Is My Platy Sick Or Lonely?

[Loobie]

Recently I have had two platies die with a week or two of each other. My first one seemed to become thinner but still feeding and doing what she normally did, I treated the tank with an internal bacteria med and a few days later another one dies, he didn't become thinner and seemed quite a happy boy but he died too.

I have one female platy left in a tank with 9 harlequins and 3 neons. She's keeping herself to herself hiding in one of my caves and only comes out to feed, is she on her way out too or is she lonely (I'm trying to get some friends for her shortly!) I'm not sure if shes preg as she seems to be putting on a little weight but I can't find a gravid spot?? Should I re-treat the tank again or leave it for the time being??

The tank has normal stats.

Many thanks, I'd appreciate any advice?!

 

[WILDER]

Loobie don't add any new fish to you know why the fish was thin.
Size of tank in gallons or litres.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate, and ph.
Did the fish stop eating then went thin.
Being thin can be internal parasites, fish tb to flukes.
Check the anus of the fish to see if its enlarged or red and inflamed.
What does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.
Any flicking and rubbing.

 

[Loobie]

Sorry Wilder

Stupidly I assumed that people should know what my tank is as I feel I'm on here so often, anyway it's a 54 litre tank, with 9 harlequins and 3 neons and my female platy.

Water Stats

Ammonia 0 Nitrite 0 Nitrate 15/20 PH 8.2 (always has been)

There was no flicking or rubbing and their anus looked fine no probs, my male platy who died after my thin female did have like silk coming form his bum but I thought this was constipation and gave some peas and all returned to normal.

Both fish seemed normal ate fine looked fine.

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like internal parasites.
Here a med.
http/www.flubenol.co.uk/

 

[penguin22]

Im not as experienced as wilder but if there is no ilness I would suggest your platy is lonely. My platy has lost two friends and he hides away quite a bit now. He never used to hide away, but also when I used to have my female platys they would always hide away when pregnant so dont count that out either. I think your doing the right thing by planning to get her some friends. Good luck.

 

[WILDER]

Been through lobbie threads in the past and she has lost a lot of fish.
Livebeearers are very prone to internal parasites.

 

[Loobie]

Your right Wilder I have lost a lot of fish, which is the sad part. None of them have shown any signs of illness until it's too late.

If they had ich or something I could see I would be ok but these internal things I find really hard to diagnose until it's too late.

Is there a way of knowing or is it just something you know??

Should I treat the tank with an internal parasite med?? I just don't want to loose her because she's lonely?? Will she survive alone??

My other fish seem fine, but so have the ones before!!!!!

 

[vinylman]

Once you have this problem sorted out, I'd add another three Neons; like most Tetras, they do best in a shoal of at least 5-6.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Are the fishes poop white/stringy looking at all? I would say that livebearers are more prone to internal bacteria rather than internal parasites, its best not to treat the fish with anything until all other posibilities have been ruled out.

 

[Loobie]

I've never seen my harlequins poo or even my neons for that matter!!

My platy that is left is pooing quite nicely I saw her last night when I fed her and she seemed ok and was pooing at the time, so I can definately say she fine in that department.

The male that died his poo was like silk, so I thought that by treating the tank with the internal bacteria med it would have helped him and I gave peas as I thought it was constipation, but no good as I lost him.

So should I leave the tank alone for a while and see how it goes??

 

[WILDER]

If a fish has gone thin, and white thin poo, it points to internal parasites and tb.
But livebeareres more the internal parasites.

 

[Loobie]

Should I treat with a med then or leave the tank alone, she seems fine apart from hiding in her cave but I'm not sure if that's because she alone.

Her poo is fine, but should I be on the safe side and treat anyway or leave alone??

 

[WILDER]

The wormer won't harm them, I've just wormed by guppys.

 

[Loobie]

Back to the good ole LFS for more meds, I'm guna have to have a medicine cupboard specifically for them!!

Thanks again wilder.....

 

[WILDER]

Won't be able to get flubenol from the lfs you have to buy it online.