David J. Braunegg
May 11th 04, 04:39 PM
I have a sick Platy. (None of the other Platys or Corys are exhibiting any
symptoms.) She is currently hiding, sluggish, and has clamped fins. There
is a white "dusting" on most of her body. Some of the scales along the
nape region seem to be lifting a bit. There is a single white spot eactly
at each corner of her mouth.
I compared these symptoms to the Fish Disease Guide that came with Mardel
products (e.g., Maracyn) and the white dusting does not match any of the
symptoms they list:
- tiny, yellowish-white spots (velvet or protozoan disease)
- white spots (ich)
- whitish tufts of cotton-like material (true fungus)
- greyish-white stringy material (Columnaris "body fungus")
The sluggish behavior and raised scales seem to indicate dropsy--treatable
with Maracyn-Two.
This all started in late March, with a white patch, roughly 1/16" across, on
the top of her head above one eye. I treated for 10 days with Maracyn-Two
and Quick-Cure (formalin and malachite green) figuring this was Ich or
gram-negative bacteria. No improvement, so I tried Maracyn and Maroxy,
assuming I got the diagnosis wrong the first time and this was either
gram-positive bacteria or fungus. I gave the recommended 5-day treatment
and she looked a little bit better--the white spot on her head went away,
now looking more like a missing scale or two. She got sluggish again after
a couple of days, so I repeated the 5-day Maracyn and Maroxy.
She hasn't gotten any better for a few days after the end of that treatment,
and is still exhibiting the symptoms I described at the top of my posting.
She does perk up a little bit a feeding time and right after a water change.
(I typically change 30% on a weekly basis.)
I've gone back to the Maracyn and Maroxy, because that was the only thing
she seemed to respond to, plus Quick-Cure in case what I see as a white
dusting is what others describe as white spots, i.e., Ich. I've also added
1 tsp of salt to the 10-gallon tank to help the fish handle the
ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in case all the antibiotics have messed with the
bacteria on my biowheel.
I'm not quite sure what to try next. Salt water dips? Continued meds?
Different meds? (I don't want to give up on her yet.) I welcome any
suggestions.
By the way, what are the symptoms of old age?
Thank you very much,
Dave
symptoms.) She is currently hiding, sluggish, and has clamped fins. There
is a white "dusting" on most of her body. Some of the scales along the
nape region seem to be lifting a bit. There is a single white spot eactly
at each corner of her mouth.
I compared these symptoms to the Fish Disease Guide that came with Mardel
products (e.g., Maracyn) and the white dusting does not match any of the
symptoms they list:
- tiny, yellowish-white spots (velvet or protozoan disease)
- white spots (ich)
- whitish tufts of cotton-like material (true fungus)
- greyish-white stringy material (Columnaris "body fungus")
The sluggish behavior and raised scales seem to indicate dropsy--treatable
with Maracyn-Two.
This all started in late March, with a white patch, roughly 1/16" across, on
the top of her head above one eye. I treated for 10 days with Maracyn-Two
and Quick-Cure (formalin and malachite green) figuring this was Ich or
gram-negative bacteria. No improvement, so I tried Maracyn and Maroxy,
assuming I got the diagnosis wrong the first time and this was either
gram-positive bacteria or fungus. I gave the recommended 5-day treatment
and she looked a little bit better--the white spot on her head went away,
now looking more like a missing scale or two. She got sluggish again after
a couple of days, so I repeated the 5-day Maracyn and Maroxy.
She hasn't gotten any better for a few days after the end of that treatment,
and is still exhibiting the symptoms I described at the top of my posting.
She does perk up a little bit a feeding time and right after a water change.
(I typically change 30% on a weekly basis.)
I've gone back to the Maracyn and Maroxy, because that was the only thing
she seemed to respond to, plus Quick-Cure in case what I see as a white
dusting is what others describe as white spots, i.e., Ich. I've also added
1 tsp of salt to the 10-gallon tank to help the fish handle the
ammonia/nitrite/nitrate in case all the antibiotics have messed with the
bacteria on my biowheel.
I'm not quite sure what to try next. Salt water dips? Continued meds?
Different meds? (I don't want to give up on her yet.) I welcome any
suggestions.
By the way, what are the symptoms of old age?
Thank you very much,
Dave