Weak Platy
 

Today I notices that my Platy seems weak. He seems to be allowing the filter current to suck him backwards. Which, he has never done before. He has also been swimming strangely: backwards and what looks like sudden freak outs.

He doesn't seem to have any white spots on him
and his fins still look healthy.

I am not sure what could be wrong with him?

hi
what are the reading for the water ?
what temperature is the tank.
when did you water change last.

Temp: 77 degrees F
PH: 7.2
Ammonia: 0
Nitrite: 1 (Nitrites just started going up when the Ammonia hit close to 0)
Last Water Change: Two days ago

I just recorded what he is doing and I am trying to figure out how to save and post it.

Video of Weak Platy
 

Link to Video:

http://img.photobucket.com/player.sw...1/DSCF1044.flv

hmm.well i'll have to wait for someone else to have a look
at your vidoe,i have not sorted out my computer settings yet :evil:
so i can't watch it.
could possibly be a bacterial infection,however as i said before i need someone
elses veiws on this.

I looked at the video a couple of times, and although it is not super clear, I also couldn't see any external things, so I would think this is an internal problem.

Am I correct in thinking this tank was recently set up, say within the last week? I come to this conclusion by your comment that the ammonia is now 0 and the nitrite has gone up to 1. Please confirm. Also, how many other fish are there in this tank? If there are any, how are they behaving? Again assuming a new setup, how did you cycle the tank?

Byron.

Byron --

Unfortunatly, when I got the tank a month ago I did not know about cycling. So, my tank is still in the cycling process. My ammonia level spiked like normal and has now been zero for about two days and nitrites have gone up to 1. (So, my tank has been cycling for a month on the 15th)

We originally had three platy. One of them gave birth and only one fry survived while the two of the adult platy didn't make it. They were found dead several days apart without any phsyical symptoms the days before.

The Fry is still alive. He is a very good hider and we mostly see him at night when he sneaks out for food. He seems fine; he has gotten larger, is very orange and swims really fast.

I'd say the problem is the cycling of a new tank. Some fish can live through it, others can't. (I forgot to ask the tank size, but doesn't matter.) The nitrite reading at 1 is the second phase of the cycle. If you are able to get to a fish store, I would recommend you buy a bottle of "Cycle" and dose the tank according to the instructions for a new tank (it's impossible to overdose, but just use what they recommend, no point in wasting it). A small bottle will do, you use one capful for each 10g now, and then in one week the same. The second dose probably won't be needed, the critical time is now. "Cycle" contains bacteria to "seed" the tank and get the bacteria cycle going immediately. That will reduce the stress on the fish, although the odd one may be too far gone to save. A partial water change of 25% might help save the fish, but don't vacuum the substrate or clean the filter as that will remove the bacteria you are trying to establish.

In the event they all die before you get the Cycle, do a partial water change and start over. It's better to cycle without fish, you can use fishfood to do this, or add pure ammonia (must be pure). I've never done the latter. There are other threads on this forum that explain fishless cycling. If you have fish in the tank, add the cycle when they first go in. It is possible to cycle the tank with one or two fish, using the cycle; i have done this and never had any signs of stress with the fish, but don't do it without Cycle. The bacteria start to multiply and consume the ammonia and a second bacteria the nitrite. The bacteria will multiply according to the amount of food (ammonia and nitrite) that is available to them, and ammonia is produced by fish respiration and such, or by decaying fish food if you use that method.

Once you can test for several days and get a reading of 0 for both ammonia and nitrite, the tank is initially cycled. Then you increase the bioload very gradually, the bacteria multiply as their food increases, and so forth. After 8 weeks the tank is usually considered "cycled." You can then add more fish but only one or two at a time if the tank is small, say 20g or under; if over 20g, you could add a few more and use Cycle each time.

thank you Byron for helping.

Byron --

Thank you so much for all of the information. Basically, there is nothing I can really do for my platy except for continue the cycle process and purchase "cycle"?

I have searched my local stores and cannot find it so I am searching the inernet.

If he dies, will the fry be enough to coninue the cycle with?