andimariep

Help! My platy is still somewhat active but looks like she has something bloody coming out of her anus - it actually doesn't look like worms at all, rather, two pink bloody bubble-like things that have since somehow gone back into her body. She is also bloated.

I have a 10 gallon tank with a Fluval 105 filter and live plants. I usually do a 25% water change every week and add Aqua Plus and Cycle each time.

The other animals I originally had in the tank were: another platy, 4 neon tetras, and a dwarf lemon gourami. I also had 5 large snails and one of those sucker fish that look like dinosaurs.

We've had a "wild" snail infestation as well that I've fought off many times but can't seem to get rid of. (Any additional advice on fish that may kill these horrible things would be great).

Last week I went to the pet shop because I thought I'd get a couple more neon tetras since they weren't schooling very much, and the pet shop guy told me I could increase this amount and get 6 rasboras and 2 more tetras. I added these fish but waited on the water change, as I was worried about their transition.

Please help! It sounds corny, but our family loves this fish as it was born in our tank and we've watched her grow. Her brother (boyfriend - eek) also is completely bummed out acting and has now gone into hiding.

Thanks in advance!

Matt

OMG!! Maybe she is pregnant

I really hope so it would be an awesome experience for you if she was.

Post some pics if u can that will help alot.

From MATT

Also i forgot to say "Welcome To Fishlore, The Greatest Fish Forum In The World"

andimariep

No, she's definitely not pregnant. I've seen that before - she was born in this tank. No, this is something really weird, it looks like her insides are coming out - and now they've gone back inside. Help!

Matt

Get your camera out now and take a photo of her then post it on here and ill c what i can do ok.

Do it!

From Matt

P.S. This could be very serious

Allie

It sound like camallanus worms and they are fatal if you don't get the proper meds. Don't ignore this one, disinfect everything that has gone near that tank with bleach.
I have been dealing with them since February. Please read this there is a lot of info on this subject.
My experience with Camallanus worms

andimariep

thanks, but i don't have a digital camera, and i can't figure out how to send pics from my cell phone to the internet! yikes, i know.

well, the stuff hasn't come out again, but now she's big and swollen, and her anus is like a square - open and white. the scales around her bottom are starting to get thick and flaky and look like they're disintegrating! she was turning upside down last night, i thought for certain she was going to die, but today she is still alive, and not turning upside anymore.

please help - it's very upsetting and i'm going to go get a digital camera if she survives the night. otherwise, if it's dropsy or something, i need to find a humane way to put her out of her misery. this is heartbreaking.

Matt

You Really Must Post Pictures It Will Help Us ALot In Identifying What It Is.

Dont put her down just yet i bet she is a little fighter and she wont just die and if she does she will die fighting. If it does come to that then we will discuss humane ways.

From Matt

andimariep

i've heard someone suggest an epsom salt bath. can anyone tell me what that is? i have epsom salts, so i'll do it tonight if i can. someone also suggested i feed her a pea. i have separated her into a popcorn-sized bowl - i can try to measure the amount of water i have if necessary, or change the water again, too ... i'm going to find a way to take pics tomorrow if she makes it!

many many many thanks

Lucy

I'm really sorry your fish is ill, I know how distressing it can be.

An epsom salt bath is more for constipation, as is a pea diet.

Epsom Salt baths can be very harsh on an already weakened fish.
If you feel that it's constipation, try feeding a couple of bits of frozen, thawed, shelled pea first. Daphnia and fasting should also work for constipation.

The symptoms of dropsy are raised scales where they look like a pine cone and bloating.

It sounds more like parasites. Did you read the link Allie provided?

Allie

Did you read my post? She has internal parasites sounds like the fatal kind. She is dying. The whole tank is infected and they will all die.
Please read the link I provided...this is a rare serious worm. You have to get levimisol a de worming med if you want your fish to live.
My angelfish have been infected since February. EVERYONE else from that tank had passed. I cannot get the med in Canada.