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190L tank. 5platys, 5 harlequins, 9 neons, 2bristle nose, 1 bala shark(does anyone want him) and a keyhole cichlid. 20L rainwater change every week or so. An eheim external filter and an internal water pump/filter. An airstone and air-rod. T-24C 76F. Diet: spirulina discs, shrimp protein sticks and mostly tropical flakes.
The rest look fine.
This platy sits in the corner on the ground. It can swim up occasionally with much effort but as soon as it stops swimming up, it sinks. It does have a 'white spot' at the base of the tail but this may be secondary from sitting on the ground for so long. it has been sick for over a week. it is now in quarantine with meth blue, mal green, acriflavine and quinine. It looks in respiratory distress. The vent may be white/protruding but I may be seeing things -constipated?
I think it's going to die -should I euth?

It doesnt sound great, but lets see.

The vent on a platy is closer to the front and yes, they can have a white 'pimple' looking protrusion, but this isnt abnormal.

Are you airating the quarrantine tank? Those drugs do tend to depleat the fish's ability to get the oxygen (not sure how, but they do tend to complain a bit) so you might want to set it at a slow bubble.

have a good gander at him with a torch and look for signs of ich (salt sprinkled look) or velvet (pollen dipped look) as both can be hard to see and can affect breathing.



Are ANY other fish showing any signs of distress/illness?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

Cheers for your reply. There is 1 airstone in the quaratine tank which is about 2ft and holding ~20L. I turned off the undergravel filters as it cleared the blue in a couple of hours. The white spot at the tail base is actually/now two white spots close together. I cant identify any other skin lesions. It's still alive so the post-mortem will have to wait. It's constantly moving it's tail and pectoral fins even when sittng in the corner. Recently it's been in lateral recumbency every now and then.

thats a very bad sign Russell, (and the first time i've heard someone use 'lateral recumbancy' in regards to a fish good stuff )can he right himself at all? are those reflexes still there?

I think with this level of 'out of it' you should consider euthanasia.

Have you got a suitable method?

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

I know you are right. But it will be my first fatality since getting tropicals 8 months ago. It's still very active when disturbed - swims straight up and can swim around the top (for food) before 'crashing' back down. I don't want to sound inhumane but I've got more time next week and a my colleage will be around who has a digital camera so I'd prefer to do the post mortem then (14/7). If still no improvement by then I was thinking of ice cold water.

Ok, well, if you want to try, do you have some breeder net or something to keep him closer to the surface? That should help.

For animals, the entire universe has been neatly divided into things to (a) mate with, (b) eat, (c) run away from, and (d) rocks. - Terry Pratchett

It died while I was in Wellington and although a friend put it in the fridge it was a bit autolysed when I PMed it probably 36+hrs later. I should have euthed it. Never mind. Thanks again for your help anyway.