Pineconing

[missigfunk]

I've just noticed that one of my female platys has some pretty bad pineconing going on!

I've never had a fish do this before and have never seen it. I know that she hadn't been seeming herself the past few days, but she definately wasn't pineconing last night when I checked on my fish.

By doing a quick search on it, I've realised that I have probably left it too late and she will die soon enough.

I just want to know what could have caused it as I've kept fish since I was 13 (I'm 22 now) and have NEVER seen pineconing before!

I could only give Ammonia and PH test results because they are the only ones I have. I will go do a test now and tell the results.

I feel so terrible for her

 

[Mr Bliss]

Poor thing. Dropsy is a horrible disease.

I wish I knew more about the disease (or platies!). I've heard that dropsy can be treated even at the pineconing stage with a tiny chance of success, but that's pretty much all I know so all I can offer is best wishes.

 

[SharonCC]

Dropsy is not really a disease, but rather a culmination of a problem, or Disease. Has the fish had any symptoms prior? Is the tank cycled?

 

[WILDER]

Once scales stick out bad news organ failure, fish rarely survive when this happens.
Epson salt baths to help draw the fluids out, and if you can issolate you could try a bacterial med.
Good luck.

 

[missigfunk]

Thanks for your help guys!

But I think the problem is bigger then I thought.

Another one of my platys has it too. I've done a brief google search on it and found out that it isn't really contagious, so now I'm wondering why 2 fish in the space of a few days have gotten it?

 

[WILDER]

All you can do is epson salt baths, and add a bacterial med to the tank.

 

[missigfunk]

I have some platy fry in the tank aswell though, will it affect them?

I also heard about medicated food or something like that? Will that help?

 

[WILDER]

Yes medicated food is the best option, but you are best issolating the sick fish for treatment to make sure they eat the food.

 

[missigfunk]

But is there a reason why 2 fish in the space of a few days have/are dying from this?

I know the net says it isn't contagious, but if it's a bacteria problem, how can I treat my entire 3ft community tank with fry in there?

 

[WILDER]

Its more the parasite meds with fry.
Scroll down to dropsy.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

 

[missigfunk]

Thanks Wilder!

But can I feed medicated food to my entire community just incase they have it but it's not that advanced yet?

I don't want to lose anymore fish.

 

[WILDER]

Its better to issolate sick fish but if you can't all you can do is try and get the medicated food to the fish that have dropsy.
Or add a bacterial med to the tank.

 

[missigfunk]

Ok, well I'm sure the sick fish will be dead by the morning, so I'll try the bacteria med for the entire tank.

I have another question though...


My 2ft fighter sorority tank is near a window and it's starting to get algae on it. I have a snail (not sure of the type) and was wondering if they eat algae?
Coz if they do, I wanted to put him in there, but because he is in the community tank, can he bring the bacteria with him into the sorority tank?

 

[WILDER]

Tanks near direct sunlight cause algae problems can you shut the curtain near the tank.
Don't know anything about snails so ask in tropical discussion.
http/www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/algae.htm

 

[missigfunk]

Thanks for all your help wilder!