The Platy fish is a popular freshwater tropical aquarium species. They are often used as feeder fish or to eat algae in tanks, but they can also be kept by themselves. These hardy little guys have been around for decades, and they are still going strong! However, if you’re thinking of adding one of these cute little fellas to your aquarium, then you should know that there are some diseases and health problems to look out for. So what are common diseases and its treatment in Platy fish?
Some of the common diseases in Platy fish are shimmies, wasting disease, and skinny disease. Another common problem is swim bladder problems which can lead to buoyancy issues usually accompanied by bulging eyes or an odd stance of the fish, amongst others. If you decide to add Platy’s into your tank, make sure it is cycled properly without affecting their immune system.
There are also quite a few parasites that you should be aware of, including Camallanus Internal Worm, Gill Flukes, and Fungus, among others.
If you have one of these adorable creatures, you will want to read this blog post carefully. It contains information about the most common diseases that plague these animals, their symptoms, treatments available-and what not to do if your plumpy gets sick.
Let’s Dive In!!!
General Signs Of An Ill Platy Fish
First, let’s talk about the basic signs of a fish being unhealthy in general:
- Loss of appetite
- Excessive gasping at the surface
- Lethargy or staying near the bottom of the tank.
These are not signs per see but, they should be a good indicator that your fish is sick and needs attention. We’ll focus on more specific signs like white spots appearing all over your fish in this post.
Common Platy Fish Diseases With Their Treatment
Now, let’s get into some disease and treatment options:
Shimmies/Shimmying
Shimmies or shimmy disease is a neurological disorder that generally affects the way your Platy fish moves. If left untreated, this can cause paralysis and death, depending on how severe it is.
The shimmies can also signify a bacterial infection growing exacerbated by stress in the fish’s environment.
One of the first signs is that your Platy will shake or shimmy erratically as it swims around its tank. Lack of oxygen in the water causes this in Platy fish.
It would help if you looked to increase the aeration and filtration of your tank and check all equipment like filters, heaters, etc., for any issues or damage that might be causing this problem.
Symptoms:
- Shaking of the head/body when swimming (which may be violent)
- Difficulty breathing
- Sitting in a corner facing the wall
- Mucus or discoloration on the body.
Treatment:
In most cases, Shimmies are caused by water conditions that are too cold for Platy fish. You can fix this easily simply by increasing the temperature of their tank to 77-82F (25C). If your tank is between 82-86F (28C), you should not have any issues with Shimmies.
However, if your tank temperature stays below 77F (25C), some medications can help fix the problem, such as salt baths or antibiotic injections, which will prevent other fish from catching this disease while also treating it in the affected fish.
It’s also important to remember that Shimmies are not contagious and will only affect Platy Fish, so you can still keep other types of fish with your infected one (as long as they are healthy).
You can perform a water change (25%) to help rid the tank of built-up pollutants and determine if that helps your fish’s symptoms. If it doesn’t, you should treat it with Metronidazole or Nitrofuranace as per directions on the package for bacterial infections in tropical freshwater aquariums.
Wasting Disease/Skinny Disease
This is by far one of the most common diseases for Platy fish. It’s caused generally by poor diet, stress, and lack of vitamins in the water.
Symptoms
- Rapid weight loss and fin rot or damaged fins that don’t heal properly on their own (if at all).
- If you see sores beginning to form on your fish’s body, this is a sign of Skinny Disease.
Treatment
First off, you should treat the water with Melafix or Pimafix for bacterial infections and fungal infections, respectively. These can generally clear up any open wounds caused by fin rot within 48 hours, which will help the fish heal.
Secondly, you should feed your Platies a high-quality pellet or flake food enriched with Vitamin A and C and potassium to promote healthy growth of the fins (and prevent fin rot).
Thirdly, if there are any visible signs of Skinny Disease on the surface of your fish, you should treat the water with Parasite Clear for a few days to ensure that your fish is free of internal parasites.
Lastly, if all else fails and there are no signs of recovery after two weeks, rehome the affected fish or euthanize it humanely.
Ich In Platy Fish
Ich, also known as “white spot disease,” is caused by ciliated protozoans of the genus Ichthyophthirius. The fish contracts the parasite when it comes into contact with infected individuals or contaminated objects such as nets, water pumps, and decorations in an aquarium.
