Emaciated Platy

[daizeUK]

I have a problem with one of my female platies, Beatrice.

She's estimated about 14 months old (I got her March last year). She arrived pregnant but I never saw any babies and she never got pregnant again, despite being chased by males constantly. I wonder if she might have miscarried and became sterile. The non-stop male harassment must have been very stressful for her.

A month or two ago she developed an odd dark patch under her dorsal fin which I thought may have indicated an injury of some sort. I removed the males from the tank hoping that some peace and quiet would give her time to recover. Since then she has been steadily losing weight and spends most of her time gulping at the surface.

Any ideas what is wrong or what I can do for her?

 

[Lillefishy]

It could be just old age, livebearers average lifespan is about 2-3 years, she could've been 6 months old or more when you got her

 

[AshleyNZ]

One of my platties has been doing the same thing...

 

[fluttermoth]

It does sound very much like old age. It's very common, as Lillefishy says, for older livebearers to show exactly those sorts of symptoms (emaciation, darkening of colour, often a curved spine develops too).

I'm afraid there's nothing you can do, apart from making sure she's comfortable, which it sounds like you have done. Beware of other fish picking on her; other females, or even fish of other species, will often attack fish they perceive as sick

 

[ag-au]

You're a caring keeper! I'm sure she thanks you =]

 

[daizeUK]

Thanks for the advice everyone. She does act like a little old lady but I discounted old age because she must still be less than 1.5 years old.

I have seen one of the baby fish in the tank take a peck at her eye. Fortunately the baby wasn't old enough to do any real damage but it did make me wonder if I should move her into an isolation tank.

On the other hand I didn't want to cause her more stress by moving her. I thought she might be happier in her familiar surroundings which is a mature established tank with lots of plants. I could move her into a smaller tank (35L, 45cm) which I use to grow-out the platy babies. It was completely redecorated this week with fake plants and ornaments so it's a rather new and sterile environment although the filter should be mature.



Would she be happier having this smaller tank to herself or staying in her familiar home?

 

[daizeUK]

Beatrice passed away during the night.  Poor girl, she held on for a long while but she was obviously failing. She hadn't been eating at all.
She's the first of my original starting fish that I've lost, had her for 10 months since I set up the first tank. She used to come and nibble my arm whenever I was messing around in the tank, the only fish that seemed to have no fear of me, downright cheeky she was!

 

[Gruntle]

Sorry for your loss. Poor Beatrice.