Guppy Damage To Head

[mtbdean]

Hiya All, think ive got an issue with my spare tank, i tested the water after cycling and it was all correct, so i got 2 Guppies to put in there. They were both healthy, but this morning the Female now has a large scar/open wound on her head and is at the bottom of the tank.

Any Ideas?

 

[KittyKat]

She could have swum into a sharp piece of decor or had a fight with the male. The males are quite persistent, which is why it is always best to keep at least 2 females per male.

 

[WILDER]

I agree with kitty. Is there anything sharp in the tank.

Is the wound red and white in colour.
Is there any cotton wool on the head region, or bleaching beneath the skin.
Was there a spot in the head region that ulcerated away into a wound or hole.

 

[mtbdean]

Nothing Sharp in the tank, its a basic 5mm Pea Gravel, heater with a plastic protector and a box filter in the corner, no cotton wool like, but the wound is red and white in colour. And there wasnt any sign of it when i bought her.

 

[WILDER]

Check the wound for being white around the outside of the wound. Or red on the outside with a white centre.
It's sounding bacterial.
Whats your location?

Wounds that are white on the edges and red in the center are most typically Aeromonas. Those that are red on the edges and white in the center are generally Columnaris. Both are gram negative bacteria.

 

[mtbdean]

Its starting to grow, almost like cotton wool ?

 

[KittyKat]

That will probably be fungus. Get a generic anti-bacterial treatment (I use eSHa 2000) and treat the tank.

 

[mtbdean]

I've dosed the tank with a Anti White Spot + Fungus. Got Mitchetline(sp?) Green in it, among other chemicals. And put a small amount of salt inside the tank.

 

[KittyKat]

Malachite green: it should work. What type of salt did you use?

 

[the biffster]

hi there how are things
looking today

 

[mtbdean]

Its actually got worse, and seams to have got bigger, spreading downwards, and a cotton wool like growth.

Its rock salt i added, the stuff i got with the Brine Shrimp Kit.

 

[mtbdean]

Just gone home from work and they are both lying lifeless on the bottom of the tank

 

[KittyKat]

Can you post your full set of water readings, inc temp, and information about the set-up?

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like columnaris to me.
Soemtimes whitespot meds can help to get rid off it if it's a mild strain.
Columnaris is bacterial.
Best meds in uk for columnaris are myxazin by waterlife, and pimafix.

 

[mtbdean]

The water paremeters(sp) are as follows.

Ammonia 0.1
Nitrate 10
Nitrate 0.1
Ph 7.5

Temp is now 28degrees, upped gradually from 25degrees

Setup is as follows

10gallon Tank
5mm Pea Gravel
Small Air Driven Box filter, with a mature sponge from my healthy community tank.
Small Rounded off Pebbles
Small Air Stone

Gave it a 25% Water Change yesterday and then dosed it with two table spoons of Rock Salt and Dosed with 5ml of the White Spot/Bacterial stuff.