Heavily Pregnant Guppys Flicking

[merry78]

Tank size: 65L
pH:7.6
ammonia:0
nitrite:0
nitrate:>10
kH:
gH:
tank temp:26C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior):

Heavily pregnant female guppies, two are flicking on ornament.
Appear to require more O2 than is available (hanging around surface, make a brief trip to tank bottom, then shoot up and break surface).
Have since increased ogygenation, this last symptom has disappeared.
No visible body changes, no white poo, no white spots, no visible gill flukes
There is no bullying in the tank
Hiding places are available, but guppys are not hiding.

Volume and Frequency of water changes:

20% weekly

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank:

Water conditioner, bacterial and mechanical filtration only. Heavily planted.

Tank inhabitants:

7 pregnant female guppys, 1 male guppy, 3 pepper corys, 1 large mystery snail

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration):

None

Exposure to chemicals:

None known.

I am thinking perhaps it is early stages of gill flukes or whitespot?
Am very worried about treating correctly as I don't want the girls to abort or be stressed by meds.

My medication (if i need to use it) options are:
Aquarium salt.
Aquarium science brand Aqua worm, (Praziquantel 100mg/tab)
Wardley promethyasul (mafenide hydrochloride, aminacrine hydrochloride, malachite green)
Wardley Ickaway (malachite green, acriflavine)
These are my only options as i have no cash till next week.
Does anyone know which of these would be most effective and least harmful? Can i worm them or is praziquantel too hard on pregnant guppys (it says not to use on baby fish- the birthed fry are in a separate tank and unaffected, but will i lose this lot)?
I rang several LFS's, and with varying degrees of uselessness, they said they didn't know and it's up to me.
Please help, i think i have got it in the very early stages this morning, and i don't want to let it get really bad before i know what to do!

ps i checked the pinned threads on disease and meds before posting, but am still uncertain.

 

[*Fishkies*]

How long have your females been pregnant?
When females become pregnant they are known to breather heavily and often hang around sometimes or sit on the bottom hiding.
Also when they flick it can be the babies in side of them may be ready to come out soon. Do you see eyes in their stomachs??

Before adding any treatment though I would suggest removing the snail.

 

[merry78]

How long have your females been pregnant?
When females become pregnant they are known to breather heavily and often hang around sometimes or sit on the bottom hiding.
Also when they flick it can be the babies in side of them may be ready to come out soon. Do you see eyes in their stomachs??

Before adding any treatment though I would suggest removing the snail.

All the females have gravid spots, three of the seven are right about to pop, but the two that were flicking this morning are not as close to popping as the others.

Will def. remove the snail before treating. Do you think i should add a little salt and maybe raise or lower temp. slightly while i wait to see what's going to happen?

Thanks for replying so fast *Fishkies*, i really appreciate it as i am very worried about my girls!

 

[*Fishkies*]

I would say add some salt, this would be a "safe" treatment as to stop anything. Also you could raise the temperature a little, as this would possibly allow for your females to have their babies quicker. However be careful in raising the temperature especially since you say a few are at the top already.

 

[merry78]

thanks *Fishkies*, have added some salt and raised temp to 28C, and increased aeration.

 

[Seanyboyrulz]

thanks *Fishkies*, have added some salt and raised temp to 28C, and increased aeration.

Just remember b4 you put ur snail back once the guppies are better that you do several large water changes over the upcoming weeks because unlike water, salt does not evaporate out. And since snails cannot tolerate salt it would probably mean the end of the mystery snail if you reintroduce it while there is still salt in the water.

 

[mcdanielnc89]

also taking the guppies straight from the aquarium salt to the "just water" aqarium will kill them..(I know from experience) It happend to me. lol.. u gradually do water changes as stated above...

 

[merry78]

Thanks guys!