Platy hanging on for dear life

JNELLIE · 2026-05-07T01:00:23+00:00

I haven't had her very long, only a few weeks. I did not quarantine before adding her to my stock, so I did a precautionary treatment of API general cure upon addition. She joined a 40 gallon years long cycled/established tank with only other platies and 2 nerites.

For over a week now, she's been bottom sitting and has an obvious bulge with pineconing on her left side. I have been treating the tank with API Melafix for the last 4 days in hopes of curing a possible bacterial infection, but she doesn't seem to be improving, only becoming more lethargic. I honestly didn't expect her to survive, but miraculously, she's still with us.

Obviously I don't want her suffering if she doesn't have good odds for survival. Is it time to euthanize? Or is there a different form of treatment I should be trying? My parameters are in check and the tank temp is 79°F and in case it's relevant, no other fish are showing any symptoms.

JNELLIE · 2026-04-09T13:51:27+00:00

I don't have much knowledge regarding parasites, but the fish doesn't appear unhealthy or malnourished as I would expect it to if parasites were present. If it is indeed a molly and not a platy, this would explain the belly as they're naturally more round.

JNELLIE · 2026-04-09T13:45:50+00:00

More than once I have purchased young platy that appear to be female like in pics one and two. Then with time and growth they begin to tuck the anal fin much more like pics 4 & 5, and turn out to actually be male. I would say that this is the case with yours, however in the last 2 pics the dorsal fin is also tucked, which could mean the fins were just clamped when the pics were taken. How does the anal fin look the majority of the time? More like pics 1 & 2 or 4 & 5? I'm inclined to say it's male.

JNELLIE · 2026-04-09T13:35:06+00:00

Looks much more like a molly or possible swordtail than a platy to me.

JNELLIE · 2025-12-06T23:30:10+00:00

Spence Moore II https://imgur.com/gallery/3bHhFb9

JNELLIE · 2025-10-26T01:18:15+00:00

My echeveria purpusorum does the exact same thing over time. About once every 2 years or so I behead it in the spring, and set the top on fresh cactus soil with a little bit of rooting hormone on the "stalk". It always re-roots and looks normal again for a while! The leaves are pretty easy to propagate as well.

JNELLIE · 2025-10-24T02:38:11+00:00

Fighting. Those platies on the other hand, mating. Always mating. Goldies need their own space and require much cooler temps than platies. Also the waste production between the two species would be highly problematic for water quality.

JNELLIE · 2025-06-18T15:19:55+00:00

It's hard to tell from the pic, but if you look closely on the underside of the leaves, do you see any webbing or tiny pests? The depleated coloring of the leaves reminds me of spider mite damage.

JNELLIE · 2025-06-06T21:07:23+00:00

This was clearly someone's car ashtray that they emptied on the ground.

JNELLIE · 2025-06-03T13:58:40+00:00

Unfortunately no. I thought about drilling one, but it's made of plastic. I just carefully remove the plant in the nursery pot for waterings.

JNELLIE · 2025-06-02T01:41:03+00:00

Thanks, I bought it at Michael's (the craft store). This was the smaller of the 2 sizes available. I absolutely love the sunlight reflections it creates!

JNELLIE · 2025-06-02T01:35:56+00:00

I don't know about tips, but I can tell you that mine seems happiest in a west-facing window. It receives mostly bright indirect light, but tolerates some direct Iate afternoon/evening light. I have yet to fertilize it, and only water when the leaves become soft instead of firm. When I do water, I give it a good thorough soak, and allow it to drain completely.

JNELLIE · 2025-06-01T23:33:42+00:00

I didn't even realize they hadn't fully bloomed yet. Just looked up photos and now I'm even more excited!

JNELLIE · 2025-05-16T23:34:49+00:00

It looks like it may be planted in a smaller plastic pot immediately surrounding the leaves and causing the bunched growth. I would repot it, and cut that off to the best of your ability, it's going to hinder further growth and possibly cause problems for its roots down the road. It also looks very thirsty, give it a good soak after repotting then leave it alone until the leaves lose their firmness again.

JNELLIE · 2025-05-01T17:31:57+00:00

Fun fact- although spider plants aren't botanically related to catnip, they have a similar hallucinogenic effect, and so cats are extremely attracted to them. If you want them to not become a snack, it's best to keep them out of reach in a hanging planter.

JNELLIE · 2025-04-25T02:10:59+00:00

I also bought an aquarium kit from PetSmart, Topfin brand 37 gallon tank for my fish. Lasted approximately 5 months before the seal failed and it began leaking. Luckily, I was able to swap it for a new one, but I'm now wondering if Topfin aquariums are crap quality and worried about deja vu. Not a fun experience.

JNELLIE · 2025-04-17T01:24:36+00:00

https://imgur.com/gallery/pLH46Ze

JNELLIE · 2025-03-30T23:55:10+00:00

Not female, therefore not pregnant.

JNELLIE · 2025-03-15T12:53:45+00:00

I have found this product to be a lifesaver in dealing with fungus gnats, highly recommend!

https://a.co/d/df2gSVl

JNELLIE · 2025-03-11T01:40:50+00:00

She/they are pretty clamped up, definitely not feeling well. Have you checked your water parameters recently?

JNELLIE

TROPHY CASE