Sleeping beauty!

[Saz]

I have a platy called Pip and she's full of problems unlike her fishy friends. I don't know why but sometimes i catch her resting upright on the gravel like she is having a break from swimming. Does this sometimes happen or is their something seriously wrong with her? She has no swimming difficulties but she does have a faded whitish patch that runs along her back and seems to make her eyes look misty. It is barely visible but DEFINATELY there. I asked people about it a few days ago but nobody really seemed to know what it was. I also recently had to treat her for white spot.

I don't know why she is like this, she is kinda smaller than all her friends and seems to have a few thing wrong with her. THIS IS A PLEA FOR HELP!!! Though it is not exactly urgent as she has been this way for about a week now.

I would really appreciate any ideas or advice as I'm at a dead end!

Sarah xxx

 

[kimbowee]

Ok first. What size is the tank, what fish are in it, how long has it been set up, how often do you feed and what are your water stats for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate? How long have you had the platy and do any other fish show any of the same symptoms? When is she resting at the bottom, daytime or night time or at different times through the day & night? When you say upright do you mean like when she is swimming or belly up?

Can you explain the white patch to me better please. Also, do the eyes look cloudy? One eye or both? If the fish is upright & resting like as she was sleeping then I would be more concerned about the white patch at this time. When my guppies rest the kind of rest on the bottom of the tank, but only after lights out.

Also, how long ago did you treat for Ich and what did you treat with?

Sorry for so many questions but will help me figure out whats up with your fish.

 

[Saz]

No it's okay I'm just happy sum 1 wants to help!
The tank is 11 galls 2 foot by 1 foot
There are guppies, platies, glowlight tetras and 1 plecostomous
Its been set up for 6 years
I feed twice a day
No ammonia
No nitrite
25 mg/l nitrate
I've had her for about a month
No other fish show any symptoms of anything what so ever
She rests at different times during the day
She's upright like when she swims

The white patch is very faint and smooth but not silky looking. It also covers both her eyes. I think she may not be able to see very well.

I finished treating for ich earlier this week with interpret anti white spot plus but she has had this white patch before she got white spot. It is slowly starting to grow and I think she may be getting white spot again. None of the other fish have white spot.

Thank you sooooo much and please reply as soon as you can-I don't want to lose her cos she's lovely even though she is a pain!

Lot of love Sarah xxx

 

[kimbowee]

Sounds like alot of fish for an 11 gal tank. How many of each fish are in the tank & what kind of plec do you have? Also, what size is the plec?

Cloudy eyes are more often a symptom of something else, not really a disease in its self. It can signal bad water quality, a stressed fish or slime coat issues to name a few. Is the white patch on her back fluffy or stringy at all? Is it possible for you to get a pic? Here is a site that shows a bunch of pictures of different diseases. http/www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html#Lernea

Usually when a fish is lethargic or acting strange in anyway it is a symptom of something more serious. By your description I can not really tell what it is. I was hoping maybe you could identify it by the pictures in the link above or post a picture of your fish.

Wilder and Black Angel are a lot better at this than I am. LOL.

 

[Saz]

No your help has been really usefull. Looking at the picture it looks a bit like columnaris though not as distinct. I can't be 100% sure. She seems to be doing okay though. If it was columnaris theat would be down to poor water quality so wouldn't more of my fish have it? I have never had anything like this before.

I know my tank is a bit overstocked and I've tried selling some of my guppies but no shops would buy any of my fish cos they have there own suppliers.

Thank you for all your help
Love Sarah

 

[kimbowee]

I was thinking Columnaris but didn't want to scare you. Livebearers are especially prone to it from what I have read.

Columnaris is a bacterial infection actually. When I first set up my tank I was overstocked. I had guppies & Mollies & a Plec in a 20 gal tank. Out of about the 10 fish I had in there it started on 1 molly. I treated her and didn't see anything for a month. I had returned a bunch of fish & was at the correct stocking level but was still dealing with the end of the cycling process. It then showed up on 2 guppies. I lost 1 and treated the other. It also started with a cloudy eye on all of my fish.

I treated my fish with Melafix & Pimafix which is not supposed to harm your biological filter. A lot of people have luck with Maracyn I & II or Tetracycline. I have never used these but have heard others recommend it.

It can be caused by overstocking, overfeeding, poor water conditions including infrequent water changes, and higher temperatures. Keep up on your tank maintenance. With the amount of fish in your tank I would try doing water changes every 3rd day. Lower the temp to around 76 degrees slowly. Feed only once a day as much as they will eat in 2-3 minutes. The bacteria can also grow in uneaten food at the bottom of the tank. Add an airstone or lower the water level in your tank so the water from the filter creates extra airation.

So first things first. You should try and isolate the Platy & treat her seperately if none of the other fish seem infected. Then you are going to have to work on your main tank. Can you try & rehome some of your fish with friends? If not, try looking at garage sales or in your local paper for tanks on sale. With the livebearers I would try & keep the females and males seperated in different tanks. Also, the tank is too small for the plec. They are huge waste producers and definitely is contributing to part of the problem. If the pet shop wont buy the fish will they at least take them in or possibly offer store credit? I know its hard to part with your fish. The best thing you can do right now is try to rehome some of them or get another tank.

I have been in the same situation as you. I know its hard advice to take but it will definitely help. Best of luck!