Swollen eye and abnormal swimming position
I have a problem with my female Platy. It had a swollen eye on one side. I then treated with sera baktopur and sera bakto Tabs. The eye has gone back to normal, but she has been swimming with her head directed downwards almost all the time for about 2 days. Can you maybe help and tell me what this is and what I can do about it? The fish is still eating normally.
Hello,
the fish eating normally makes an infection unlikely, since most infections cause severe loss of appetite. Is it maybe possible that the fish was being attacked vehemently and was injured by another one?
Bulging eyes sometimes occur after a physical attack - in such cases the bulging will disappear entirely within a few days).
The swimming position might be due to a swim bladder injury - if the fish has been attacked.
I recommend to continue the above mentioned treatment for about a week as to at least remove the bacteria in case of a swim bladder infection.
However, this kind of infection unfortunately often lead to misshapings, causing the fish problems with its swimming position for the rest of its life, in spite of having treated successfully.
This is usually not too much of a problem in an aquarium, in nature it would be easy prey for predatory fish or birds.
Best regards
sera GmbH
Dr. Bodo Schnell