Hi - I wonder if anyone can advise; having a panic about my ‘big guy’ Platy (‘James T Kirk’). I noticed this morning he seems to have got injured around his mouth :’o( (photo attached as best I can).

It’s a 120L tank and I’m *obsessive* about tank cleaning/water conditions (see below). Tank population is 20 Platys, 3 guppys, 2 green metallic Corydoras, 3 Turquoise/orange Venezuelan Corydoras. The ‘big guy’ is from our fry and is now just over 2”. He took over a while ago as ‘tank boss’ from a smaller, more bullying Platy, and I wondering if he’s therefore been attacked. He’s showing no signs of distress at all, and isn’t being pestered/harassed by any tank mates, but I’m just concerned (a) is it an injury or something else, (b) how can I help him as I’m concerned how he’ll eat? I’ve not seen him eating today but he is just beautifully passively ploughing about the tank as he always does. *Please* give me some hope … like virtually all the others I’ve grown him from small fry, he’s magnificent and I love him dearly! ;’o(

(*How do these little guys get under our skin? This is my husband’s fault .. ha-ha! I was a goldie keeper for 30yrs (Ryukin, Black Moor, Ranchu). I lost them gradually around the ages of 30yrs and they were massive. I was *heart* broken beyond words, said “never again”, but my husband loved watching a tank. So … 120L later, we now have Platys/Corydoras that I now flipping love too! So, any advice to help ‘James T’ would be appreciated)

(*Former old ‘goldie’ keeper - Ryukin (Paul), Black Moor (Sir Graham), Ranchu (Steve) … RIP team)

Hi

I don't think there's really anything you can do other than keep an eye on it and if there's any sign of infection/fungus developing, treat accordingly. Hopefully, he will manage to eat.

I agree completely with Fishlady's advice, and am keeping my fingers crossed for James T. [My goldfish > tropical-fish journey is uncannily similar to yours (heartbreak, etc) and, uncannily, I also have a tropical fish that's developed a problem which is a "watch and wait" issue.] Keep us posted.

Thank you sooo much, fishlady :o) This morning he was in the corner of the tank but still looking ok and would swim out into the main tank. I put some mushed brine shrimp in this morning but couldn't tell if he actually ate anything. I'll watch for infection (I have Melafix on hand if needed) and keep my eye on him re eating. Fingers crossed, and I'll update here how he goes on.

It's all hubbies fault - ha-ha! He missed my goldie tank, had this one set up but then - bless him - he's rubbish at the maintenance, so that's where I came in and now I've fallen in love with them all. The Corydoras are like the puppies of the fish world and I absolutely *adore* them. Have to say staying on top of the maintenance of the tropicals is a piece of cake compared to the goldies! Thanks again, will update how he goes ...

Thank you fcmf ... he's hovered around a corner of the tank but is coming out into the main tank. It's lovely because other Platys do go to him (not bullying/attacking) ... reminds me of what my goldies would do if one was under the weather.

Hope your 'watch-wait' goes ok too - I didn't think these little guys could get under our skin the same as big goldies, but they do! The Corydoras are like the puppies of the fish world, I love them so much. And we have wonderful colours in the Platys now and as they get big (like James T) they get their own personalities. Still finding my way with the world of Tropicals, but I'm glad hubby went down this road. Still had ambitions for a 300L goldie tank, or have been looking at some of those Patio tanks for the garden (!!) but that would all need more time than I've got available now - the beauty of the tropical tank is it's so much easier to maintain! Still miss the 'big guys' though. :o)

Gorgeous goldies!

Yes, indeed - each tropical fish also develops its own little personality. The depth of the bereavement when it happens is perhaps not quite so strong and long-lasting as with a longer-living goldfish with whom the bond is more interactive (IME), but the bereavements do happen more frequently by virtue of the numbers which can be quite draining (for me, this was especially the case when the first cohort of tropical fish were ~5-6 years of age and a fatality was happening almost monthly).

Glad the platies are respectful towards their counterpart in sub-optimum health. Long may this continue until hopefully he heals fully. Fingers crossed for you/him!

[Sadly, I think my own espei rasbora will not make it - he's developed a scoliosis/growth which is now protruding through the flesh and he's become very skinny. Eating voraciously and still being respected by his tankmates but I expect that he will succumb imminently.]

Incidentally, you might find a fish breeding box helpful in the event that you ever have a sick fish that doesn't need isolated for medication but would benefit from some peace. I bought a collapsible/stowable 'mesh incubator' one which is a bit too big for my small tank but now have an 'acrylic isolation box' version at the ready.

Thank you sooo much for your help/advice! I did isolate him and put him in a bit of Melafix because I thought 'this likely isn't going to go well, so ...' , and lo behold he's back to normal! I don't know whether it was the Melafix or whether he'd eaten something that had 'got stuck' and he'd shifted it I'm uncertain. But James-T is back to his blue-eyed, black/gold beautiful self, and tank-boss again . That's good because he took over from another Platy who was a bully and chased everyone, and that 'power-play' was interesting because I thought he would 'kill off' the old boss, but it's been weird - as if the original Platy didn't want the job and has been 'oh thank goodness! You do it and I'll just go back to being a fish'. When he occasionally chased anyone James-T would calmly insert himself in front of the other Platy as is "oi! Pack that right in" and he'd just calm down.

I know what you mean re life-span! I think Platy life-span is about two years ... oh no :o) But Corys are about 5-7 I think, so a bit longer.

I can't thank you both enough for responding. Although I isolated him outside the tank I've now bought a small tank as you advised 'just for future'. I hope your little guy does get a bit more time with quality of life; it's as you say, so long as they're happy and eating that's all that matters. *Thank you so much* for being there at an hour of need :o)

Absolutely delighted for you that this has all worked out well - fantastic news (and a good antidote to my own case in which the little lad fought *so* hard but sadly didn't make it - this one's hit me really hard as we'd developed quite a bond in his last 24 hours).

Thanks so much for keeping us updated (and therefore for *you* inadvertently helping *me* when I've been feeling low after my own fish's demise), and glad that it's all worked out well in terms of James-T's reinstatement as "tank manager".

Very happy to hear that he's back to normal. Thanks for updating us!