Heavy breathing

[Miss Dib Dabs]

I have a blue/yellow female with two other female platies. She is the only one breathing heavily and looking a little uncomfortable. Just checked nitrIte and it is 0. Ammonia can't check since one of the testing bottle doodahs is empty. Last time it was checked it was 0 though. Water change done yesterday in normal fashion. Melafix in small amount added to the tank a few hours ago for the betta in the breeders net (His temp home until tomorrow).
All other residents (see siggy below for 55g) fine. Happy and settled.
I tried to get a pic but she hides and I only have my mobile phone. I should also say she is very fat! And I do mean big. She has been for a few weeks but no fry born. Toiletting seems normal and eating at last feed time.
Is she just getting ready to have fry? Is it worth putting her into my other fry container or will that just stress her more. Am not worried about whether the fry survive this time round, so long as she's ok.
Hugs,
P.

 

[PeterM]

By the sounds of it your fish is... confusing.

Are there any other obvious signs of disease? Any other reason why you fish might be stressed? (did your cat have wet paws and a guilty look on its face when you entered the room for example?)

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Lol no. My cats cannot get close to putting paws in the tank.
No, no signs of infection or parasites. She's not clamping fins, still grumpy to the smallest female but still heavy breathing!
Swimming fine still came for food this evening. I really am at a loss.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Ddraig Goch]

Sounds like she might be getting ready to give birth, if you're not worried about saving the fry I'd leave her alone for now, you may be able to catch some fry later.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Still big, still breathing heavy. Still eating/swimming etc as norm. Some fish just don't realise what they do to us.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Ahhhh!! Poor platie is still breathing rapidly. And today the nitrite is slightly elevated. Naturally I then did an immediate water change of 20% but I think it's the filter playing up. I'm going to try and sort it tomorrow. I would do it today but I'm suffering badly after one of my chest attacks last night (bit like mild heart attacks only it's not actually the heart causing it. ). So even doing the W/C killed me. Spent an hour sleeping on the sofa this afternoon. Thankfully my kids are behaving well.
Is there anything else I can do?
Hugs,
P.

 

[WILDER]

Could be with her being really big, just check the gill area to make sure there are no red inflamed gills, what the temp, maybe add an airstone for extra aeration,

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Temp is at 27-28 degrees so slightly high. This heat is causing that. I have three airstones running in the tank already in various places. She is still big. Not had any fry but if she's stressed with temp up and a slight nitrite reading she may well be hanging onto them. It isn't very high, just at the .3 or slightly below. NitrAte reads around .8 and ammonia 0 so....
I do wonder if the elevation has been caused by the betta being in the breeders net in there for a few days having added the two synos only 4 days prior to that. May have caused a mini cycle. The betta is out in his own home now but I shall keep a close eye on the params until they settle again.
Hugs,
P.

 

[WILDER]

Good luck hope she has the fry soon.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Thank you Wilder. I hope she does too. She looks so round.
Hugs,
P.

 

[paulthegreat]

Sounds like a newbie Mom getting ready to pop! The fact that you have nitrite though does not sound so good. I would guess that she is very pregnant and ready to go If you can not put her in a breeding net then let her have darkness and quiet so she will be less stressed HTH.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Phew! Finally got the filter sorted and cleaned up. Water is like crystal again. Shall keep checking the water for nitrIte of course. Seems the filter media (It's a trickle filter, v.large) had gotten clogged with gunk so I spent an hour cleaning it in old tank water. My back may never be the same again. Not that it was much good to start with. Have a second filter on it's way to give this one a boost should this happen again.
Still no fry. She's still somewhat grumpy bless her. But then with the filter clean and the w/c yesterday and today I must have upset her somewhat. I won't seperate her simply because she's had enough stress and it'll only make her worse.
Her new tank (special 30g all for livebearers and a s.gouramie who lives with them) should be ready next week so they'll have no big fish to worry her either.
Hugs,
P.

 

[Miss Dib Dabs]

Latest news on my lil girl...
She disappeared for a bit today. Back in the open this evening. Think she looks a little less fat and her breathing is almost normal again. Phew! Not seen any babes so far and with those big synos in there being rather fond of live food......
Hugs,
P.

 

[WILDER]

Glad to hear that she's back to normal.

 

[xxSarahxx]

I'm glad she's doing better. Sorry if this has been mentioned but I didn't see it....was there any sign of a gravid spot?? Also....she appears to be living in with two other females! How long have you had her? If it's a long time...how might she pregnant?!?!
EDIT: Having read that I think it might sound aggressive, it's not meant to be in the slightest, just covering options!