Fin Rot Guppy?

[Sacred]

Me again. I was nosing about in my tank and I noticed that one of my female guppies has a funny tail. It looks like it's had a nip but I am not so sure. Looking closer it looks really strange the whole tail, like it's dried out and there is discolouration. She never had a bright coloured tail but it use to have yellow in the centre.

Is this possibly fin rot? and whats the best way to treat it. If it's not what is this?

She seems ok for now but I don't want to let it get worse.

 

[ewooten78]

Looks like fin rot to me. I would suggest getting some melafix to put in your tank really helped when mine has fin rot. Also I put aquarium salt in my tank everytime I do a water change. Helps prevent disease and sickness. Good Luck!

 

[OldMan47]

I would suggest posting in the tropical emergencies section for advice. I will move your post there with a link here so you can find it.

 

[helterskelter]

I would use either Melafix or Myxazin, adding salt dose work too but not all fish will tolerate it. If you have sensitive fish like Cory's, loach then avoide salt.

If it gets worse removing her to a salt bath works for 40-60 seconds which i have used myself many time over the years, just get a small bowl add a litre of water and 30g of salt (3% bath)
Fish do not look happy but give her a couple of mins and return to the tank.

Water changes are another great thing to do, as if it's poor water quality that's the problem then 3-5 water changes at 25-30% of the water will help greatly.
Do u test your water for ammonia, nitrItes and nitrAtes? if so whats the readings?

 

[Sacred]

I would use either Melafix or Myxazin, adding salt dose work too but not all fish will tolerate it. If you have sensitive fish like Cory's, loach then avoide salt.

If it gets worse removing her to a salt bath works for 40-60 seconds which i have used myself many time over the years, just get a small bowl add a litre of water and 30g of salt (3% bath)
Fish do not look happy but give her a couple of mins and return to the tank.

Water changes are another great thing to do, as if it's poor water quality that's the problem then 3-5 water changes at 25-30% of the water will help greatly.
Do u test your water for ammonia, nitrItes and nitrAtes? if so whats the readings?

I test regularly and done a water change just Sunday of about 30%. last test ammonia nitrates and nitrites were all in healthy levels.

No other fish are showing signs. It might have had it for a while. The tail has been getting duller for a little while
i will get some melafix tonight after work. It's times like this I wish I had room for a small tank. I might have a look whilst I am getting the melafix. Must be a small one. Else it's isolating on a hatchery box which isn't ideal

Melafix not likely to affect my other fish? Like my betta

 

[helterskelter]

Melafix is basicaly Teatree oil so it's natural and not heard of any fish being affected from it.

 

[Sacred]

Melafix is basicaly Teatree oil so it's natural and not heard of any fish being affected from it.

Found the stuff. Popped it in just now. I assume the instructions on the back for dosage are adequate?

Says 1 tea spoon for every 38 litres of water. Treat for 7 days then perform 25% water change and continue treatment.

Just hope it works and I caught it in time.

But how do I know when it's complete? just when the tail looks normal or fully grown back?

 

[helterskelter]

Your see the infection clear up and then it will slowly regrow.

Once it's cleared up I would stop treating.

 

[Sacred]

Your see the infection clear up and then it will slowly regrow.

Once it's cleared up I would stop treating.

how long are we talking before you will see improvement? Will the tail grow back like before or will it be roughly shaped for the rest of it's life

 

[Sacred]

Sorry for a double post, wanted to show a photo I just took. I think it's improving, it doesn't look like it's all dried out. Still she managed to lose abit from the tip of her tail that was still intact. This discolouring on the body isn't as bad either

I'm keeping up the Melafix, but I am still wondering if I should seperate her from the tank? She is doing ok and seems happy enough in there, but at the mo I still have my 3 male guppies spending the night seperate from the tank whilst their tails get sorted, putting a female in might cause trouble for her more. I don't want to risk them getting worse.

Times like this I really wish I had room for another tank for keeping sick or preggy guppies in.

 

[Sacred]

Sorry for triple post but now that same guppy has even less of a tail, and I was away for only an hour and it's getting worse. I have put it in the hatchery, but my god what the heck is going on. I thought it was dead as I couldn't see it but now there is just a tiny amount of tail left.

I think I am going to have to get another tank for my guppies, just to keep them alive! Help? What more can I do. Even if I got another tank doesn't it need to cycle again? And it's throwing more money at a new tank just for the sake of a few fish. What should I do.

I still don't know who is doing it, but it might be a case now everyone is 'bullying the weak'

Do I keep interviening or let nature take it's course? If I can just find who is doing it I could remove them, but I am still none the wiser who it is other then the catfish at night:

45 Litre Community (First Tank):
x1 Siamese Fighting Fish (Male)
x2 Angels (Male and Female)
x4 Black Phantoms
x1 Pictus
x2 Silver tipped tetra (Male and Female)
x6 Guppies (x3 Male x4 Female)
x1 Swordtail (Male)

The ratio of male guppies to female are out mind because of the death earlier this week but again they don't seem to be up to anything

 

[helterskelter]

Have you tested you water if so whats the stats?
Have you done any water changes

45l is very small for the number's of fish you have too.

 

[Sacred]

Have you tested you water if so whats the stats?
Have you done any water changes

45l is very small for the number's of fish you have too.

The female died. They water is ok but KH level is abit high. Everything else is within safe limits.

It's not good now my ratio is down to 1 male guppy to 1 female

How many fish should I have then? There is tons of space in the tank and it's far from overcrowded. Plus everythin is small

 

[helterskelter]

Just noticed the Pictus, these grow to 5" and are predatory catfish.

A guppy i would be tempting esp at night when their resting.

also 45l is 10 gallons, which works out at 10 inches of fish as a rough coversion.

I'm counting some where of 22+ inches of fish (working adult sizes) so well over stocked,
Water changes and better stocking.

 

[Sacred]

Just noticed the Pictus, these grow to 5" and are predatory catfish.

A guppy i would be tempting esp at night when their resting.

also 45l is 10 gallons, which works out at 10 inches of fish as a rough coversion.

I'm counting some where of 22+ inches of fish (working adult sizes) so well over stocked,
Water changes and better stocking.

It is the one fish I have had my suspicions over, but it's normally fine during the day.

Well I think you could be right about the numbers being too high. I done a water change this evening.

I might be able to transfer the pictus out.

EDIT: Sorry for the mixup. My tank is actually 54 Litres.