Platy In Disress!

[the_lock_man]

Thanks soybean. He did make it through the night and even took a little food but he's back on the bottom again now. Received the ammonia drop test today,it's the API ammonia+NH3/NH4 test kit, is this the right one? I only ask as I found one for £13 inc p&p. Did I get a bargain or have I got the wrong one?

Sorry to say, yeah you got the wrong one.

Try to get one that does nitrite, nitrate and ph as well - gets a bit pricey buying them individually and you need them all

You've just got ammonia, you can't test for the others. Given that, I would suggest for the moment, test the ammonia and see what that says, and when you get a chance, either get one for nitrite (NOT nitrAte), then save up for nitrate and pH, or save the ammonia one, and get a Master Test kit (around £20 on Ebay) that does all 4 plus others, and keep the ammonia for spare - you'll get through the ammonia liquids soon enough in your position.

 

[Vendetta]

Just done the test and again it's come back at 0, yay! But that still doesn't help my poor boy I think it must be damage from when I first put him in as he's the only one of the original fish I put in still living. Everyone else died of white spot but he was unaffected. I'm assuming the white spot outbreak was due to their immune systems being lowered by the ammonia levels, does this sound right?
He's up and swimming again but still not looking right..

Thanks lock man, the other master test kit is on order already.

 

[the_lock_man]

Just done the test and again it's come back at 0, yay! But that still doesn't help my poor boy I think it must be damage from when I first put him in as he's the only one of the original fish I put in still living. Everyone else died of white spot but he was unaffected. I'm assuming the white spot outbreak was due to their immune systems being lowered by the ammonia levels, does this sound right?
He's up and swimming again but still not looking right..

Thanks lock man, the other master test kit is on order already.

A distinct possibility, yes.

No problem, happy to help.

 

[guppi]

You really need the nitrite test as soon as possible, If you are processing ammonia it could be nitrites that are spiking and making you fish ill.

 

[Vendetta]

It's still only the one fish though, everybody else is fine. I have to wait 'till the master test arrives (Should have been here today!) to do the nitrite test. I did a test strip test and that came back as 0 but I'm aware these test strips are notoriously inaccurate. I really think that this is delayed ammonia damage because when I put him in I knew nothing about how to properly cycle a tank. By the time the other fish went in I think the tank was ready but of course the damage was already done to him I feel so bad for him, even if he is a little sh*t, he doesn't deserve this.

 

[soybean]

I too think you'll get 0 for nitrite but It's still useful to have the kits - everyone needs them now and then. I think you did a fish in cycle without knowing at the time.

Just keep doing your best to keep him happy

 

[Vendetta]

I think you're absolutely right soybean, and to think I didn't even want to do it that way because I wanted everything to be perfect for them BEFORE I put them in! Well I certainly won't be doing that again.
I think it's pretty disgusting that the fish shops don't tell you anything about correct cycling, the amount of poor fish that must suffer terribly through ignorance...doesn't bear thinking about!
I did another 50% water change today and I also added a dose of anti-white spot as I saw the other platy flicking last night, I also thought I could see a spot on the fin of my beautiful betta but that's disappeared today. Still, better to be safe than sorry. I hope I didn't do wrong there too!

 

[Vendetta]

Actually, looking back through the journals I keep on each tank I realised he's not the only remaining fish from the original lot, the 2 Corys went in a week after him and they're both fine.
He's still with us but very little, if any, improvement. He's eating well though..

It's a strange one for sure!

 

[Vendetta]

Latest update, psycho platy seems to be almost back to normal! Am keeping fingers crossed that he will recover completely now. He's still a bit wriggly when he swims up to the top and his mouth seems to be permanently open now but he's no longer sitting on the bottom or gulping at the top so I'm allowing myself some hope.
Could it be something going on with his mouth I wonder..