This can happen very quickly; most infections will appear within 12 hours of the fish coming into contact with Ichthyophthirius.
An ich infection causes small white spots to appear on the body and fins, gradually increasing in size as they become covered by more parasites.
Once a spot has reached over one millimeter in diameter, it can no longer contain any zoospores and will burst, releasing the free-swimming parasites to infect other fish.
The white spots are only on the skin’s surface; this means that they can be wiped away without harming your fish. It is important not to confuse these with any fungal infections, which start within the body of a lesion compared to ich which develops on the surface.
One of the easiest ways to identify Ich, or Ick for short, is to look for the white spots on a fish.
These spots are caused by an overpopulation of free-swimming larvae that have attached themselves to the skin of your platy.
Symptoms:
- White Spots On Skin
- Difficulty Swallowing Food
- Weight Loss
- Platy Fish infected with Ichthyophthirius will often swim at an awkward angle near the water surface.
- They struggle to breathe due to gill damage or irritation caused by the parasites in their gills and mouths.
- They may also be seen gasping for air at the water surface, either their aquarium’s surface or the sides.
Treatment:
It is important to treat your fish quickly and efficiently as soon as you notice any symptoms; failure to do so can further damage and fatalities.
The best way to prevent Ich from taking hold in an aquarium is by quarantining new additions for a period of four weeks before introducing them to the rest of your fish.
Salt baths are one of the most effective forms of treatment for ich and other external parasites.
This is especially important when purchasing a new young Platy fish as they are particularly vulnerable to internal and external parasites such as Ichthyophthirius.
Treatment for an established case of Ich can prove more difficult, although many people have had success using Maracyn Two or Maracyn Plus.
Dropsy
Dropsy is often called the plague of aquariums. This disease has many symptoms and can be very difficult to diagnose without a good knowledge about fish diseases in general.
This disease is caused by internal organ failure, usually the kidneys or liver but can also be attributed to a heart problem.
Fish that suffer from dropsy will have scales that protrude outwards and may roll over, making it difficult for them to swim freely.
The scales may also become discolored, and the belly will be swollen. In addition, Dropsy can lead to secondary infections, which will make it more difficult for your fish to fight off infection and recover from dropsy.
Dropsy causes scales on the body to stand up like pins on a pin cushion which can be very dangerous to the fish if it cannot swim away from danger.
Dropsy is caused by internal bacterial infections that cause organ failure in Platy Fish, and the organs become filled with fluid, causing them to swell up.
Symptoms:
- There are many symptoms of Dropsy, but the main ones that make this disease easily identifiable are a swelling of the body and scales sticking up.
- Sometimes fish with dropsy will have swollen eyes, making them look like they have been punched in both eyes.
- Fish severely afflicted by dropsy often have a bloated body, and scales stick out, making it appear to have pine cone scales on their bodies.
Treatment:
Dropsy can be quite fatal to Platy Fish, so immediate treatment is important. First, the water quality must be immaculate and should have a pH of between six to eight but not higher than an alkaline pH level, as this could further damage the fish’s internal organs.
Fish suffering from dropsy will often find it hard to eat, so adding some salt to their diet can make them feel better and help fight the illness.
Placing a small quantity of aquarium salt into the water can reduce some of the symptoms. Still, unfortunately, dropsy is often too far gone for Platy Fish that are suffering from it.
If there is any chance to save your fish, you need to place them into a hospital tank away from the other fish as dropsy can spread rapidly throughout an aquarium.
It is complicated for you to measure treatments for dropsy. Hence, it is best to get a professional opinion from your local pet store or take the sick fish to a vet specializing in aquatic animals.
Swim Bladder Disease In Platy Fish
Swim bladder disease is an illness that affects fish where the swim bladder swells, distorts, or prevents the fish from holding air.
The cause of the disease is unknown, but it is thought to be related to diet or the environment.
As a result of this condition, the fish will not keep its body upright and may sink sideways to the bottom of the aquarium until it can get enough air pushed out to right itself.
Fish will look like they’re swimming on their side instead of upright. They will act lethargic or depressed and swim to the surface for air because it suffocates inside their own body.
