Red Gills

[woody111]

I have just started cycling my tank and have added 4 mickey mouse platys. I have noticed that there gills are very red. Is this normal or is there a problem?
I would appreciate any help.
Thanks

 

[danio]

That's usually a sign of stress from disease or water quality, but I know some types of platys also happen to have a normal red coloring around the gills. Did they look like that when you bought them? And are they breathing rapidly?

Never hurts to check the ammonia and nitrite levels if you haven't already.

 

[stang1]

I would definitely test your water as your tank won't have cycled yet and red gills can be caused by poor water quality.
If you can, take your fish back to the lfs and carry on with a fishless cycle. There is a pinned topic to give you a better idea on how to do this.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

You need to test your water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates with an accurate test kit (the Master test kits are quite good) and post the stats back here...The most common reasons for red gills in fish is either;
a. Ammonia or nitrite problems damaging the fishes gills
b. A parasite like gill flukes infesting the gills
c. A bacterial infection infecting the gills


So its important to test your water quality to see whats going on with it to see if its the cause of the red gills.

 

[monica]

Same exact thing in my Mickey Mouse Platy that I bought today. He came that way. Very red gills that you could see through the white.