TB in platies?

[Kristinn]

Have you tested your water?

No

If I did not test my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be asked to do a test, and that water tests are critical for solving freshwater health problems.

Do you do water changes?

Yes

What percentage of water do you change?

21-30%

How frequently do you change your water?

Every week

If I do not change my water...

1. ...I recognize that I will likely be recommended to do a water change, and water changes are critical for preventing future freshwater health problems.

So I scored a used tank yesterday and it came with about 60 platies of various age. After filling the tank and turning on the light I notice that the tank is just swarming with disease, got a tiny bit of ich (looks like), some sunken bellies, some stringy white poop, you name it… however I have dealt with all of this before and Im not going to loose any sleep. BUT what got me thinking is that some of them got a hunchback look to them and after doing some google-ing it seems that some people suggest that similar looking hunchback platies have TB. I have no experience with that didease. Are any members here familiar with it and have some tips on how to be sure if it is indeed TB or not and what to do if it is. Here are pics of the worst looking one of the bunch:

 

[Hybridfish7]

Yes
There is no cure once it sets in
All other fish in the tank are infected
TB however cannot cross contaminate between families of fish allegedly so anything that isn't a poeciliid livebearer should be safe
Only thing you can do to prevent it in the other ones is keep them comfortable, it only sets in once their immune systems are compromised
Kind of like reverse AIDS
As for the one in question, euthanize

 

[Kristinn]

Yes
There is no cure once it sets in
All other fish in the tank are infected
TB however cannot cross contaminate between families of fish allegedly so anything that isn't a poeciliid livebearer should be safe
Only thing you can do to prevent it in the other ones is keep them comfortable, it only sets in once their immune systems are compromised
Kind of like reverse AIDS
As for the one in question, euthanize

Thank you for the reply. Do I understand correctly that based on my description and the photos you assume that I am indeed dealing with TB?

I am relieved to hear what you said about not crossing between species since there is a very nice and healthy looking bristlenose in the tank as well and my plan was to move it to another tank once done with qt and clearing all disease.

Also do I understand correctly that once I euthanize all the TB platies and clear all the remaining platies of other diseases (btw some look perfectly healthy), then I should be okay TB-wise ?

 

[Hybridfish7]

You should be okay. Again they are now known carriers of it so be wary of this but in regards to keeping them alive for the most part as long as they're comfortable parameter wise and well fed they should be fine.

 

[Kristinn]

You should be okay. Again they are now known carriers of it so be wary of this but in regards to keeping them alive for the most part as long as they're comfortable parameter wise and well fed they should be fine.

Thank you so much for your help, I really appreciate it

 

[Hybridfish7]

Of course, any time, when it comes to horrible diseases in the hobby, I know a thing or two because I've dealt with a thing or two. Hell of a thing to deal with.

 

[Magnus_Bane]

TB is possible but I would say the more likely cause is inbreeding. It's a very common problem for live-bearers of almost any specie. Basically when uncle-grandpa mates with mother-daughter some freaky stuff happens with the genetics. To be fair tho they don't know what they are doing they are just doing what comes naturally.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Inbreeding isn't a disease, inbreeding is a cause for weak immune systems, as breeding for specific traits inadvertently breeds out certain genes and breeds in certain ones that are normally carried but hidden by the parents, like certain genes that would cause "disabilities" to the immune system of the fish
Tuberculosis affects line bred fish significantly more because as I said the effectiveness of the bacteria is based on the integrity of their immune systems, and since their immune systems are already weak, there is a small margin of error for what will cause them to succumb to tuberculosis

 

[Magnus_Bane]

Inbreeding isn't a disease, inbreeding is a cause for weak immune systems, as breeding for specific traits inadvertently breeds out certain genes and breeds in certain ones that are normally carried but hidden by the parents, like certain genes that would cause "disabilities" to the immune system of the fish
Tuberculosis affects line bred fish significantly more because as I said the effectiveness of the bacteria is based on the integrity of their immune systems, and since their immune systems are already weak, there is a small margin of error for what will cause them to succumb to tuberculosis

While yes you are right, I was just saying that inbreeding can cause genetics to get messed up which can also lead to disfiguration of offspring. When I had dozens of guppies, several years back, I would eventually get offspring that were born with crooked and bent backs and when those bred with each other they would only exasperate the bends and twists in their offsprings backs. Even my current guppies every now and then produce babies born with bent backs, but again I'm doing some very heavy inbreeding with them to create my own strain and strengthen certain traits. But I also do some very heavy culling with this project so I end up with this problem far less often then when I let them do whatever they wanted to. Back then I would end up with guppies with right angles and corkscrew backs, at this current time the worst I get is a slight downward droop to the back every now and then.

Now I'm not saying TB isn't a possibility I'm just presenting one of my own.

 

[Hybridfish7]

Ah I see, I do get this too, spinal deformities pop up very fast in livebearers within like 2 generations, however the TB physique is very distinct, with the fish starting out normal shaped before slimming out and taking on that hunched back and slightly bent down shape. This is also usually joined by cysts and other things.