Is my Platty Sick?!

jg233 · 01-21-2008, 05:46 PM

Does this fish look sick? It stays at the top of the water and has a small red spot near its tail... please hurry...

ffffrf · 01-21-2008, 06:03 PM

i really dont know if it is sick but i am woundering it's pupils on it's eyes look really small your fish might have eye fluke try checking on internet

Loman · 01-21-2008, 06:40 PM

jg233,
It is difficult to see (the picture is a bit blurry) but the tail fin looks pretty ragged to me. Staying at the top is certainly a sign of an issue as well. The fins also look clamped down a bit so I suspect there is something going on. My first thought would be fin rot or the subject of a bulling fish. A few questions would help determine if that was possible or not. What are your water parameters, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, etc. What is the history of the tank and what else is in the tank that might be bulling this guy.

jg233 · 01-21-2008, 07:08 PM

I don't exactly have a water test kit and I live 50 miles from the nearest store that has one (and I'm 16) so there's probably no chance of getting one soon...

There are 4 tetras (reddish/pink color with black dosal fin and black dot on side) and a white cloud in with it. This fish always seems like the bully of the group so it is weird for him to be bullied. I really dont think it is fin rot, the picture isn't clear, but his fins are fin looking (the edge is just translucent).

He seems to be hanging around at the top, then he'll go to the bottom, then back to the top. Maybe he is just getting bullied... idk... I have had him for a year (almost) and he has seemed as healthy as can be til yesterday....

Loman · 01-21-2008, 07:40 PM

If you are sure the tail is good (I still have a question/concern here but you are seeing it first hand - someone else may offer a second opinion based on the photo as well) then I would look elsewhere. Have you changed anything recently. Hanging out at the top could easily be a sign that he needs more oxygen. Did you happen to turn off an air stone or pump that would cause a disturbance in the water surface?

Some tetras can be fairly aggressive and the platy is typically a very peaceful fish so I would be extra careful about watching to see if he is getting picked on.

Le me also take a very different approach of things to think about. Since you live a considerable distance from a per store and a test kit if you determined it was sick and needed some form of a medicine what would you do? I am assuming you do not have a supply of various meds ling around the house so your options are probably very limited. If he starts to develop significant discoloration or some type of deformity I would remove him to a seperate tank/bowl in the hopes of containing any illness.

jg233 · 01-21-2008, 08:06 PM

If he gets any worse, I don't kow what I will do... my parents think fish are a waste of time in the first place and I doubt they would drive to a pet store... so he will most likely be gone soon...

I always have a buble wand going in the tank (sometime a giant bubble pops out) and I think they should be getting lots of oxygen.

I used to have a test kit and it usually said my Ph was slightly high (upper 7's to 8)... I also just cleaned it thouroughly the other day so I dont think it is ammonia, nitrates, or nitrites. You are probably right, just a bullying situation.

jg233 · 01-22-2008, 04:51 PM

It seems that soem of its scales are starting to bulge leading me to believe that it has dropsy... is there anything to do?!

I gave it a salt bath and it seems to be more active now...

Tommy Gun · 01-22-2008, 08:13 PM

You might try feeding it a pea or two in order to make sure that it isn't having digestive troubles. Keep in mind that dropsy is technically a bacterial infection (of kidneys I think), but the "pine cone" appearance can be caused by other problems.

What have you been feeding your fish?

jg233 · 01-23-2008, 07:42 AM

Tetra Min Tropical Fish Flakes... for the pea do I cook it first?

Tommy Gun · 01-23-2008, 02:04 PM

You can cook it first. I use a frozen bag of peas, thawing one or two out at a time. Then I just squish the pea near the fish so they can eat it. I have found that it helps to skip a feeding or feed the pea before adding normal food; even going as far as to soak a couple peas in garlic.