Now, Let’s learn about symptoms of swim bladder disorder or diseases in Platy fish along with its treatment:
Symptoms:
The symptoms of swim bladder disease in fish include:
- Sunken abdomen caused by an inability to hold air in the swim bladder
- Inability to maintain a proper upright position in the water
- Dull eyes and loss of appetite
- Lethargy
- Attempting to release gas by gulping at the surface
- Slow loss of coloration due to a lack of oxygen getting into their systems.
Treatment:
Fish with this disease will need immediate medical attention. However, it is not curable by antibiotics.
The owner can try adding salt or Epsom salts to their aquarium water in hopes that it may help the swim bladder return to normal size.
If this doesn’t work, surgery may be necessary if your fish is in good enough condition for an operation.
The doctor will need to remove part of the dorsal fin and insert it into the opening of the swim bladder where it’s connected to the spine so that when you fit sh, it gulps air. It will force the fin out and hopefully create enough tension to push on the swim bladder.
If all else fails, euthanasia may be necessary, depending on how far gone your fish is.
Fin And Tail Rot In Platy Fish
Fin and tail rot is a bacterial disease that causes ulcers on the fins and tail of the fish. If left untreated, this will result in death. It typically affects young fish under 4 months old.
Symptoms:
- Tiny white spots form on the fins and tail, and the fins and tail will start to rot.
- Red or brown discoloration on the fins, tail, or body. The affected area is usually a pale tan color as well.
Treatment
Treatment for fin and tail rot in Platy fish includes increasing aeration to your aquarium water since this disease often results from poor tank conditions such as low oxygen.
Increase the temperature of your tank to around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius).
Use antibiotic medications like Maracyn or Kanamycin from a pet store containing ingredients such as oxytetracycline. As always, follow the directions on your medication product for correct dosage and treatment length.
Velvet (Oodinium)
This is a common ailment among fish and usually takes hold when the immune system is compromised. The symptoms of velvet are pretty distinctive – a loss of appetite accompanied by flashing (rubbing up against rocks/decor) and excess mucus production caused by scratching
Symptoms:
- Loss Of Appetite Caused By Stress And Weakness
- Excess Mucus Production Caused By Scratching And Rubbing Against Other Objects
Treatment:
Use a salt bath to treat this infection. Soaking in one tablespoon of aquarium/sea salt per gallon will help increase aeration and add some form of pure oxygen. Also, use an antibiotic like penicillin to prevent secondary infection.
Fungal Infection
Fungal infections are prevalent when your fish live in poor conditions like overcrowding. It can attack any part of their body, including fins and skin. Causes, symptoms as well as treatment for fungal infections in fish.
Symptoms
There are a few symptoms that will help you diagnose if your fish has contracted the fungal infection, these include:
- Loss of appetite
- Lethargy and weakness
- Fins are frayed. It looks like they have been nibbled by something such as snails or other fish.
- They will eventually turn from a healthy white to an opaque color before turning red/pink/brown.
- Skin is covered in spores that resemble cotton.
- Brownish red or white cotton-like patches on the body and fins.
Treatment
Although treating fungus in Platy fish is difficult because once it’s gone into the second stage, it can become fatal, there are ways you can treat your fish to reduce the severity of it.
Firstly, get a quarantine tank and move all infected fish into it to not infect other healthy fish in their main tank.
Secondly, stop the medication immediately as some medications will worsen fungal infections or even cause secondary infections.
Only feed them a high-quality diet of brine shrimp and Mysis as both are easily digestible by fish, especially with a fungal infection which can cause appetite issues.
Increase their water quality so that they have good clean filtered water to swim in. This is vital because all diseases, including fungal infections, thrive in dirty water.
Make sure they have clean and undamaged fins so that the fungus does not grow on them. Sixthly, provide a good tank environment with an ideal temperature of 74-78 degrees Fahrenheit
If you are going to medicate your fish, then use the following medication:
Tetracycline, Chloromycetin, or Furan two. These medications are also used to treat humans with fungal infections, so they’re safe for fish too.
It would help if you were patient because it will take time before your fish get better, and the only thing you can do is improve their tank conditions.
Gill Flukes
Gill flukes is a platy disease that white spots on the gills can identify. This is a parasite, and it will affect many other organs in your fish’s body if left untreated, so you should immediately seek treatment for this as soon as possible before your fish becomes too weak.
Symptoms:
- White spots on gills
- Lethargic behavior
- Loss of appetite and will eventually die if not treated.
