White patchy looking platys...

[thegrandpoohbah]

My two female red hi-fin platys are developing what looks to be patchy white skin (for lack of a better description). It is kind of iridescent and impossible to get a picture of because they are too active. It is not ich or fungus or anything else I have ever seen. They are still eating and are very active. Any thoughts on what might be wrong? I have recently added DIY CO2 to the 30G but the pH has not fluctuated as far as I can tell.

[Melody]

I'm sorry to hear that. Is it kind of milky-looking? You can get similar symptoms from a bacterial infection and parasite infection. Apparently its tough to tell which one it is with the naked eye, but the parasite cause is more common. The parasite infection can be caused by stress, or rather it can overwhelm the fish due to stress, which could link it to the pH. I think it can be one of two parasites so I'd suggest a general cure like RidIch+ if you think that's it.

I'd recheck that pH - I don't know of any C02 injected tanks that don't have a low pH, or at least lower than it was before. I had a tank of Livebearers involved in a pH crash once, and they had the white patches everywhere. Maybe the pH also facilitates breeding of one of these parasites, along with providing the opportunity.

Since antibiotics are often ineffective anyway, I'd probably try RidIch+ first. That goes against the normal recommendations though, as it is usually best to tackle a bacterial infection asap. Your call, type thing. For more info & views on treatment, try Googling 'Slime Disease'.

Good luck!

[thegrandpoohbah]

The pH is rock steady at 7.2 (same as the tap water), one of the benefits of using Eco-complete for the substrate. Her fins are clamped now and she is staying down in the corner of the tank. It looks almost like she has been dusted in a very fine white powder. It also looks like the other female hi-fin is starting to get it. I'm going to set up the quarantine tank and isolate them but I still have no idea what to treat for.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Oh, I meant to say platys before and not swordtails. I've editted it now...

[CACAdmin]

Sorry to hear about your troubles. I know how much you prize those pretty red hifins. How long since you noticed the first symptoms? Any signs on any of the other fish in the tank? Any other symptoms? Anything else new added to the tank? I know too many questions... just trying to help you nail down what it is and the cause.

[CACAdmin]

One other thought? Is this the recently set up tank? Is there any difference in the harness of the water in the current tank as compared with the tank they were residing in before this? It could make them more susceptible to infection. (The reason I ask is that last year I lost a lot of hifins from an unknown cause. The only thing I could put my finger on what the huge difference in the hardness of the water in the two tanks.)

[Melody]

If its dust, its probably Velvet. I'd go with RidIch+, cover all of your bases. Doesn't sound bacterial if its dusty looking, and RidIch+ also handles fungus on the off chance its that. Its the only med I use now, in fact - thorough & economical.

Tis the season for parasites - just spotted Ich myself in fact. Happens in at least one tank every Spring. Which reminds me, I have to go inform the people I'm shipping to on Monday <SIGH>.

[thegrandpoohbah]

Jay, the platys have been in this tank a few weeks now. This outbreak seems to have coincided with the addition of CO2. Like I said though, there was no swing in pH.

Melody, where is the best/cheapest place to get RidIch+? I have the two affected fish in the 10G at the moment. DO you think I should take any precautions with the other fish in the 30G?

[CACAdmin]

The last place I got Rid Ich+ was Petsmart in Surrey, which I think was probably the cheapest but it's not cheap if you have to drive all that way. I have some on hand which you can have but I can't get it to you until Saturday.

[traco1]

A question. With a sick fish like you have in this instance, is it better to treat the whole tank they are currently in? The other fish could have the symptoms but not be showing yet? Or better to just pull the sick ones and treat in a QT tank?

Hope they pull through for you.

[Melody]

Jay, the platys have been in this tank a few weeks now. This outbreak seems to have coincided with the addition of CO2. Like I said though, there was no swing in pH.

Melody, where is the best/cheapest place to get RidIch+? I have the two affected fish in the 10G at the moment. DO you think I should take any precautions with the other fish in the 30G?

With parasites people often treat the original tank, as they can be in the tank in various stages. I'm not terribly familiar with Velvet though, so i don't know its life cycle off hand. I do know that its very contageous.

Couldn't it stress the fish if they were suddenly coping with high levels of C02? Do you turn it off at night? As you well know, my knowledge of such things is limited, I'm just thinking outloud at this point. Stress invites infestations, so I think you're smart to investigate the association.

I get my RidIch+ at Petsmart. Most larger stores should have it. It would probably save you some time to call first, or try the chain website if they list their products. Its something like $14 for a big bottle, if I recall correctly, and it will treat this outbreak and several more before its gone. Its also one of the more gentle treatments out there, yet effective. It hasn't failed me yet, for parasites or fungus. You don't even have to raise the temps. It does seem to stress the Ghost Cats, but they survive it. Even snails & shrimp are ok with it, or they have been in my tanks anyway.

In the meantime, add aquarium salt if you can. If its parasites they have a good chance, you just have to find the cause. Maybe you could even turn the C02 off until you figure it out? At least then you could establish the connection later if they have a problem when you start using it again.

[thegrandpoohbah]

I use the Red Sea CO2 set-up with the powerhead plugged into the same timer as the lights. When the lights are off, the CO2 just bubbles straight to the surface. There is very little time for it to diffuse, hence no pH swings.

[Melody]

Makes sense to me. Could it have cut the oxygen levels sharply through the day though? You didn't do anything else? Up the ferts to keep up with the increased growth?

[thegrandpoohbah]

I don't think the tank is low on oxygen because none of the fish are gasping at the surface.

I just got home and one of the female hi-fins is dead :cry:. The other looks better and is eating well but I am keeping her isolated for now. The rest of the fish in the 30G look good but I will keep an eye on everyone and move them to quarantine if need be.

Now for my next question: my pair of German blue rams is still in the 30G. I had wanted to move them to the 33G but obviously that can't happen right now. How long before it would be safe to move fish from this tank into other tanks without fear of transmitting whatever disease this is?

[Melody]

I'm sorry to hear that you lost one :hugs: , but glad to hear that the other seems to be improving.

As for moving fish in, its hard to say without a positive diagnosis, but I'd wait at least two weeks.

I'm expecting some Hifin Variatus females next week. I'd like to give one to you if I do indeed score some females. Now smile for me or I'll cry. :(

[thegrandpoohbah]

Thanks Melody, but there's no need. I'm probably overstocked as it is thanks to Jay.

[CACAdmin]

But those were males!... what you need is another pretty red hifin female!