Sick Platy?? IMG* CLOSED..... problem solved!

[fedge]

I got a female platy that may or may not have a parasite. I think maybe hydra, but am unsure. I am unable to get a photo of her since she just won't sit still for them(attests to her health a little maybe). But here is a image that I drew of the problem. Its like a little cone shapped projection from her underside of the mouth that has a wisp on it.



Yes I am an artist if you are wondering.

What should I do about it. I am tempted to remove her and pinch it off with a tweezer, but that is drastic(she is in a Q-tank at the moment anyway--with her lover, who shows no signs of disease).

What medicines work best... or should I just wait it out... She eats VERY well, very very FAT. She is very lively but does tend to breath a bit more than the male(when she has JUST eaten--I tend to overfeed--since im still learning how to feed the right amounts)

[amanda huggenkiss]

Hee. Her luuuuh-verrrrrrrr. Heh. Sorry, couldn't resist. I have nothing useful to add... ignore me... carry on...

[wellbiz]

http://www.animal-world.com/encyclo/...es.htm#Argulus

[amanda huggenkiss]

Wow. Handy link wellbiz! (bookmarking that one...)

[fedge]

yAH the male I got her with is always trying to please her(lowing his fins in submission) and chases and then plays tag....etc

[fedge]

Ohh BTW she is only about 1.5 inches in length and that drawing is scaled up... pretty acurate on size...

[fedge]

I looked at that link.. saw nothing that describes what she has....(i realize that sometimes parasites don't care where they attach...)

[amanda huggenkiss]

I guess no one knows what it is...

Do you have your platys in brackish or freshwater? I've heard that adding some salt to the water can help take care of any parasites. There's an article here.

[SueNH]

Is she new? Could it be just a healing cut from shipping? Sometimes it's a rough ride to the petshop. Or possibly from the male paying too much attention. Livebearers are generally kept in trios because the males can be a pest.

[fedge]

Hmm she pry has an injury... maybe... You know the "thing" has been on her for over two weeks now... and there is only one male in there... he pesters her sometimes and other times she chases him away...(there was another male in there once...for about three days but he was a bullly so i moved him out)

The two in there are more like brother and sister playing than chasing!!.... If we all could have fish that act that way..lol

As a side note, when i put my male in the main tank(the bully) he got bullied...brought him down about 20 noches by the loaches and other female platies who didnt want anything to do with him at first. Now he's normal. ALso the femals(two of them) began to swim in half upright(cocked at 45 degrees) in circles then pecking at each other after his addition to the tank. It was quite comedic and i wish i had a film of it..(never seen it since). I would growl with them like a dog when they did it..made my wife laugh. Then the other dumb platy females wouldcome over and break up the whole thing by watching too closely(in the fighting females faces).

[Hop]

A little off base here, but are you sure its a parasite? Just wondering because about two weeks ago I had a fish spear a piece of plant clean through its mouth. Looked a little pitiful swimming around with dwarf grass on its face. I was able to catch it and pull it out. I'm sure stranger things have happened. Could be anything might have impaled or lanced her