What's wrong with my platy? 10 Points!!!?

Question

I got my platy about 1 1/2 weeks ago and now one of them is at the bottom. It's alive and breathing but it's breathing really really hard. It's not swimming/ active. I have a 70 gallon tank with other fishes, all of them are community. I've tested with ammonia and nitrite levels and everything a good. Help?? 10 points!

Answer 1

Could be lack of oxygen. What filtration system do you have?

I would try and get more oxygen into the water, do a 30% water change and add some salt.

If you have the filters on the back of the tank then to add more oxygen you can just leave the water line a couple inches low. The water will fall further and cause more 02

I hope this helps and your little guy bounces back to life.

Answer 2

Your platy should have adjusted to its new home by now.  Have you checked your nitrAtes (not nitrItes)?  High nitrates can cause fish to be stressed.  If all three of your levels are fine, perhaps some sort of parasite is to blame.  Ich and gill flukes are a couple parasites that can cause a fish to pant (there are others too!), and contrary to popular belief, fish will sometimes pant BEFORE they should other signs of a parasitic infection.  I don't think it's an oxygen problem because oxygen deprived fish usually suck at the surface of the water.  As a precaution, you should probably do a partial water change just in case something toxic has made it's way into the aquarium.  Watch the other fish carefully and continue to monitor your sick platy for new signs and/or symptoms.

Answer 3

It is probably just adjusting to its new environment...if it keeps this up for too long then call in a professional!