a good idea to move them to the quarantine tank to treat them. Or is it best to treat the whole tank? And what should I treat them with? I have some parasite tablets I can put in the water but I don't have any bacterial medication on hand.

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #17 on:** June 15, 2011, 05:00:50 PM »

I'm reading on the net that once a fish starts to become pine coned, your chances of saving them are very slim.....

April · « **Reply #18 on:** June 15, 2011, 07:47:35 PM »

Sorry your little sweeties are not well I have no idea how you should proceed but I'm sure someone will chime in with advice regarding them being pine-coned, poor little ones.

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #19 on:** June 15, 2011, 08:51:01 PM »

Thanks April.
It is really confusing me as to what is wrong

No other fish in the tank are sick or anything. And the platies are acting normal and have no other signs of illness...sigh

Hanna · « **Reply #20 on:** June 16, 2011, 12:05:24 AM »

Abbie I am so sorry to read this, I haven't got experience with pineconing....

But I may remember that treating with some epsom salt might help, plus antibacterial medication.
But as April said, I hope sbdy with more experience will read this soon, hopefully.

I keep fingers crossed for your darling scaly friends

Abbiesaurus · « **Reply #21 on:** June 16, 2011, 12:38:38 AM »

As far as I am aware pineconing can be caused by multiple things, so it can often be hard to know what treatment to use.
In the meantime I am doing frequent water changes, and I will get some epsom salt tomorrow.
One of the platys is noticeably pineconed, but the other one isn't so bad.

I have my fingers crossed too.

Author Topic: Sick Platy (tropical fish) (Read 1930 times)

Share me

Tags

AquaPuppies.com

Features

Support

Social Networking