Sick Platy?

[bellabean]

I'm concerned with one of my daughters Platy's
Over two weeks it's become rather skinny. I see the fish eatting so I don't believe it's starving.

The problem is the MM male is obsessed with her! He doesn't leave her side ever!
Anytime the other females swim by he chases them away. In fact I caught this MM darting at one of the females yesterday.
I've asked "Grandpa" for his 35 gallon tank/stand set up which just sits there empty.

In the mean time how do I help this fish?
Is she sick or just stressed out?
She clamps her fins down when ever this MM male is around. But when she swam close by me I noticed her side almost looked leathery? Not sure if that's the best word to use. Anyways the best photo I got were these ....


I added a piece of wood (been soaking for a long time to get tannins out) for a new hiding place.
But he has her cornered to one side of the tank

\the only other tank I have is a 5.5 g for the fry. I also have a fish bowl but it's small ....



Here she is about 1 month ago
http/i39.tinypic.com/28cm6wl.jpg


Last Week
http/i44.tinypic.com/9021ht.jpg


Today
http/i41.tinypic.com/9zn9k0.jpg

http/i41.tinypic.com/2exanvl.jpg

http/i40.tinypic.com/20z38dz.jpg






15g
temp 27-28

last readings on the 24th (took kit back and ordered newer one)
PH 7.4
Ammonia 0.25 (<- I know. working on it!)
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5

I've continued to do daily water changes ....


Diet
Omega One Natural Protein Formula Flakes
blood worms


What do I do ???!!!

 

[Backlash]

Sounds a little bit like the problem that I am having here.. http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/381700-help-required-from-experienced-platy-keepers/

You dont say what size tank that you have, or what other tank mates your Platy's have, but if you cant get "Grandpa's" 35 gal tank up and running, have you considered getting a glass? partition made, that you could slip into the tank, separating the male(s) from the females for a while, just to give them a break..

When I was first starting out in the hobby (read as before I had the several tanks that most livebearer keepers have) I had made a lexan/perspex/plexiglass partition that I had cut some large holes into and fitted some screens to to allow waterflow for long term use, and found it invaluable for separating otherwise healthy fish that just needed a "time out"... lol.

Goodluck, I hope she gets better..

 

[bellabean]

It's only a 15 gallon.
When we bought it I thought it was huge! A few months later I wish I bought the bigger tank ...

In the tank are
mickey mouse male
reg swag platy female (the one that I'm having issues with)
sunburst platy female
dalmation lyretail molly female


Here's the tank set up.
Have ordered more fast growing plants, bushy ones to help out.
For the life if me I can't keep plants alive (fish tank or garden!)

So do you think she's just stressed out?

 

[hughessomefish]

It may be stress or it could be an internal parasite, but if it was a parasite I believe the platy would have lost its weight faster. Though I am not totally convinced it is because of stress but it could be. I think you should put your platy away from the rest of the fish and put it in a "hospital tank" but make sure the tank is cycled otherwise putting it in an un cycled tank could harm the platy further, and My question is does the platy eat when the tank is given fish food or does the platy hide?

 

[bellabean]

It may be stress or it could be an internal parasite, but if it was a parasite I believe the platy would have lost its weight faster. Though I am not totally convinced it is because of stress but it could be. I think you should put your platy away from the rest of the fish and put it in a "hospital tank" but make sure the tank is cycled otherwise putting it in an un cycled tank could harm the platy further, and My question is does the platy eat when the tank is given fish food or does the platy hide?

It waits for the male to swim away then comes out from hiding by the heater. She eats and seems to eat as much as the others.

 

[hughessomefish]

I would separate her from the male if that is possible, but If she is eating just as much as others it may be stress or something else causing it.

 

[bellabean]

Took the fish out of tank to get better look at it.
It doesn't seem as skinny as I first thought.
BUT ....

Is this ich?

http/tinypic.com/r/rt2d5d/5

http/tinypic.com/r/11s1552/5


If it is, I've removed the fish but should I treat entire tank?

 

[Rummynose]

I had a male and 3 female platy fish in the beginning. One female died after giving birth and the male behaved exactly like yours with one of the other females. I gave him away and now have 2 adult females and one baby female platy. It is a lot more peaceful now!!!

 

[comocrayfish5]

she looks like she is stressed out from having fry. she looked pregnant in the 1 month photo and the male probably just want to mate with her and thats why he is being protective. i would put the male in another tank.

 

[bellabean]

Ok

so the white spots are nothing?

 

[Rummynose]

Ok

so the white spots are nothing?

Do water changes, water changes and water changes, to keep ammonia as close to 0 as you can. She may have come down with something because she is stressed or because the ammonia is affecting her. The best you can do is to keep the water nicely for her and to reduce the stress so her immune-system can recover. She looks as though she is also recovering from giving birth.
I'm not sure if I missed it, but how big is the tank she is in now? When you set up the 35 gallon, maybe you could get some filter media from an established tank to speed up the cycling process for the tank. My 30 gallon was cycled in less than a week that way!

 

[comocrayfish5]

Ok

so the white spots are nothing?

prob a missing scale or somthin