Flicking Fish But No Whitespots

[cheeky_chops]

Tank size: 70ltr juwel (uk)
pH: 6.8
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:20-30

tank temp:78

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 20% weekly

Tank inhabitants:
8 neon tetra
5 platy
1 balloon molly
1 platy fry

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): 2 x platy

Hi I am new to the site and wondering if someone could help me.

My tank has been running since march 2007 all has been fine until adding 2 new sunset platys 2 wks ago - I added them by placing bag in tank water and introducing them slowly to my water (20mins)

one of the platys seemed to spend the 1st night at the top of the tank not moving- when I came down the next day he was dead at the bottom. -no lesions or marks or colour changes upon inspection.

3 days ago my other sunset platy started acting strange- he spent his time siting on the gravel wriggling from side to side as if trying to shake something off him. the next day his body kept flicking from side to side and he spent the day swimming aggressively and flicking his whole left side off any decoration in the tank as if he was trying to itch himself. as the night wore on he could only swim with the current from my pump not against the current.yesterday I came downstairs and my sunset platy was dead - again there was no signs of white spots or grains on him. no other fish was displaying these symptoms.


Throughout the day I had noticed that all 5 remaining platys are flicking off anything they can find - gravel, bog wood, and plants. I have noticed they are all aggressive toward one and other aswell- im sure they have shrunk/lost weight slightly or they dont seem to be displaying their tails as much (hope that makes sense) this doesnt seem to have affected my neons or molly at the moment but I am at a loss as to what to do cause I dont want to put them through anymore suffering.

I wanted to ask for advice on here before I went to the LFS as its a long way from where I live.

Thanks for any help you could give me

c

 

[vinylman]

If they're flicking but there's no sign of anything, it could be internal parasites.

 

[cheeky_chops]

If they're flicking but there's no sign of anything, it could be internal parasites.

thanks for your reply - i'll search up on them

jus didnt want to go to the LFS n end up with wrong thing

thanks again

 

[ebrcknrdg]

Try sterazin as this treats flukes as well as internal parasites. This has cured my fishes flicking. you can buy it online (ebay usually cheaper)

 

[Squid]

I was always lead to believe that by the time you actually see the white spot it is fairly far on, and that flicking may be early signs of whitespot. Is this correct?

Squid

 

[the biffster]

check you water parameter's make sure they are ok
then start looking for white spot ext ext

good luck biff

 

[Squid]

check you water parameter's make sure they are ok
then start looking for white spot ext ext

good luck biff

Parameters where listed at the top

 

[cheeky_chops]

Try sterazin as this treats flukes as well as internal parasites. This has cured my fishes flicking. you can buy it online (ebay usually cheaper)

awh thanks - i will defo get some off ebay tonight

not as aggressive today however they are still flicking

can sterazin be bought from a lfs as i am going into town tommor and i could get some then

thanks again

 

[cheeky_chops]

hi still awaiting my order of sterazin to be delivered

just a quick update:

1 of my remaining sunset platys has become really ill (looks withered and really thin, practically flat) and is at the top of the tank gasping for air and not really moving even when I fed the others.

after watching him for 10mins he turned round and i noticed a large white hole on his body behind his gills - it looks like a mouth ulcer a human wud have.

I do think him and the other sunset platy, which also has gone thin (no ulcers/holes tho) but is eating still, both have a fine gold coating on their bodies - Im finding this hard to tell as they are both such a vivid red.

what would you suggest I do with the platy with the hole i really dont think he is going to survive tonight.

Lastly I hav noticed a small 'cotton wool bud' size fluffly white growth growing between the holes in the filter this has only appeared in the last few day.

Thanks if anyone can help me with this- i will go to the lfs 1st thing in the morning to get any products you can help me with

thanks again if anyone help

 

[chucksmo]

The gold might be some sort of velvet which mericide ( I hope its spelled right) should cure. it cured my mollie. correct me if I am wrong. As for the hole wilder or some other great people should have an idea. with the fluffly white growth growing between the holes in the filter never heard of that but good luck and I hope everything turns out good for you.

 

[cheeky_chops]

The gold might be some sort of velvet which mericide ( I hope its spelled right) should cure. it cured my mollie. correct me if I am wrong. As for the hole wilder or some other great people should have an idea. with the fluffly white growth growing between the holes in the filter never heard of that but good luck and I hope everything turns out good for you.

awh thank you - I thought it could be velvet after reading some of the other posts on here

 

[-germ-]

If it is oodinium
Maracide; US
Protozin; UK
I've also heard that keeping the aquarium dark can prevent the free living stages from developing and that turning the temp up should speed up the development as is the case with other protozoan parasites
Obviously if the fish are seriously bad don't raise the temp as this could result in hypoxia.
Good luck.