Repetitive Platty Deaths

[Fred37]

Hi Folks,

I wonder whether you might be able to help me with a problem that I'm really struggling with. Over the last 12-18 months I've lost about 10 Plattys (and 6 Honey Gouramis) from my tank and each time it's the same thing. I buy new Plattys from my LFS and they are great for about 8-12 weeks and then they die. It always starts off with them almost appearing to 'bend' in the middle (see pictures) but in fact what happens is they go flat along their bottom edge (nose to tail) instead of having the usual nice rounded belly. Then they start swimming in a nose-up attitude (generally about 30 degrees tail to nose) but show no other signs normally associated with swim bladder. This will go on for 3-4 days and then they start resting on the bottom and their tail fin will shrink to a point and this is quickly followed by death. I've tried treating for Swim Bladder and internal bateria infection but without any success. However, during all of this...none of my other fish are affected!!

My tank stats are as follows:
64 litre tank, located in my lounge (away from direct sunlight). Lit for 2 hours in the morning and 4 hours in the evening. I have an Eheim 2213 pump/filter. The tank has 3 living plants and so plenty of cover and I feed these every 7-10 days.
I feed the fish every other day with a pinch of Tetra Pro crisp and a small pinch of Interpet freeze dried daphnia.
I use only RO water and perform a 20-25l change every 10-14 days.

In my tank I have: 2 neon tetras; 2 scissor tail tetras; 3 Plattys; 4 Harlequins; 1 Flying Fox; 1 Otocinclus and about 18 small crystal red shrimp. I generally never have more than 16-17 fish in the tank even though the filter could cope with more.

I've tested the water using an API Master test kit with the following results:

Nitrite: 0 ppm
Nitrate: 10 ppm
Ammonia: 0.5 ppm
PH: 7.2
I find that ammonia test kit results are generally variable and so I also use a JBL NH4 kit for comaprison and that shows the following result: 0 ppm.

I'd really appreciate it if anyone can offer any advice as this has me baffled.

Thanks,
Fred.

and here's another piccy

 

[Curiosity101]

I'm not sure exactly what could be causing the problems you're seeing but...

Please don't use RO water, it contains absolutely no natural salt and minerals as are present in tap water. Fish need these to function properly. So in theory this could be your problem.

Also if they've all been purchased from the same place then there is a small chance that it's a problem with the shops supplier. I'd always question my own tank and rule out any possibilities there before deciding it was the LFS's fault though.

 

[karin]

I just did a simple google search and found a link between bent spine and fish TB. I don't think there is a cure and I do believe it could be a problem with the supplier.


See

http/www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml

Another search found the possibility of scoliosis. Interesting read as this points to problems with breeding and rearing conditions.

http/www.fishyportal.com/cgi-bin/pub/diag?c=v&id=70

 

[Fred37]

I'm not sure exactly what could be causing the problems you're seeing but...

Please don't use RO water, it contains absolutely no natural salt and minerals as are present in tap water. Fish need these to function properly. So in theory this could be your problem.

Also if they've all been purchased from the same place then there is a small chance that it's a problem with the shops supplier. I'd always question my own tank and rule out any possibilities there before deciding it was the LFS's fault though.

Hi Curiosity,
I should've made clear that when I use RO I also have the minerals/salts added to every other water change. I'd thought about the LFS issue and had already tried a different LFS (small independent) as opposed to my usual large national chain.....same problem though.
Regards,
Fred.

 

[Fred37]

I just did a simple google search and found a link between bent spine and fish TB. I don't think there is a cure and I do believe it could be a problem with the supplier.


See

http/www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml

Another search found the possibility of scoliosis. Interesting read as this points to problems with breeding and rearing conditions.

http/www.fishyportal.com/cgi-bin/pub/diag?c=v&id=70

Hi Karin,
thanks for the info...interesting reading...however, none of my fatalities have ever exhibited symptoms to the degree shown in the pictures and so I'm not sure whether that could be it or not. It's also hard to tell whether the spine does actually curve or whether it's an optical illusion caused by the fact that there bellys flatten out
Regards,
Fred.

 

[Curiosity101]

Hmmm, how old are the foods you're feeding? I'd maybe suggest trying something new such as tropical granules (really small pellets). And also, out of interest... why are you using RO water at all? It's more expensive, and despite you adding salts to balance it out, could still be missing something that is present in tap water that they need (long shot, but it's worth switching to tap if the option is there)

 

[Fred37]

Hmmm, how old are the foods you're feeding? I'd maybe suggest trying something new such as tropical granules (really small pellets). And also, out of interest... why are you using RO water at all? It's more expensive, and despite you adding salts to balance it out, could still be missing something that is present in tap water that they need (long shot, but it's worth switching to tap if the option is there)

The foods are about 6 months old. I use RO as my tap water has chemical levels such that I get readings even before it goes into the tank
I'll maybe try some different food to see if that helps.
Regards,
Fred.