Dropsy Or Pregnant?

[smallords]

hi, sorry to rehash topic. but i'm new at keeping fish. have 3 platys in small 22 litre tank, about 6 months now. been trying to read through forums and sites, but thought it best if i posted a photo. it doesn't swim around as much anymore. doesn't feed much either. scales aren't sticking out. can anyone tell if this fish is sick or pregnant? what do i do now?

thankyou.

 

[Annastasia]

She does appear to have dropsy, or perhaps she's bloated or constipated. It definitely doesn't appear to be a normal pregnancy to me.

What do you feed? And is she acting strange at all, besides not swimming around? Water stats?

You can try feeding a pea, which can't hurt. Maybe Wilder will come along with another opinion.

 

[Bec1984]

hi, sorry to rehash topic. but i'm new at keeping fish. have 3 platys in small 22 litre tank, about 6 months now. been trying to read through forums and sites, but thought it best if i posted a photo. it doesn't swim around as much anymore. doesn't feed much either. scales aren't sticking out. can anyone tell if this fish is sick or pregnant? what do i do now?

thankyou.

You said that the scales arent sticking out i have had fishwith dropsy and their scales didnt really stick out until a day or 2 b4 they died also is she or has she at all been swimming around upside down at the bottom of the tank? classic symptom of dropsy also.
How often do you do water cycles?
What are the ph nitrites and nitrate levels ect in your tank?

if in deed it is dropsy there is little you can do to save her... the kindest thing to do in a case of dropsy is to put the fish to sleep

 

[WILDER]

Yes sadly it looks bacterial to me as well, and if she stopped eating it would be hard to get some shelled peas and daphnia down her.
All really is left to do is issolate her and try a bacterial med on her if you think she has the strength, though you shouldn't really use meds when they are pregnant, good luck.

 

[smallords]

thanks for the replies. platy got more bloated the next day and just stayed at the bottom of the tank resting on its belly. nitrate and ammonia check kits cost a bundle so still unable to check levels. did a 20% water change (and discovered dead organism looking like fry- high hopes). added Promethyasul (petstore recommeneded). however too late. it died that night.

the other platy, is starting to act up-mouth gasping continuosly. hiding, being stationary (vertical even). it's been bullied by the healthy platy the past weeks.

so now i have 2 fish remaining. one healthy the other, stressed out. do u recommend adding new fish?

 

[WILDER]

Sorry for your loss R.I.P. Have you increased aeration with having the med in for bacterial, fungus, and parasites, also can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, with the fish gasping, don't add anymore fish till you no what's going on with the tank.

 

[smallords]

thanks for reply. test kits unavailable until next payday! however, fish shop guy recommended "prime" conditioner- removes/alleviates ammonia and nitrite toxicity so i've added that. did another 20% water change. pH 7.5

meanie platy doing fine. the other just hides in the plant. mouth gasping. doesn't eat.
will make it a point to get water sample to fish guy for a test before adding new friends.

its now summer in australia- temperature of tank is 86 degrees fahrenheit! so i don't keep the light on as long. would you recommend throwing in some ice cubes?

any advice much appreciated.

 

[littleme1969]

Throwing in Ice cubes.. No..Just change the water with cold water small amount everday and try to keep the temp down that way. Make sure you add water conditioner..such as stress coat to bind heavy metals and chlorine. Don't use the lights at all if you can help it. As for the fish guy recommends..lol they will sell you anything just to make a buck sadly.
Don't add any other fish like mentioned above until you are sure what is going on. And deff get that test. It could be an ammonia/ high nitrate problem adding the problem with the high temp.
Increase airation as mentioned, this should also help reduce the water temp a bit.
Hope it sorts itself out

 

[smallords]

okay. no ice cubes. lights will have to stay off. adding bits of cold water.

found local online shop- chemical test kits cost 50% less! will test water once the packet arrives, and post results. may need more (hugely appreciated) advice. PS also bought extra pump for increased aeration.

while i'm here, may i ask how to tell the gender of a platy?

 

[Annastasia]

while i'm here, may i ask how to tell the gender of a platy?

Look at the anal fin, which is the one on the stomach right next to where the tail meets the body. If it has a fan-shape, it's a female. If it's pointy, it's a male. For example:

Male

Female.

 

[smallords]

thanks for everyone's advice.

left with one bullying platy. wasn't sure about getting new fish, but chemicals ok (ammonia 0 / nitrite 0 / nitrate 30), increased aeration in tank.

got him two ladies for company, and he's taken to them immediately. they all seem to be getting along.

just to confirm, are my new orange fish platys? or mollies? can fish interbreed?

 

[Annastasia]

I'd say Platies, but they look young. They could possibly be Swordtails, but right now I'd say Platies.

In answer to your question, yes some Livebearers can interbreed. I wrote a topic on that here.

But basically;
Mollies/Guppies
Endlers/Guppies
Swordtails/Platies

Those are the only common ones that can cross.

 

[missPenguin]

I must admit this thread has got me a little worried about my own platty, I was actually going to post a new thread asking the same question, but I thought I'd bump this one.

It's slightly different thouhg, my platty [don't have a picture] is alomost certainly a female, I'm about 98% sure and her belly is pretty round. However, looking at the piccie, her belly does not hang down as far and she is fairly uniformly round. She does not have any scales sitcking out, she is swimming around perfectly happily, feeding fine and keeps hiding in my little cave.

I can't see any evident gravid spot but I'm not untirely sure what it looks like [I know it's black,but she's red with black fins] and also I read that platys are pregnant for about 30 days so does this appear later on? The only thing is I know she's an immature platy [she's about 1.5" ]. We've had her for 1 week as of today and she's currently with 2 other red wagtails [both female] and 1 mickey mouse blue [male]

The water stats are as follows Ammonia 0ppm, Nitrite 0ppm and Nitrate 5ppm. This seems a little strange also as I didn't do a fishless cycle [didn't know about them].

The noly other thing is we are currently treating the blue mickey mouse for fin rot with melafix! I'm off to get some aquarium salts tomorrow.

What does everyone think? Is she pregnant?