Bladder Infection (Probably?) And A Scaleless Fish

[Manniac]

One of my platies has been hiding either behind the filter or behind the heater for the better part of a week. I thought she was just feeling shy for no good reason, but after watching her really closely it looks like she's having some buoyancy problems, like she's been hanging out at the top of the tank and it seems like she's having problems going down, and her balance seems slightly off too. I've also caught the barb and the molly bullying her a few times, but they've all been in the same tank together since December and have never had a problem with each other. I'm starting to get worried here...
 
From the research I've done, it sounds she has a swim bladder infection or something like that. I was going to treat with Tetra LifeGuard, but it says I can't use it on scaleless fish, and my understanding is that my oto is a scaleless fish. Some sites have mentioned using half doses of meds for scaleless fish, but nothing about this kind in particular.
 
Bottom line: Does this sound like a swim bladder infection? If not, what? And can I treat with a modified dosage of LifeGuard? If not, what should I do?
 
Tank size: 10 gal
pH: 7
ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 20ppm
kH: 60ppm
gH: 75ppm
tank temp: 76 degrees F
 
PS: Unfortunately I only have test strips, so those numbers are probably not the most accurate, but it's all I have right now...

Tank inhabitants: Including the sick platy, 2 female platies, 1 male platy, 1 male balloon molly, 1 male rosy barb, and 1 otocinclus, plus 2 platy fry (planning on finding other homes for them once they're big enough-tank is already kind of cramped!)
 
Thanks!

 

[itsgoodsince1889]

Hmm. I wouldn't go as far as to say your platy has an infection. If there are no other symptoms, it sounds like more like swim bladder disorder, which is much less severe and medication isn't really necessary All you have to do is feed her some frozen peas (defrosted of course!) to help her start feeling better sooner. Id keep an eye on her though, i might be wrong.
Hope that helped!

 

[Manniac]

Thanks! I feel better at least I had a kind of catastrophic run in with a fungus in November so I tend to freak a bit as soon as I notice anything strange with my fish... I will try the peas just as soon as I can get my hands on some and we'll go from there

 

[Manniac]

Do you know if cooked snap peas (not in the casing obviously) will work like regular peas? I haven't had a chance to get to the grocery store but I nicked some snap peas from my dining hall...

 

[itsgoodsince1889]

Hmm... Yeah, i wouldn't use them. not that it matters what kind they are, you just can't be sure what got on them and what's harmful to fish but don't worry, bladder disorder isn't deadly

 

[Manniac]

Less worried now about infection and more worried about the other fish bullying her... They've lived together since December and been fine, but I keep noticing the barb and the molly picking on my platy and kind of nipping at her belly and she kind of tilts on her side a little and seems like she has a bit of trouble swimming away... Do you think it's worth setting up a hospital tank for her to see if that helps?

 

[Manniac]

She was sitting on the bottom this morning when I woke up... She's done this before, but I'm kind of freaking out a little again... Would a hospital tank and/or meds be a good idea?