When You Can't Make A Fish Better But They Don't Seem "sic

[PrairieSunflower]

Yes, her buddy is a 3 1/2 month old platy.

Will see how the meds go for now... so far that spot hasn't dropped off. The other platy seems unaffected.

 

[Joshwainwright]

The other platy seems unaffected.

That's good 

 
Keep an eye on them and keep us updated

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I was wondering... as you can see from the early picture and the current picture... one of the problems my platy has is that she has lost a lot of weight and never seems to gain any back. She eats fine, doesn't refuse anything, gets feed twice per day, gets a variety.

Is there something that I could feed her that would bulk her up somehow? I've had some real bad experiences with blood worms (seems people always suggest those) and have kept away from them since). I don't know, maybe the weight issue is somehow related to her overall health issue that I can't solve, quite likely I'd think. But part of me feels if she was bulkier surely that would be a good thing!

I should add... I was half thinking earlier to start feeding her as though she was a fry... several times a day higher protein, etc. Though... with the current ich treatment going on I can't change the water as much as would be needed if I was feeding her that much.

 

[Mamashack]

I was wondering... as you can see from the early picture and the current picture... one of the problems my platy has is that she has lost a lot of weight and never seems to gain any back. She eats fine, doesn't refuse anything, gets feed twice per day, gets a variety.

Is there something that I could feed her that would bulk her up somehow? I've had some real bad experiences with blood worms (seems people always suggest those) and have kept away from them since). I don't know, maybe the weight issue is somehow related to her overall health issue that I can't solve, quite likely I'd think. But part of me feels if she was bulkier surely that would be a good thing!

I should add... I was half thinking earlier to start feeding her as though she was a fry... several times a day higher protein, etc. Though... with the current ich treatment going on I can't change the water as much as would be needed if I was feeding her that much.

Is there an aquatic version of anabolic steroids? Altho the less chemicals you add to the water at this stage the better I should think.
Good idea about feeding her as fry, but as you say there's the issue of the water changes too. Maybe that's something you can consider when the Ich treatment is completed. How many days are left?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Today is only the 4th day. The bottle recommends 7 days but most forum people usually tell me 14. That last time I had to treat for 3 weeks. In the past when I had either goldfish or my neons who had it, I only had to treat a week. I am hoping a week does it for her.

 

[Mamashack]

It's a bit funny there's only 1 spot, isn't it? Unless it's changed since. From what I've heard your girl sounds to be quite run-down, and you'd think she'd be snided with spots - I'm glad she isn't but it seems a bit unusual.
I hope she begins to show some improvement soon - is she still as active and hungry as before?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

She is unchanged in behavior. Clamping has she has for some time, swimming less than a normal fish but still swimming. Hiding sometimes and eats when I feed them, pooping fine and normally.

It is a bit harder with her coloring to see spots, but far as I can tell she only has the one (haven't managed to see if it is still there this morning since she has her tail clamped at the moment). The other platy has no spots at all.

I would have expected the same, hence I held off immediate treatment for a day or so. When the horrible ich outbreak started the last time (with a platy that ended up dieing) that one was clear then suddenly had many spots.

Wait, I checked again as she unclamped. Indeed she has two spots on her tail despite being day 4 of treatment. That's not good.

 

[Mamashack]

I'm still rooting for her Prairie! I can't think of anything else to suggest, but I am thinking about you and your girl!
Perhaps showing my ignorance here, but I'm not sure what you mean by clamping her tail - is it like twisting to one side like in a fit or something?

 

[Mamashack]

Just had a thought about the weight loss side of this - could she have parasitic worms? She would still be hungry wouldn't she as any worms would be stealing her food supply and it might explain why she's lost weight and is run-down to the point of getting Ich or whatever it is. Don't know how you'd determine this - maybe someone with more experience might offer an opinion.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I don't know. I'm not all that familiar with worms other than seen pictures of those worms that hang out... and there is no sign of those ones.

 

[Mamashack]

I've never seen them either but it occurred it might be a possibility.
Maybe eagles could respond to that one.

 

[Joshwainwright]

If there's nothing visible externally or nothing can be seen in her poop then I wouldn't really worry about worms. Especially with the weight loss being more of a long-term thing at this stage. She was also treated with anti-internal bacteria meds so I think it's unlikely. 
 
It's a shame to hear about the new spot, I hope she hangs in there and things turn around soon!

 

[PrairieSunflower]

She also has one spot on her side fin now. I thought she was dead this morning as she was laying in a plant... but she is still alive.

 

[Mamashack]

Sounds like she is getting weaker Prairie. Hope I'm wrong, but prepare yourself.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Yeah, I've been thinking she is going to die for a long time... I'm surprised she has been with me this long since that other ich outbreak.