Fish dying (guppies, platies)

[Spuzz]

I'm at my neighbours house and her fish are literally falling apart while still alive. She's done water changes and such. Now...she has 28 guppy babies in the tank and it's kind of hard for her to do a complete cleaning of the tank....I said she should do 50% water change each day until the water is clear again....what would you suggest?

 

[Tempestuousfury]

We need tank dimensions and water chemistry and full list of tank occupants.

What do you mean "they're breaking apart"?

Is it fin rot? I can't tell. You need to give better descriptions.

50% seems a bit steep. I'd say more like 25-30%. However, that's just my opinion.

If you don't have these things, get them:
Medicine for fin rot and/or other ailments
Melafix
Test kit

 

[Spuzz]

She has a 10 gallon and she has been using melafix for the past week. She uses just "ChlorOUT" she doesn't have any more chemicals. Before the fish started dying she had 4 Platies and about 8 guppies. Last week she had 28 baby guppies and that's bascially all that's left. She also has a plec. The best way to describe what the fish that are alive look like is they're falling apart....my mom bets that it's fin rot but I'm not sure. I have a test kit but it only works for the PH level. All the fish she has are my fish that she has adopted and I've never had this problem...in fact...I've never had a fish die yet. So this is bizarre to see fish dying for me lol

 

[Tempestuousfury]

You need a test kit that tells you everything from ammonia to nitrites to nitrates to pH and maybe even dH and chloramine levels.

Your friend was way overstocked. The 1" rule is good for beginners, I guess, esp. in this instance. The rule is one inch of fish per U.S. gallon. So, the tank was overstocked.

Lose the plec because it'll get too big for the tank.

Remove all dead fish ASAP. Buy a proper test kit and meds for fin rot (maracyn and the like). Melafix is just a "tonic" as someone once said. Don't rely on it.

HTH