Treatment:
You can treat this with any anti-parasite medication which you can purchase from your local fish store. It would help if you repeated this treatment after a week. This will ensure the flukes are completely eradicated from your platy’s system.
Camallanus Internal Worm
Camallanus is one of the most common internal parasites you will find among aquarium fish, particularly goldfish and cichlids.
Symptoms:
- Loss of appetite or anorexia
- Swimming in circles to get around because it has too many hooks on its body which are causing discomfort, so it tries to move them by swimming in circles.
Treatment:
You can buy Camallanus-specific treatment from your local fish store, which will rid your platy of this parasite within a week, depending on how severe the infestation is.
Viral Haemorrhagic Septicaemia
VHS is a common virus among aquarium fish, and it can be fatal if left untreated.
Symptoms:
- A loss of appetite
- Fish are stressed out or swim erratically when they have the infection because it makes them feel very uncomfortable inside their bodies.
- Eventually, you will notice small red spots on your platy’s skin which look like blood under the scales.
Treatment:
There is no known treatment for VHS, but you can buy anti-viral medication from your local fish store, which will help reduce the symptoms and ease some of your platy’s discomfort until it recovers naturally on its own.
PopEye In Platy Fish
An infection in the eye causes the disease namely popeye in Platy fish. Eyes become swollen and can bulge out of their sockets if left untreated.
As this progresses, this will impair vision to where it becomes difficult for your fish to see food or obstacles in its way.
The first sign of popeye is usually a cloudy lump on the eye’s surface but can progress quickly into bulging eyes if treatment is not given.
Popeye in fish can be caused by bacteria and parasites and fluid build-up due to stress or other diseases such as dropsy. The best solution is to seek treatment from an experienced fish veterinarian.
Symptoms Of Popeye
- Cloudy lump on the surface of the eye
- Eyes bulging out of the socket
Treatment Of Popeye With Fish Veterinarians In Your Area
One way to treat popeye quickly is by putting your fish in a bath with an antibiotic solution.
Be sure to change one-quarter of the water every day during treatment, and only treat for three to five days.
If your fish is not currently eating, you should force-feed it and ensure its water does not become polluted while the infection runs its course. If left untreated, popeye can cause blindness in your fish or even death.
However, treatment usually involves antibiotics which can be difficult to get from a regular fish veterinarian.
Popeye in fish is usually treated by a specialist but can be fixed with the right treatments and antibiotics.
If you live near one of our Veterinary Clinics, we recommend booking an appointment to get your poopy head seen ASAP!
How Can You Prevent Diseases In Your Platy Fish?
Prevention is better than cure. As you have learned about diseases in Platy fish along with their treatment, it is better to learn about prevention too. So, I recommend you follow the guidelines.
Maintain Water Parameters
You should maintain the water parameters accordingly and test them regularly to avoid any disease or infection.
A few diseases are caused due to poor water conditions like ammonia toxicity, high nitrates, and low oxygen levels. So, make sure that your tank has a proper filtration system along with good water circulation.
Feed Well
A well-nourished fish is more resistant to diseases and stress than a malnourished one, so you need to feed it the best quality food in small quantities several times daily.
Remove Dead Fish And Eliminate Stress
You should remove all dead or dying platys from your tank immediately.
A fish that has stopped eating and is swimming at the bottom of your tank can be a sign of stress in it.
So, you need to pay attention to its behavior and remove all stressed fish immediately.
Arrange Quarantine Tank For New Platy Fish Addition Or Sick Fish Treatment
Any new platys must be introduced in your aquarium or sick fish to be treated.
So, you need to arrange a quarantine tank for them which can help keep the disease from spreading.
You will also have an opportunity to observe their behavior and check if they are regularly eating or not without any problem.
Inspect Your Platy Tank Regularly And Seek A Vet
Regularly check your tank for any signs of disease and infection.
If you find anything abnormal in your fish, you need to seek a vet immediately to properly diagnose the issue and get rid of it without causing further damage.
Conclusion
In conclusion, keeping your aquarium clean and maintaining proper water parameters, feeding schedule, and regular tank inspection is necessary. It will also help reduce the risk of infections in your fish along with healthy growth.
In case you notice any disease or infection signs, then seek a vet immediately for their treatment as soon as possible before it becomes worse.
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