Something is wrong with my fish

[sandyd]

I have a 10 gallon tank with 3 guppies, 2 head and tail light tetras, 3 black skirt tetras, 1 procostomous, and 2 swords in it.

My water is PH 6.6
Alkalinity 40
Hardness 75
Nitrite 0
nitrate 40
Ammonia 0

I did a 15% water change last night to lower the nitrate and it is not going down.

I noticed a few days ago that 1 of my guppies had a white spot on her lip, i put her in isolation to keep an eye on her to see if the symptoms worsened. Her lip is now starting to look like it is being eaten away. It is kind of white looking and looks sort of like peeling skin. She is refusing food, and is very pregnant. I need an idea of what it is and how to treat it. She should be delivering in a few days as that is her 28 day cycle, so i would like to treat her with something that will not kill the fry if they come out during treatment.

I also noticed that the other guppies that are in my main tank are showing signs of the same thing she has. They have started with dots on their lips also, and although they are eating, they are mostly staying on the top of the tank and not really swimming. I really need your help so that i do not lose all of them with whatever this is. Please help. Sandy

 

[wetwetwet]

Hi sandy,

Check the nitrAtes in your tap water.....(mine come out at 50-60)

While many belive that nitrAtes are not that harmful to fish I believe that prolonged exposure to high levels (60+) while not directly responsible can make them more susceptable to other diseases/stress....

It sounds like it could be 'mouth fungus' which isn't actually a fungus at all but a bacteria (columnaris bacteria).

maintain good water conditions - cut down on feeding - (this could be contributing to the high nitrates) and try a propriety antibacterial medication....

Generally fry need excellent water conditions to survive and there must be some meds that are safe to use with them but I'm not familiar with what you have that side of the pond - I'm sure someone will ahve a suggestion though....

 

[sandyd]

Thank you wet,
I checked my tap water and the nitrates come out at 0, i have spring fed water in my well. Thanks hopefully there will be more suggestons on what to use to treat this. Sandy

 

[dolphin]

Hi sandyd

Your water is too soft and acidic for guppys. They do best in water that is alkalin and semi hard.

I have to agree with WWW as to the problem, Columnaris.

 

[sandyd]

Do you have any idea on how to fix my water for them? Sandy

 

[dolphin]

Hi Sandy

You could add some calcium to the filter. This will raise the pH and the hardness.

 

[sandyd]

Thank you for that reply, i will get some for them, but i still dont know what to treat them with. I would like to treat it with something that will not kill the fry as they should be born any time. Thank you...sandy

 

[amez]

Would it possibly be something like fin fungus? That sounds like the same thing, but with the lip. Fin fungus is caused by dirty water i think, so maybe that is your problem?

 

[wetwetwet]

Water changes should lower your nitrAtes and some plants will help.

Watch the feeding - overfeeding is a common problem....

I'm sure someone will suggest an American med soon

 

[sandyd]

Thanks again, i do not know what causes these things, but i think the nitrates are because my kids sometimes help feed the fish, and although i try to get it all, sometimes it is impossible. I clean the tank and do waterchanges weekly, so i dont think its dirty water. I do have 3 plants in there, although i dont know what they are called. I put them in there as i read that Tetras like alot of places to hide.
Sandy