Guppy Died

[AngelPen]

Ok so technically this isn't an emergency now as the fish died, but it could be if it was something that was going to harm the other fish!

We have been treating the tank for fungus for a few weeks now, I think we've done 3 lots of treatment in all, as our Angelfish has had fungus on his top fin, none of the treatments worked, and so at the weekend we took him to the lfs and they are treating him with some stronger stuff for us in their quarentine tank. What was left along his top fin where we thought was still fungus was apparently the cartlidge from where its rotted his fin! In himself he is lively and acting normal though, so hopefully he will be ok now!

Anyway for a few days one of the guppies hasn't been looking well, hes been quiet and staying at the bottom of the tank, rather than being active as usual. The past 2 days he hasn't eaten, and today was looking very weak, he couldn't even swim away from the filter current. We seperated him so he didn't get eaten, and he sadly died, but thankful it was quite quick.

I thought that perhaps all the meds in the tank could have caused this? Would it? He didn't have fungus or anything noticably wrong with him before. Although I noticed his stomach was slightly larger and more bloated looking than the others. But nothing too dramatic.

All of the other fish appear healthy, treatment has stopped now, carbon is back in and I have done a water change. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what killed the guppy? We had the water checked at the lfs, all normal as usual.

 

[WILDER]

To me sounds like they had advanced bacterial infections.
Sadly when bacterial infections progress you issolate them and use antibiotics, but not available in the uk only through a vet.
Rotting is a very good sign of a advanced bacterial infection, uk meds are not strong enough once they advance.

http/www.fishjunkies.com/Infections/bacterial.php

 

[AngelPen]

Yeah well thats what the lfs said, and they said they can get meds that are usually only available through vets to treat the angel. As the ones I can buy are obviously not strong enough for him. So I'm hoping he will get better now hes with them. Will get an update in the week and let you know!

So the guppy dying could have been bacterial as well? As they have been very active and shown no symptoms at all. The other 5 guppies are all fine and playing as normal. And no one else in the tank seems ill in any way now.

Would the large amounts of med in the tank not have harmed them at all? There is an air pump in there, but I thought its probably not a good environment to be in exposed to treatments for several weeks! So we thought that could be the reason, as up to about 3 or 4 days ago he was fine!

I changed the water last night and he perked up a bit, but then today he was looking very weak, and passed on.

 

[nogsnellin]

Sorry to gatecrash your emergency, but I seem to be having the same problem.
One of my platies died last Sunday and 2 days ago one of my guppies started showing the same symptoms, ie sitting on the bottom laboured breathing with occaisional swimming only to return to the bottom. Now today one of my mollie fry (6 weeks) is doing the same.
Water stats are ok 0 ammonia and nitrite 10 nitrate. Theres no obvious sign of disease although I am a newbie. I have done some water changes and added Liquisil general tonic.
PLEASE can anyone help? I am starting to worry that all my fish are going to die!!

 

[WILDER]

Well using med for long periods dosn't help.
But i find bacterial med can keep them going and once they come off them everything flares up again and they go down hill and die.
To be hoenst it dosnt take much for livebearers to go down hill, there no longer a hardy fish, never had any luck when I kept them, gave up on them, they seem to suffer from nearly everything.
Keep a look out for when they go to the toilet that a good indication to go on.

Sorry to gatecrash your emergency, but I seem to be having the same problem.
One of my platies died last Sunday and 2 days ago one of my guppies started showing the same symptoms, ie sitting on the bottom laboured breathing with occaisional swimming only to return to the bottom. Now today one of my mollie fry (6 weeks) is doing the same.
Water stats are ok 0 ammonia and nitrite 10 nitrate. Theres no obvious sign of disease although I am a newbie. I have done some water changes and added Liquisil general tonic.
PLEASE can anyone help? I am starting to worry that all my fish are going to die!!





You can add a bacterial med to the tank, but once they lay on the bottom and labour breath sad to say it to late, seen it all to often when i kept livebearers.

 

[AngelPen]

Ive heard that apparently guppies are quite hard to keep alive! But luckily all ours have been ok till this one!

Do you think now that all the others will be ok? I read the link you gave, it said they can get infections when weakened, which could have been caused by prolonged med usage I guess, which could explain it.

Would it be best to do extra water changes for now? To make sure all the med is gone? The water still smells quite peppery, which was caused from the med. I do roughly 20% changes, usually once a week. Did one yesterday, which was the first one since stopping the med. How many is it safe to do a week?

 

[WILDER]

Yes do another water change tomorrow the black carbon will help remove things.
Guppys love them to bits, but never managed to keep one alive more than 7 months,
Good luck.

 

[nogsnellin]

Should I euthanise them then? Does it pass on anything to other fish if they die and are subsequently eaten before I can remove them?

 

[WILDER]

You could issolate them in a box or container at the top of the tank.
Usually you know how bad they are, if you think they look bad I would, but its up to you.

 

[AngelPen]

Ok thanks. Will do another water change tomorrow. Will keep an eye on the remaining guppies and hope they will be ok. Hopefully will be able to get the tank settled down again now the angel is out.

Will let you know if anything changes! Thanks for your help.