Fish's Scratching Still Need Help Please !

[pippoodle]

My guppys and platys have all started scratching but they have no visible sores or anything
can anyone tell me what this could be and how it could be treated

thanks

Sarah xxx

 

[SharonCC]

Do they look like they have grains of salt stuck to their bodies...it sounds like ich. Another thought...if the tank is not cycled, the Ammonia could be high enough to be irritating the skin. If that is the case, water change immediately.

 

[pippoodle]

it's not white spot and the tests are all ok
it seems like its my heavily pregnant girls that are doing it
is it something they do before giving birth

ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 15
ph7.2

 

[pippoodle]

this morning more of the fish are scratching and flicking themselves against things but there is still no visible marks/sores or white spot on them
can anyone please help
also all tests are still fine
ammonia 0
nitrite 0
nitrate 20
ph7.5

hubby doing 30% water change tonight

 

[Spishkey]

i have this problem with my platys/mollys tetras, they all seem to do it but are all in good health. im baffeled.

the only thing vould think of is maybe a mating performance or just showing off but i doubt it!

 

[pippoodle]

i have this problem with my platys/mollys tetras, they all seem to do it but are all in good health. im baffeled.

the only thing vould think of is maybe a mating performance or just showing off but i doubt it!

i dont know just seems a bit odd but hopefully we'll get a good response to either sort it or let us know its normal

 

[WILDER]

Check the gills to see if they look red and inflamed or pale with excess mucas.
Any excess mucas on the body of the fish.
Added anything to the tank lately.

 

[pippoodle]

Check the gills to see if they look red and inflamed or pale with excess mucas.
Any excess mucas on the body of the fish.
Added anything to the tank lately.

gills and everything look fine the only things added has been some plants they were quarenteened for a week and 5 platys from LFS

 

[WILDER]

Look for sores and pierce marks on the fish as that can be a sign of parasites.

 

[pippoodle]

Look for sores and pierce marks on the fish as that can be a sign of parasites.

this is the only fish that looks a bit odd , it's one of the ones i got on saturday
her gills are red and sticking out a bit (sort of swollen) but she's swimming fine and she isn't flicking or scratching (that i've seen)
she's not panting or anything odd
could this be a parasite or some other infection (sorry not good pic)

 

[WILDER]

Red inflamed gills can be bad water quality, gill flukes, to bacterial gill rot.
Did the fish only start flicking once you added her to the tank.

Signs of gill amd skin flukes are.
Red inflamed gills, or pale gills with excess mucas.
Opaque body with excess slime.
Flicking and rubbing against objects in the tank.
Laboured breathing, or gasping at the suface of the tank.
Sores on the body of the fish.
Swimming in a jerky movement.
Erratic swimming.
Weightloss sometimes.
Spitting food out.

 

[pippoodle]

they have started sort of jumpy/jerky swimming today aswell as the scratching/rubbing - sitting and having a good look at them some of the guppys are spending a lot more time taking air at the top of the tank instead of swimming around happily
They jerky swimming is like they stop and jump start like you have paused them then start thewm again strange to explain
the fish only started acting this way after the platys were introduced - i introduced them on Saturday and they started this behaviour Tuesday

thanks for all this help by the way

 

[WILDER]

I would treat for gill flukes there showing some of the signs.
There wormer plus or waterlife med.
http/www.geocities.com/steevward/dactyls.html

 

[pippoodle]

thanks for that - should i treat the fry tank aswell cos it was one of the platys that i got on Saturday that gave birth monday

 

[WILDER]

[URL="http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail62_45492.php"]http/www.aquarist-classifieds.co.uk/php/detail62_45492.php[/URL]

You can only use half dose with fry sometimes less.
Young fry and more prone to infestation of flukes than adults.
All fish have a few flukes it when the fish is stressed they start to do the damage.