HELP! My platy's not looking good

Hi,
Yesterday I performed my weekly water change and immediatly after my female platy started looking for places to hide. I thought the male platy had become too agressive, but now she's just sorta laying there on top of the powerhead looking sad. She used to be the smartest of the bunch always looking for food and now she won't even eat. What's worse... I just noticed a tiny red spot on her side and looks a little bloated, I don't know if that's a symptom or if it's treatable, but can't be good right? I bought today some aquarium salt but I don't know if it will help.
Any ideas?
My platy and I will appreciate any help

P.S. ATM I don't have a QT tank, and I don't think I could get one before tomorow afternoon

Yes the salt will help it I would recommend a salt dip for the fish and see if that helps it out some.Are they any way you could post a picture of the fish??? Her scales dont look like they are sticking out do they? What are the water readings like ammonia and nitrites and Ph ? I will be able to help you more if you could post these things. I hope your little fish gets better for you..

Hi, thanks for the reply.
My water params are: Ammo 0ppm, nitrites 0 ppm, nitrates 15 ppm, ph 8.
Defintely, she's sick. Now she has tiny red spots and streaks. Still won't eat. No her scales are not sticking out. *sniff* I don't know what to do.

Come on guys! Feel free to contribute. I could use the advice here.

I'll try to post a picture later

Hi freshy,

I read your post yesterday in the Beginner Questions section. Sorry that your platy has taken a turn for the worse It doesn't sound like it's ammonia toxicity, as your parameters are all fine.

It sounds like your platy might have an external bacterial infection. Check this web page and scroll down to read about "External bacterial infection".

If this sounds similar to what's going on, I would advise you to get a quarantine tank and treat with medication. Also, I concur with Angel Lady that a salt dip may be helpful. I would not advise adding salt to your tank. Here's a link on how to do a salt dip and what it's recommended for.

HTH, keep us posted~

it may have parasites.
I dont know how to cure this sorry.

James

Hi, thanks for the replies. I'll check those websites and see.
Meanwhile, heres a picture. It's kind of blurry but you can see the red "thingies"
Thanks for your help

Thanks for sharing her picture-- she's quite a pretty fish I can't tell if her gills look red or if that's a purple spot which represents an artifact of photo-taking. She doesn't look terrible at this point. I'm still thinking external bacterial infection.

Thank you! She is pretty, isn't she?
Well, that's her gills but the pinkishness might have been enhanced by the picture. I checked those sites. Very helpful! Today after work I'll stop by the LFS and get a QT tank and hopefuly some meds. Hope she makes it until then.

This looks similar to what my male platy had who was the exact same colour. He too developed these red spots/streaks and on searching on the net I decided it was scepticeamia (sp?) it looks like the bruising that someone gets when they have meningitis.

I hope its not the same as even though I treated my male with interpet 9 bacterial meds he sadly died 2 days after showing the spots. He had been unwell and quiet previously for a week before.

On the positive side, the other 2 platy in my quarantine tank with him never caught it.

Hope your female makes it

Well, I got bacterial meds today and as soon as the meds hit the water (I'm treating her in the community tank) she started swimming a little and ate a bit (liiiitle bit) too, so that was good. I'm not thinking the meds are gonna cure her miracleously, but I liked watching her eat some. I'm still crossing my fingers and hoping.