Massive Platy

[tomelk31]

I have a platy which looks pregnant. Her belly is massive and she has looked like she is going to give birth for sometime. Today i have noticed that she is hanging round the plants but all her scales are spiked out of her body.

Is this anything to worry about?

 

[StandbySetting]

That is dropsy, not sure how to treat, but I'm sure someone will be along who can tell you.

 

[scaeriefaerie666]

yes, that does sound like dropsy.
Please be aware that there are very few things that you can do for a fish when they have dropsy, and prepare yourself for the worst.
The most successful way to treat drospy is with a series of epsom salt baths (NOT aquarium salt) Google should give you the right way to conduct an epsom salt bath.
Drospy is more often than not caused by bad water parameters - and if you want to treat it properly you'll need to confront this too. What are your ammonia, nitrate, nitrite and PH levels? If you have no way of testing this, most fish supplying pet shops will test your water for free.
But yes, epsom salt bath ASAP. And keep your water as clean as clean can be - 25% changes daily and thats about the most you can do.
xxx

 

[tomelk31]

Hi

I did my weekly 30% water change yesterday.

Water parameters are:

Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 5
PH 7

They seem normal. Will look at the salt bath thing.

CHeers

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Have a look at this topic:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/350365-platy-with-big-swollen-belly/page__p__2920014__fromsearch__1#entry2920014

The platy is fine now.
You need to act quickly though.