Rescued Platy

[Meggie :)]

Hey everyone!

So this is kind of a long story, so I'll try to shorten it up...

Basically one of my old science teachers had a fish tank (about 20 gallons, give or take)...no matter what I said, he was convinced that the fish were "happy" and that the water was perfect...after all, it is crystal clear, so it must be healthy even though he had never cleaned it in the three and a half years he had it. Lots of his fish were constantly dying...(hmm wonder why?)...He would never listen to me, even though I said it nicely and offered to do all the work. (Just for the record, he was also keeping a common plec in this 20 gallon high and was convinced that it was "happy")...

Anyway, he left the school, and my other science teacher is giving me control of the tank, to do whatever I want with it. So I brought the fish to a local mom and pop (a good, reliable one. One that cares about the fish and knows how to take care of them)...This included the pleco, a goldfish, and three tetras (not sure what kind)...but there was a platy in there that looked like it wasn't going to make it, so I wanted to take him home to my ten gallon.

He looks to be very skinny, lethargic (he just sits at the bottom all day, but sits upright), and is very clamped. He has no noticable parasites or bacterial anything. I have been keeping an eye out for white stringy poop, but he isn't pooping at all, probably goes along with the fact that he is skinny (probably didn't get enough food).

I really don't know what to do and need some help.

A little more background: this science teacher had done an "experiment" for the students where he put fish in tiny plastic cups filled halfway with cold water and a few pieces of gravel...these cups were maybe half the size of a solo cup. Basically the goal of the experiment was to show that the "bacteria in the gravel was enough to take care of the ammonia produced by the fish waste for two weeks"... Anyway, I think that this platy had been one of those fish, although I'm not sure, which means that he might have been subject to lots of ammonia, which could have helped contribute to his state of health...

The science teacher's tank that this fish was in had a nitrate level that was off the chart, everything else was fine. But the nitrate was ridiculous.

I brought the platy home yesterday..He is now in my ten gallon planted tank with 3 amano shrimp, 3 pygmy cories, and 1 halfgrown balloon molly...

Is there anything I can do for him?

Sorry that this was such a long post, just thought that the more information you had the more you might be able to help me try to bring this guy back.

Thank you for any help!
Meg

 

[WILDER]

Poor thing.
It's so annoying when educated people don't listen to other people's good intentions, and advice.

Is the fish still eating?
Is the fish spine bending?
Check the fish anus to see if it's enlarged, red and inflamed?
Do the fish eyes look sunken in, or popping out?
Does the fish colour look darker in appearance, or pale?
Any red streaking of the fins, or body?

 

[Meggie :)]

Poor thing.
It's so annoying when educated people don't listen to other people's good intentions, and advice.

Is the fish still eating?
Is the fish spine bending?
Check the fish anus to see if it's enlarged, red and inflamed?
Do the fish eyes look sunken in, or popping out?
Does the fish colour look darker in appearance, or pale?
Any red streaking of the fins, or body?

Thank you so much for your quick reply! I have only had him a day and he hasn't eaten yet..his spine is straight...His anus doesn't seem enlarged (can't tell if it's red, he is an orange/red platy)...It looks funny but that could be because he is just skinny...his eyes seem okay...His color is beautiful, no noticable streaking on fins or body...I really don't know what could be wrong! I can try to post a picture when I get back from swim practice

Thank you so much!
Meg

 

[WILDER]

A picture might help.

Soak some food in garlic juice to stimulate appetite, and boost the fish immune system.

Wondering if the weight loss is due to the fish not eating. also the listless and lethargic behavior.,


What about isolating the sick fish and trying an internal bacteria medication?

 

[Meggie :)]

That occurred to me that it might be something internal...I don't know what I could put him in though to treat him I don't think I have an extra tank is there some kind of improv tank I could do?

The thing i was thinking was that none of the other fish in his tank seemed to be infected at all?

I will try to get a picture up tonight after dinner.

Thank you for your help! I really appreciate it!

 

[slimeneo]

I wouldn't risk putting him with your other fish.. Even if you don't see symptoms now, the parasite can easily pass from one fish to another (if it is indeed a parasite that's the problem).

 

[Meggie :)]

Bummer, he is already in my tank... If need be, I will treat the tank...

I apologize..I went to go take a picture like I said I would...so I grabbed the camera and realized it was dead. So I took the battery out and realized the charger was downstairs...so I went downstairs and grabbed the charger...and now I can't find the battery

I promise I will try to get a picture!

Until then, any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Meggie :)]

Thank you for your quick replies...unfortunately, I woke up this morning and he had died...

 

[WILDER]

So sorry.
Poor little thing.



Keep an eye on your remaining fish.
Especially for internal parasite symptoms.