Platy Not Eating

The first thing to do is have a good look at him. When he stops swimming and just hangs in the water, is there anything coming out of his anus? You are looking for what looks like the tip of a child's paintbrush only red. They only protrude when the fish is motionless, they go back inside when it is swimming. These are camallanous worms, an intestinal parasite. If you see them, they can be treated. Look for Sera nematol.

If you don't see them, that leaves damage from cycling, as you say, or an internal infection other than worms. A bacterial infection is tricky to treat in the UK as we don't have access to antibiotics without a vet's prescription. The over-the-counter medications are less effective but if you think an infection is the cause you could try eSHa 2000 or Interpet anti-internal bacteria treatment.

Have you tried feeding bloodworm? A fish has to be really ill to refuse that. If he won't touch even bloodworm, you'll know there is something wrong.

This sounds exactly like my Platy's behaviour when he had worms. You need some of this - it worked a treat and he's now living his little platy life in comfort.

BIG HOWEVER MOMENT:(from their website)The manufacturers have decided to stop manufacture of this useful, specialist small-run product for the time being. However Vetark will be launching a replacement made in its own GMP suite before the end of August 2013.

I suggest you phone them and ask about the replacement - I couldn't find it.

That's good news. Make sure he's not spitting it out, tho'. That's what mine used to do. The fins being less clamped is very good. Let us know aboy VetArk and the wormer, please. It's very useful knowledge to have.

Hi,

Vetark replied with the following:

 Its called Worm Solve but is behind schedule. I hope to have it out in a few weeks. I’m afraid other issues stalled us.

Keep your eyes open!

FC

Aw, sorry to hear that.

Sorry to hear about the platies 


The wormer might well kill your snails - read the packaging carefully. If you don't use it, keep it in the cupboard just in case.

As for what to do, normally I'd say get some ammonia and add that for a week or so. This would feed the filter bacteria while allowing any nasties to die off - without a fish to infect, most bugs won't last long. But you have snails, so you can't add ammonia or you'll kill them. Except for pest snails, they survive anything.

You will need to decide which to do. If you want to save the snails, you could move them into a tub and change the water in there daily, whilst adding ammonia to the tank.
If not you would need to do a fish-in cycle when you get more fish. The bacteria would be in a dormant state rather than dead (they can live for a few weeks without food in this state) but it could take a few days for them to 'wake up' so you'd need to check your water stats daily and do water changes as necessary.

Hi,

Thanks for the condolences. For such tiny little beings it's still sad when they go.

Sue, I have pond snails and surprisingly they are not breeding!!!!!  Either this means there is something very wrong or the stern talking to I am giving them everyday is working!!!  I started out with four, which went down to three when I accidentally squashed one with a rock, then I got some live plants and it's gone up to approximately ten and I have now had to stop naming them!!!!!! 

Could I move all the snails I want to keep into the empty (21L) tank while I treat the fish in the other (54L) tank and then move them back again while I deal with the other tank (21L) or will the fact that the (21L) tank is full of snails be enough to keep the filter bacteria alive as surely they would produce some ammonia and if I continue to put food on the tank will this also release ammonia as well as feeding the snails?? 

I must say, I have been out this morning to my two local fish shops and NEITHER stocked any internal parasite treatments!!!!  I was a bit miffed having made the effort to go there!!!  Anyway I chatted with the fish for a while and nearly bought a betta who was stunning but looked at me as though to say" get me outta here"!!! I kindly explained that he was probably better off where he was for the time being!!!!  I'm very tempted to get a betta for the 21L tank but am worried that I don't have the correct water (mine is hard and I believe they prefer soft?).

Anyway, that's a consideration for another day as I've got to be sure the fish I already have are happy before I get anymore!!!!!

No wormer as yet today but it has been dispatched, so finger crossed it's here tomorrow.

FC