Belly-less

[PlatyLady]

Hi everyone,

One of my platies has lost weight. She's still acting normal, so I don't know if she's sick. Here are some before/after pics, let me know if you think it's a significant weight loss. Maybe I'm wrong.

(the first two pics are her this morning, the third is her almost two months ago, with what I think is a much fuller belly)

 

[Bearfan]

I would watch the behavior for anything outside the usual, unless she had babies, this isn't usually a good sign.

 

[tkos]

Even after my platy had babies she didn't get that small. That is interesting in a serious kind of way. Yes, keep an eye on her. Is she the one that had the black poop a couple of days ago?

 

[PlatyLady]

I did find a fry, who might be hers, but the jury's still out on that one.

Yes, tkos, she's the one with the black poop a couple days ago.

Here are the latest monster pics - she might be the mom...

 

[tkos]

Well I hope she is just in a post birthing stage. Perhaps all of her black poop was from eating fry. Hmmmm. Keep watching her and fill us in. I will want to know how things go in case my mom platy goes through the same thing (she is the same type as yours).

 

[PlatyLady]

Thanks tkos. She'd been chowing down on guppy fry pretty eagerly, and I don't think there are any left. My other platy who had fry didn't seem to have this prob. I'll let you know how things go.

Perhaps she should be quarantined?

 

[tkos]

If you have a spare tank then maybe it isn't a bad idea. If she isn't sick she might be weak and that could give her a chance to put on some holiday weight.

 

[Allivymar]

Hrmm. I don't like the way she looks. and the funny dark poo sounds sorta ominous as well.

I'd also isolate her. If you can find Pepso food, I'd suggest giving it a go. Its an antiparasitical but also has an antibiotic in it. While I can't say for sure whats going on, I do think its intestinal, and medicated food might help (and won't muck up the nitrifying bacteria if you use some mature filter media from the regular tank).

 

[myriam]

PlatyLady, yes I'd say Betty is looking kind of skinny. I have 5 platies and whether before/after birth, they never look that skinny. I don't know about black poop either, but it seems out of the ordinary. Maybe it is from eating fry?!

 

[mattrox]

I had a guppy that did the same thing it wasn't eating and also started swimming funny. I put it the a seperate tank and treated with a broad spectrum medication (Methylene Blue, Malachite Green and Acriflavine).

It got better very quickly.

 

[PlatyLady]

Thanks for the input everyone.

I put her in qt Saturday morning. She didn't like being moved, but is acting normal again, and pooping the right colour too. I've been feeding her a little bit several times a day, and she is eating it - not ravenously, but still eating.

I haven't found the medicated food yet, but I have time to go tomorrow again.

My "Healthy Fish" book suggests a couple of things (not clear if this only for Discus though) -
for weight loss and diarrhea (the black stuff?) - capillaria worms.
for weight loss and emaciation - coccidia (internal protozoa),

and some corresponding treatments. I think I'll take it along with me when I go find that medicated food.