Guppy fin turning black. Help!

[rockvillemmf]

Comparison photos before and after treatment with mardel maracyn for 2 full days. There doesn't seem to be any noticeable improvement.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

I'm really sorry.
They're beautiful fish, and I hope you got some gorgeous fry from them. But in this case, I'd be looking at limiting suffering. The way the body itself is affected, especially when you consider the scale of it from the fishes' perspective, must be painful.

 

[rockvillemmf]

I'm really sorry.
They're beautiful fish, and I hope you got some gorgeous fry from them. But in this case, I'd be looking at limiting suffering. The way the body itself is affected, especially when you consider the scale of it from the fishes' perspective, must be painful.

You are right. I decided that I would do my due diligence and complete the 5 day treatment, and if there was no improvement, I would put down the fish. I have one other female in addition to this one that have over the 8 months or so produced about 16 fry. Unfortunately this one still has a pretty large belly which tells me that there are more in there. Like anyone who has kept fish for a hobby, I've had them die but I had to look up how to euthanize them. I'm going with the clove oil method.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

You are right. I decided that I would do my due diligence and complete the 5 day treatment, and if there was no improvement, I would put down the fish. I have one other female in addition to this one that have over the 8 months or so produced about 16 fry. Unfortunately this one still has a pretty large belly which tells me that there are more in there. Like anyone who has kept fish for a hobby, I've had them die but I had to look up how to euthanize them. I'm going with the clove oil method.

She does look pretty heavily gravid, perhaps let her have the fry first? She does look in good condition apart from the area at the base of the tail. If she shows other signs of suffering, like fin clamping, lethargy etc, then reconsider, but if she's otherwise eating and active, I'd probably let her have the fry first, if it were me.

If it does come to it, I've used the clove oil method, and it is a peaceful way to go when done properly. The key is to introduce the oil gradually, so the fish is sedated first, then once you're sure the fish is sedated, overdosing the clove oil to stop the heart.

I'm sorry it's not better news They're really gorgeous fish, makes me want to keep guppies again.

 

[GaryE]

Melanoma in guppies and other livebearers is an inherited cancer. It's just a thought if you put a lot of effort into fry - it is sad to see it occur again and again.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Melanoma in guppies and other livebearers is an inherited cancer. It's just a thought if you put a lot of effort into fry - it is sad to see it occur again and again.

Oh no! I didn't know that... that's terrible! Thank you for letting us know though. OP has some awful decisions to make...

 

[rockvillemmf]

Melanoma in guppies and other livebearers is an inherited cancer. It's just a thought if you put a lot of effort into fry - it is sad to see it occur again and again.

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm not too surprised to learn that. I recall reading a while ago that a lot of genetic markers for various cancers have been identified, but that was in humans.

This makes it even more a complicated decision.

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

Thanks for the info. I guess I'm not too surprised to learn that. I recall reading a while ago that a lot of genetic markers for various cancers have been identified, but that was in humans.

This makes it even more a complicated decision.

I'm sorry you're in this position, I really am. It's rough.

 

[ella777]

If it does come to it, I've used the clove oil method, and it is a peaceful way to go when done properly. The key is to introduce the oil gradually, so the fish is sedated first, then once you're sure the fish is sedated, overdosing the clove oil to stop the heart.

What happens if one adds the clove oil all at once?

 

[AdoraBelle Dearheart]

What happens if one adds the clove oil all at once?

I haven't witnessed it, but have heard people say that the fish reacts by panicking, which is the opposite of what you want when trying to humanely euthanise. Water and oil don't mix easily, so I added a few drops to a small container with some of the tank water in, stirred it well, add fish. This allows some drops of the oil to pass over the fishes' gills, slowly sedating the fish, adding more slowly if needed until the fish is unconscious, before adding a large dose of oil to stop the heart. It's the same principle as when a vet puts an animal down - the first injection is a sedative, so the animal is unaware of the next injection.

 

[ella777]

I haven't witnessed it, but have heard people say that the fish reacts by panicking, which is the opposite of what you want when trying to humanely euthanise. Water and oil don't mix easily, so I added a few drops to a small container with some of the tank water in, stirred it well, add fish. This allows some drops of the oil to pass over the fishes' gills, slowly sedating the fish, adding more slowly if needed until the fish is unconscious, before adding a large dose of oil to stop the heart. It's the same principle as when a vet puts an animal down - the first injection is a sedative, so the animal is unaware of the next injection.

Oh... oops, I put it all in at once. It died straight away, didnt seem to have any bad reaction. Saying that, I put about 12 drops in for a tiny guppy.

 

[rockvillemmf]

Before and after mardel maracyn for 5 full days. End of treatment with no improvement. Thanks to everyone for your advice and comments.