Terri

Thanks for all that info. I will definitely quarantine for longer next time. I do have a 10 gallon tank, with filter, bubbler etc. Should I always have it setup for emergencies and new fish. I ask only because of cycling a tank, I could do this prior to adding new fish but if a fish gets sick it wouldn't even something I could plan for so I just wonder if you recommend just leaving it setup somewhere if needed. I also didn't realize you should medically treat the fish during the quarantine, but that actually sounds like a fantastic idea. The store where the fish were purchased was big al's. They said that the reason some fish aren't available for purchase was because of their quarantine procedure, but after I read what you wrote I am now somewhat skeptical if that occurs for as long as they said it does. They do provide a warranty on their fish but I am hoping not to ever have to use it. How do you purchase fish from breeders or hobbyists, I know there is a spot on here to purchase (not that I am currently looking but maybe in the next few months) but if they aren't near you I am scared to have a fish shipped. I feel bad for the fish and worry it would be too stressful (probably being ridiculous I know) even though I realize that is how the stores bring them in. Would love your opinion on these questions because I love the fish and the thought I could be doing them harm would break my heart. thanks again for taking your time to respond.

Thanks for the information, it is a very hard hobby to get in to as there is so much conflicting information when you start out. Thanks for taking the time to provide all the info you did in regards to quarantine procedures and how to deal with the issue I was facing. As of today the mark is practically healing before my eyes so I am definitely leaning towards it being an injury. I will keep up daily water changes just to make sure it fully heals and there are no complications. Thanks to you both for all the info you provided, it really helped me out and stopped me from panicking. I had no idea quarantine should be a month. Would this be the same if you add a snail to the tank as well? Also the store I get the fish from does an in store quarantine for 30 days prior to them being allowed for sale. Would they still need a quarantine of a month on top of this? Thanks again for all your help, I hate when my lovely fish don't seem perfect or happy.

I think you are right having it on hand would be a good idea, kind of how I have Benadryl for my kids, just in case it is needed. Thanks for the advice, I think I will do water change today and if no improvement by tomorrow I will try the individual soaking method you recommended. Also I apologize for any typos, I am tying to be coherent while typing with a toddler.

Thanks for the reply. I realize don't I posted twice only about twenty minutes ago lol. I am leaning towards injury, only because it appeared so abruptly and I got a better look at the spot. It literally looks indented or gouged where the lighter colour is. I am hoping she just squeezed into a tight space and it wasn't another tank mate. The only recent addition is the rainbow female platy. She was added, after being quarantined a few days, about three weeks ago. I think I may stick with some water changes and just hope it heals. If it gets worse, or I see anything in another fish I will look into the malachite green.

Also if this is important I have both live plants and ornamental.

Thanks for the response and advice, I will do a water change (last was 25% three days ago), you were right About my nitrates seeming high so I re-tested (as my daughter helps most mornings) and it is at 10ppm, everything else was as written above. Will the malachite green harm the juvenile platies, or my fan shrimp? I do have a 10 gallon tank I could set up for QT but as I am not sure it isn't a scratch from getting to close to something (she likes to swim through the driftwood holes) I would hate to move her unnecessarily. I don't think it is ich, my tank has never had it but a friends did. That looked more granular, and sort of sparkly. This spot is almost like two lines and very matte in appearance. It isn't raised at all. Also the mark seems big to appear over night, or can that happen? I was more worried there might be a bacterial or fungal type infection. Can ich be different in appearance?

Hi, I am fairly new to the aquarium world but saw something alarming on my red wag female platy. Not sure if it is a mark from injury on a decoration or something fungal/bacterial. I have a twenty gallon tank, fully cycled before fish were added. It has been up and running with fish for about 6 months. Water temperature is 78 degrees. Ph is 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20 ppm. I do weekly water changes. In the tank there is a female red wag platy, female high fin platy, female rainbow platy, male calico platy, three juvenile high fins (all female about two months old) and a fan shrimp. This morning when I Checked my fish (I do this every morning) the female red wag platy looks to have either a scratchy or white patch. She is fine in behaviour, eating etc. Poop is normal (same as it has always been ). I am concerned this is something fungal bacterial and don't want to leave it if it is, however there was no mark last night and it is so uniform it looks like a scratch. I have attached pictures for people who may have knowledge that I don't have what I should do. I don't want to medicate if unnecessary. Thanks and if there is any info I left out let me know, as I said I am new to this.

Biodives how right you are, wish I had seen your post before family day passed by...maybe Easter would work. I have to admit this aquarium hobby is addicting, I may need help to stop.

Hi Bart, I feel 100% the same as you, and this having fry is extra exciting as my passion was genetics so seeing the diversity amongst them is really amazing and has me wondering what the father fish looked like. My other kids aren't eight for a few years, but seeing as their mom is a huge child at heart I am sure it won't be long until there is more. Already I am caught by my husband hanging out in my daughter's room studying the aquarium multiple times a day....Maybe I should suggest my own tank for Mother's Day lol.

Hi, I am fairly new to the aquarium world but saw something alarming on my red wag female platy. Not sure if it is a mark from injury on a decoration or something fungal/bacterial. I have a twenty gallon tank, fully cycled before fish were added. It has been up and running with fish for about 6 months. Water temperature is 78 degrees. Ph is 7.8, ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 20 ppm. I do weekly water changes. In the tank there is a female red wag platy, female high fin platy, female rainbow platy, male calico platy, three juvenile high fins (all female about two months old) and a fan shrimp. This morning when I Checked my fish (I do this every morning) the female red wag platy looks to have either a scratchy or white patch. She is fine in behaviour, eating etc. Poop is normal (same as it has always been ). I am concerned this is something fungal bacterial and don't want to leave it if it is, however there was no mark last night and it is so uniform it looks like a scratch. I have attached pictures for people who may have knowledge that I don't have what I should do. I don't want to medicate if unnecessary. Thanks and if there is any info I left out let me know, as I said I am new to this.

Hi Bart, I feel 100% the same as you, and this having fry is extra exciting as my passion was genetics so seeing the diversity amongst them is really amazing and has me wondering what the father fish looked like. My other kids aren't eight for a few years, but seeing as their mom is a huge child at heart I am sure it won't be long until there is more. Already I am caught by my husband hanging out in my daughter's room studying the aquarium multiple times a day....Maybe I should suggest my own tank for Mother's Day lol.

Thanks

Thanks

Hi, I am Terri and I am new to the world of aquarium ownership. I have thee little ones and am a stay at home mom, Prior to that I was a clinical research coordinator for an endocrinologist and received my BSc in biological science from the university of Guelph. We recently started a 25 gallon tank with one Dalmatian molly and three platies (2 female one male) and two shrimp. We have had the tank since my daughters 8th birthday (6 months ago) and things are going well, so well in fact we have five one month old molly babies (not sure how that happened other than she came inseminated from the fish store). I am here to learn the hobby, with my eight year old daughter, and hopefully ask any questions as they arise. Thanks for allowing me to join we are really enjoying this new hobby so far, although my Great Dane and parrot seem a little jealous with the attention they now have to share.