Topic: What do you think will happen to my red-wag platy?

[Alyak Nnad]

He has lost color, appetite, and is now a hunch-back. He has 2 other tank-mates, but a different species. I had another one that had a hunch-back, but she died. I have quarantined him, just in case. He would go up to breath when the other fish weren't up there. I feed him TetraFin Tropical Fish Flakes, and a crushed boiled pea every other day.

[EowynJane]

What size of tank and what are the other occupants?  Have you tested your water quality lately?  The hunch could be genetic, also, Platies usually do better with friends of their own kind.

[Alyak Nnad]

What size of tank and what are the other occupants?  Have you tested your water quality lately?  The hunch could be genetic, also, Platies usually do better with friends of their own kind.

They are in a 10 gallon aquarium and his tankmates are 2 white mollies. He didn't have his hunch a week ago. His only buddies died a few weeks ago too. Do you think he go his back because of stress?

[RinsMom]

Please answer some basic questions for us:

How long has this tank been set up?

Do you do routine water changes (take out some water, put some fresh declorinated water back in)?  If so, how much, and how often?

Do you test your water?  If so, what are the readings for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates?

Answering these questions will help us answer your question more fully.

[Alyak Nnad]

Please answer some basic questions for us:

How long has this tank been set up?

Do you do routine water changes (take out some water, put some fresh declorinated water back in)?  If so, how much, and how often?

Do you test your water?  If so, what are the readings for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates?

Answering these questions will help us answer your question more fully.

Tank has been set up the same way since he came home with me.

I clean 1/4 (or so) of the tank every 2-3 weeks.

I have not checked my water lately. I will in a couple of days and post it.

: { He died today, about 5 minutes ago } :
This should help with my other fish, right?

[RinsMom]

Tank has been set up the same way since he came home with me.

I clean 1/4 (or so) of the tank every 2-3 weeks.

I have not checked my water lately. I will in a couple of days and post it.

: { He died today, about 5 minutes ago } :
This should help with my other fish, right?

Ok, thanks for the answers, but I need something more specific for how long has the tank been set up....  more of a time span like 6 weeks, or 2 months, or 1 month... something like that.

The reason I am looking for a specific time, is that for the new tank, toxins gradually build up and poison the fish unless it is properly cycled first.  If the tank is properly cycled, then there is sufficient bacteria that will help remove the ammonia and nitrites that are present in beginning tanks.

[Alyak Nnad]

Ok, thanks for the answers, but I need something more specific for how long has the tank been set up....  more of a time span like 6 weeks, or 2 months, or 1 month... something like that.

The reason I am looking for a specific time, is that for the new tank, toxins gradually build up and poison the fish unless it is properly cycled first.  If the tank is properly cycled, then there is sufficient bacteria that will help remove the ammonia and nitrites that are present in beginning tanks.

It has been there for 2 1/2 months

[RinsMom]

Do you have a test kit to test the water for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates?

Most likely, especially since the other platy died also, it has to do with water quality.  This is commonly called the "New Tank Syndrome".  Basically, people buy an aquarium, and put several fish in it.  6 to 8 weeks later, their fish start to die.  What has happened, is that they have basically been swimming in their own waste, and the ammonia and other toxins poison them.

http://www.firsttankguide.net/newtanksyndrome.php

Although you cannot see it, ammonia builds up in the water, slowly poisoning them.  The ammonia is from their waste.

There are several good articles about "cycling" a tank, and about the toxins that do build up.

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/770/

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/118/

http://www.petfish.net/kb/entry/119/

Unless we know the levels of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates in your water, it is difficult to know whether your tank is cycled.  The test strips that are sold inexpensively are very unreliable and go bad quickly.  A better solution is the drop type of test kit.