Platy Gill Disease

[Spider Pig]

Have noticed one of my platys (sunset) hanging around at the surface a lot and has some sort of gill abnormality. This one has always hung around at the top and if not for the gills I wouldn't be overly concerned as feeding ok, otherwise normal.

2 days ago noticed that there appears to be a transparent "ruff" extending from the gills behind the operculum. This extends about 0.5mm from the operculum, and is completely transparent, not vascular, not white/ fluffy.

Other fish behaving normally including other platys/ fry.

I recently tried setting up a DIY CO2 system in the aquarium. This dropped the pH from 7.2 to 6.8, giving a CO2 of 24ppm (shut off at night, KH 5). stopped as soon as saw gill problems. ph now back to 7.2. Other parameters, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite-0

I also introduced a piece of pumice rock 5 days ago to the aquarium- bought from LFS, washed and soaked for 4-6 hrs before introducing into aquarium.

I read that gill hyperplasia and mucous hypersecretion together with respiratory problems can be a sign of acidosis however the change in pH is small and the book I read said that symptoms usually only appear at ph less than 5.

Tried to get photo but couldn't get detail of ruff as too small and transparent.

Any ideas?

 

[WILDER]

Need to look at your water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
Pale gills with excess mucas can be gill fukes.
Signs of gill flukes are also
Red inflamed gills.
Laboured breathing, gasping at the surface.
Flicking and rubbing against onjects in the tank.

 

[Spider Pig]

No signs of flashing, twitching. No clamped fins and feeding ok. Gills don't look obviously inflamed, certainly not constantly open. Still spends time at top, especially in evenings, possibly better, certainly no worse. Seems to have a similar breathing rate to other platys of similar size.
As I said, all parameters 0, ph back to 7.2. Thinking towards the transient acidosis so might watch and wait before starting anti-helminth treatment.

 

[Colin_T]

I would have thought gill flukes as well. Low oxygen levels will cause fish to gasp at the surface but if only one fish is doing it, then it's likely to be parasites or fungus in the gills. However, the fungus normally gets in after something has damaged the gills, usually parasites like flukes.