Lumpy Platy

[Spider Pig]

Request Help

Tank size:180L
pH:7.4
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:0
kH:
gH:
tank temp:25 C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):Have a male red coral platy and just noticed it has unilateral swelling on upper back, about 2/3 along the body. Scales starting to stick out but swelling not generalised or appear abdominal. Fish has been hanging around near top in same corner for the last week or so but other fish OK. Tank set up 5/12 now- other fish nice and healthy, no problems for last 3 months or so.

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 30L every 4 weeks for last 3 months- no increase in Nitrate, nitrite, ammonia

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: none

Tank inhabitantslanted, fine river gravel substrate
4 zebra danios
4 Sterbas corydoras
4 Siamese flying foxes
10 platys
2 Pearl Gouramis
2 dwarf gouramis
2 Clown loach
12 cardinal tetra
3 guppys
4 dwarf neon rainbow fish
4 Boseman's rainbow fish

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): Last new fish 2 weeks ago (Tetras)

Exposure to chemicals: api stress coat as water conditioner

Thought it might be early dropsy so started treatment for internal bacteria. possibility of protozoal infection but not sure whether to start treatment for that as well or wait and see.
Any advice welcome

 

[WILDER]

Take a look here.
[URL="http/www.fishjunkies.com/Diseases/dropsy.php"]http/www.fishjunkies.com/Diseases/dropsy.php[/URL]
Epson salt baths for swelling it helps draw the fluids out.
Can you see anything under the scales of the fish.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing against objects.

You have a nitrate reading of 0.
What your tap nitrate reading.

 

[Spider Pig]

Little change in fish today, not eating as well as others and still hanging around top of tank. Don't think O2 is a problem as got aerator going as well as planted- think they suck out most of the nitrate. Haven't checked tap water nitrate recently but last check it was negligible.

Dropsy working diagnosis but no indication of cause- no visible parasites, and also asymmetrical, which may point to localised worms or TB, tumour- however latter rare and less likely as lump only come up maximum over last week, no way of confirming worms. Question is when to consider starting treatment for protozoa/ helminths? unfortunately no hospital tank.

 

[WILDER]

The fish dosn't sound good.
Can you isolate the sick fish.
Has the swelling got any worse.
I would use a bacterial med for now.
The lump its it hard to the touch, or soft likie filled with fluid.

 

[Spider Pig]

Fish seems stable at moment, not appear to be deteriorating but swelling not changed. eats occasionally and lethargic. Haven't actually handled it yet so not sure consistency of mass- overall not look good- main worry is if infective whether affect other fish. Have to start thinking about whether to get separate tank...

 

[WILDER]

When a fish has a swelling best to issolate them.
Is she struggling to swim also.

 

[Spider Pig]

Swimming ok actually, not really listing much due to asymmetrical swelling. unfortunately haven't got anywhere else to house the fish. Hopefully the treatment will minimise risk of spread to others.

Looking at setting up small 18" tank for hospital/ breeding/ quarantine. Thinking of just getting bare glass aquarium. What's the best way of setting up a light for it. Looking at arc pod- would be nice to have one without lid.

 

[WILDER]

Not sure on lighting I would ask in d.i.y. section of the forum.
Before I got a light fitted to my hospital tank I just got a household light and plugged it in just a bit away from the tank so the light shined into the tank.
Bare bottom hospital tanks are the best.

 

[Spider Pig]

Well, crisis resolved itself- not in the best way but probably not the worst, fish didn't seem to suffer. Found him belly up this morning. Opened him up and couldn't find any sign of mass or worms- but only with magnifying glass- probably was dropsy. Finished of the antibiotic course- other fish seem fine. Still have to give some thought to a hospital tank- could see his fins were a bit frayed, think he was getting a bit harassed by the others.

Thanks for help any way.

 

[WILDER]

Sorry bless him.
R.I.P.