Emaciated Fish

[Lorraine313]

Hi there,

I keep, Platys, guppies and albino catfish

I used to feed them every other day, but they are now dying, due to extreme weight loss. There are no other signs of illness.

I am now putting a little food in 2 times a day not excessive as dont want any wastage.

The ones that are extremely thin are barely eating and are getting shoved away by the ones that appear well. My PH was was high, amonia etc tested normal, and could not understand what was making them ill so have done a 70% water change. I have yet to recheck as only did it the other day. Will check water again tonight. Can anyone advise on the cause of drastic weight loss in fish?

Hope to hear soon, Lorraine

 

[Spishkey]

have they just suddenly lost the weight over a few days or has this been a gradual loss over weeks.

do their stomachs look sunken in? it could be internal parasites/worms?

if you could fill in this 'form' it would be a great help

Tank size:
pH:
ammonia:
nitrite:
nitrate:
kH:
gH:
tank temp:

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Tank inhabitants:

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

Exposure to chemicals:

Digital photo (include if possible):

 

[Lorraine313]

Over the last two weeks, two guppys lost weight and died, now I have a worryingly thin platy. Will check water in lunch break and post the relevant information you requested.

 

[Lorraine313]

have they just suddenly lost the weight over a few days or has this been a gradual loss over weeks.

do their stomachs look sunken in? it could be internal parasites/worms?

if you could fill in this 'form' it would be a great help

Tank size: approx 60 ltrs
pH: 8.6 so have just added PH Down
ammonia: 0.0
nitrite No 2 0.25
nitrate: No 3 0.0
kH: Not sure what this is
gH: Not sure what this is
tank temp: 22c or 74F

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): extreme thinness, mainly around the tail area on Platy. which is now starting to look mishapened, guppys there stomach becomes practially none existant, colour become duller, quick moving, hardly eating

Volume and Frequency of water changes: once a month

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: PH Down, de-chlorinator, stress zyme, & Stress Coat

Tank inhabitants: 3 platys, 1 cat fish, 1 loach 5 guppys

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): 2 guppies and one guppy had 10 babies last night

Exposure to chemicals: None known

Digital photo (include if possible):

Hope this helps

 

[Spishkey]

ok, for starters, you have nitrite showing which is never a good thing, ammonia and nitrite should always be 0.

yet you have no nitrate? could you have mixed up your nitrite/nitrate reading by any chance? if not i suggest a partial water change firstly. get that nitrite down to 0. once a month water chances are a little on the slack side i would say.

i would be guessing its an internal worm or parasite problem, perhaps brought in by your new guppys?. it sounds exactly like what ive just been through. lost 5 guppys and 3 platys over the space of two weeks. they seemed to go thin almost overnight and died 24hours later.

the only thing that cleared it up was jbl spirohexol. but i am in belgium, not sure what is available where you are. hopefully wilder may come alog and help with a diagnosis shortly, shes good with this kind of thing

 

[Lorraine313]

Many thanks for your advice, will try and look into what treatment is available/equivalent in England. Lorraine