re: Platies listless and not eating

I am sorry that I wasn't able to answer all questions earlier, I had some errands to run. But to answer questions:

NO, I haven't put any other decor, live plants, or fish besides what I originally had in the tank.

NO, I don't use live food, just the regular flake food that I have used since I have owned my tank.

And it is VERY true that they all are showing the same symptoms, one right after the other. It started w/ the smallest dwarf platy and has progressively moved on to the larger platies.

I can tell you all this, the LFS, which I always go to when I have the water tested, buy fish food, filters, etc.; when I asked them what they thought the problem could possibly be one gentleman said ICH, the other one said Nitrite poisoning. We ruled both out, NITRITE levels are at zero. And ICH isn't a possibility considering that there hasn't been any new fish added to the tank to introduce that parasite into the tank w/ the older platies.

I also want to say that if it were ICH, wouldn't I have noticed the spots all over them? I know when I had my 30 gal. tank, I bought some fish from PETCO and they all had ICH, it was HORRIBLE! And I haven't seen my platies act the way the those fish did, and the platies were never in the 30 gal. tank w/ the infected fish and all rocks, decor, filters, lights, heater, etc. wasn't used when I got my 55 gal. I bought everything new.

I hope that I answered the questions.
Charity (CJC)
 
Well, heck...lets's see...few more questions..

1. Are all the platies the same variety? Same "batch"?
2. Are there any new cleaners being used in the house? Painting? Carpet? Any environmental changes in the house (however, if so, you would think the angel would be affected too...)

If they are all the same variety purchased from the same spawn, I could possibly buy the old age thing, but, still, a BIG coincidence for them all to cash out at the same time...still sounds like parasite to me, looking purely at symptoms. If they are dying any way, what do you have to lose by trying an anti-parasitic treatment? Move them or (perhaps better) the healthy fish to another tank while you treat, if you want. Try clout at half strength or another med of your choice. (What is going on with the fry by the way?)

Well, let us know any more information and how it goes. Best of luck to you, Charity - I really wish I could give you more definative answers - this is really bugging me! Hehe...
 
They are from the same batch of fish. They weren't purchased seperately, infact I'll be honest and upfront w/ you. The LFS I purchase from is a good friend of mine, she breeds and raises platies, bristlenoses, guppies, and swordtails. I just have the platies and bristlenoses, the anglefish came from her store too.

There hasn't been any changes in my home, other than a dwarf rabbit which doesn't even go near the fish tank, size of the tank scares the rabbit to death. They aren't even cohabitating in the same rooms, rabbit is upstairs and fishtank is downstairs. No painting, new cleaners, new carpet, nothing like that at all.

I did however notice tonight that yet another is showing the same signs, which means, based off the other deaths, that the first sick platy is going to pass w/ in the next 2 weeks and then the other will continue to be sick until he passes. This is cruel and mean, I'm not liking this at all.

The fry usually doesn't live that long b/c the angelfish thinks that I have put them in there for her personal eating pleasure. I have counted 3 fry that have survived and they are growing quit well, eating healthy, and growing more brave each day.
Charity
 
I forgot to add this bit of information also in the last post.

I did notice that the sick platy is doing this whole side wiggle swim thing, whatever you call it, and none of the others are doing it. I'm not thinking that this is a new talent for this fish considering that he is not doing so well. It almost looks like he is loosing balance or something. I have no technical terminology when it comes to this stuff, please bare with me!
Charity
 
Well, like I said before, it's a strange coincidence that they would all be going so close - even being the same spawn. Bacterial problems generally tend to rip through fish a lot faster, and parasite problems often present themselves with the symptoms you are describing. If they were my fish, I would hit them with Clout or the like. Worse case, they will continue to show the symptoms they are currently presenting. But they possibly may pull out of it. By the way, what is your filtration like? Temperature? (Duh, I finally ask these questions....hehe). Maybe add some aeration for the heck of it, to provide some added oxygenation to the water.
 
Ok, as a regular breeder of live bearers here, I believe the average life span of the platy is 2-3 years. Your fish may just be getting old. If everything is fine in the tank this is probably the only other option. By the way, what is the tank temp?
 
Yeah, I'm kinda thinking it's old age, too. o_O Therefore, I don't think it's odd that all these fish of the same ages are dying at the same time, since, well, they're all the same age, right? And they probably all have very similar genetic material, since they're probably all related. So it makes sense that they'd all die of old age together, in my mind. >_> Just my thoughts.
 
The temperature in the tank is 78 degrees and it has been the same temp. since I've owned the platies.

So, if it is old age, then why do I all of a sudden have 4 sick platies? All doing the exact same thing, listless, clamped fins, not eating, etc. ? Is this normal behavior for them when they are getting old? The oldest platy out of all of them is extremely healthy, swimming, playful, eating, etc. I'm really confused as to why they would all of a sudden just start acting the same way? I'm not trying to be rude, because I'll be the 1st to admit that I have no clue as to what is going on! And since you raise livebearers then I'm more than happy to listen to your advice and accept your help.

I'm just in shock that 4 out of 6 of them would be acting the same way all at once.
Charity
 
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