http://forum.aqua-fish.net/ A forum devoted to aquarium fish, plants, techniques and fish keeping as a whole. en http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=sick-platy-please-help-#1 I have a 10g tank with 5 platys and a coupe ghost shrimp in it. They have all been happy and healthy for about 1 month and a half, since I got them. Until last week when one of my fish mysteriously died -- I found her at the bottom with an orange-ish stripe by her belly. And now I just noticed my painted platy (female) is not swimming straight and has trouble stabilixing herself. She is very active (more than usual) but she keeps bumping into things. Also, her scales are a little faded from the black they usually are. I have her isolated in a 5g right now but she doesn't look too well. Any idea what could be wrong? I clean the tanks every week and a half, ph, temp, and ammonia seem fine. They are all eating normally. I just can't figure this out... ajoy7 2010-09-05 http://forum.aqua-fish.net/?topic=sick-platy-please-help-#2 Hi ajoy! You should expect a certain attrition rate in your fish room. Fish like people often die suddenly without warning.*:dead:* I examine the tank carefully to see if the other fish are showing signs of stress, hanging in a group at the back of the tank or showing a loss of appetite. If the other fish are active, I assume that the dead fish was an anomaly. But still be wary. Often one isolated death in a apparently healthy tank could be taken as a sign of overfeeding! As for the female who is swimming strangley, improperly storing fish food has been found to promote fungal diseases, especially in female guppies. The fungus attacks the female's internal sex organs. Try feeding the fish on some medicated fish food and isolate her for a while. It may also be due to internal worms or internal bacterial diseases. The medicated fish food would soon correct that. Good luck! jirajustin 2010-11-08