Injured Platy

[Sevast0]

My friend had given me two dwarf sunset platies (yes the ones you get from Petsmart). The only thing she had to give them to me in was a small plastic bowl (which is what they are in in the pictures, and yes they have been moved to a hospital tank). One of them looks like it has a bite wound in its side by its tail, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. It's tail fin is clamped down, and it looks like it either has some fin rot or fungus growing. I took the pictures yesterday, and the fins look even worse today. I'm not sure what it is, how it got it, or what exactly to do. My friend's tank was a 10g tank and had nothing but dwarf platies in it. I don't know anything else about her fish tank (like the Ph or any other parameters), so that's not going to help much. I asked her to test her water, but she hasn't been able to yet. Also, the fish swims around happily, eats fine, and basically acts as if nothing is wrong. The other platy she gave me is perfectly fine and doesn't look sick at all. In the two pictures below is one from its left side (the side that is hurt) and the right side (where you can see the injury from the other side). Sorry the first picture is a little blurry. Any white spots you see in the picture is either bubles or floating debries in the water.

 

[benzjamin13]

Looks like fungus. Just treat with some anti-fungus medications. Add some salt and bump up the temp should help as well.

 

[Lupin]

It isn't true fungal infection. Fungal infections are very rare to come by. This may be an onset of columnaris and possibly other diseases such as costia. I'd do daily water changes with this fish. If it doesn't improve after a few days, you could combine Maracyn and Maracyn 2. Usually clean water quality helps prevent bacterial infections from worsening. Poor water quality can cause finrot and bacterial infection issues.

 

[Sevast0]

Thanks, I'll see how it goes, and I'll pick up some medicine tomorrow just in case it gets worse.

 

[KarlTh]

Looks like classic columnaris to me, and absolutely nothing like fungus. Can someone sticky a my thread on the subject?

 

[mel_20_20]

I agree that it is columnaris, and you better jump on it fast with either Kanacyn, or the two Maracyns: Maracyn and Maracyn II.

Columnaris is caused by flexibacter, but it is often accompanied by another bacterium, Aeromonas, another gram-negative bacterium frequently found in one's tank, and often infects a Flexibacter-infected fish at the same time (secondary bacterial infection) and is thought to be the cause of death in many cases of Flexibacter infection. Therefore, treatment should also be aimed at this bacterium as well. Kanamycin (Kanacyn) will treat the coumnaris and also the Aeromonas.

If you use Maracyn then treat simultaneously with Maracyn II for the Aeromonas. Kanamycin is not considered to be harmful to the bio-filter except at high dosages, but I'm not certain about the Maracyns.

Here are pics of columnaris, and then a true fungal infection.

This is coumnaris



This is fungus (pic provided by KarlTH in his thread)


As stated before, absolutely pristine water is VITAL if the fish are to fight off this infection. Doing daily huge water changes in the hospital tank will not be a problem for the treatment protocol in your hospital tank.

Make sure the hospital has clean water as soon as you have meds and just before dosing the tank.

Dose the tank. Then next morning do huge water change and immediately dose the tank. The meds become unavailable after a few hours anyway so removing the water does not interfere with the treatment.

So, the next morning, twenty-four hours later, do big water change again and then again dose the tank.

Keep this up for the five days the Maracyns say should be carried out, but I would go an additional five days to make sure they are fully recovered.

I would also get Prime to condition the water as it detoxifies ammonia and nitrites, and this would help in case any traces of ammonia or nitrites start to appear. Nevertheless, every twentyfour hours do a big water change.

When I treated a fish for severe septicemia in my five gallon hospital tank I did 80% - 90% water changes every twentyfour hours. (he fully recovered) I used the two Maracyns and they were very effective.

Have some silk plants or a cave for them to hide in to feel safe while in hospital.

It will take hard work, but you can do it. We're all pulling for you and your sick fish. (The other fish that has no signs or symptoms should, in my opinon, go through the treatment with the fish that is obviously sick, since columnaris is very contagious)

 

[mel_20_20]

I forgot to mention: This is ectremely contagious so care should be taken to sterilize nets, siphon hoses, buckets, hands, anything you use while treating for this infection to avoid transmission to any other tanks you have.

 

[Sevast0]

Just a quick question, since it is extremely contagious, what are the early sign of it, just in case it does get spread to my main tank (though nets and such). I do make sure that i rinse everything i use for my aquariums every time I use it, but what are the early signs, so that I can watch and make sure they don't get anything. And is there anything I can do as a preventative just in case some bacteria did get into my main tank?

Also, I have kept the other platy with the sick one, just in case he has anything, and also as a quarantine period since I had just got him.

 

[mel_20_20]

Earliest signs would probably be behavioral. Not as active, maybe hiding or separating from the others. Possibly hanging out nearer the top where there's more 02.

Physically: Watch carefully for any area or areas of vague fuzziness, a flatness or dullness to the body.

An area of redness that may be very fine and hard to spot, at the edge/margin where fin and body meet.

Important note: Rinsing is not enough. Mix up bleach water to soak nets and siphon/hoses, cups, buckets. Then thoroughly rinse with tap to remove bleach. For nets I would do an after-soak in dechlorinated water.

Careful hand washing after contact with any possible contaminated water, surfaces, utensils, supplies, etc.

 

[Sevast0]

Thanks, I'll watch my main tank for anything. And also I'll rinse my stuff better. What I've been doing is rinsing it in really hot water, then rinsing it in cold water.

But is there anything I can or should add to my main tank now? Like to strengthen their immune systems, or prevent them from getting anything? Or should I just do some more water changes and watch them carefully?