What could this be on my guppy?

[Katewills4]

Hello,

We have had these guppies about a month and a half now and noticed this stick like thing protruding from this guppy a couple of weeks ago. Does anyone know what this could be? He seems absolutely fine and isn't lethargic or off food at all. My first thought was a camalanus worm, could this be treated with our anti-fluke and wormer medication?

Many thanks,

Kate

 

[Salty&Onion]

I think you mean his gonopodium? You have there only males, the ones in the photo.

 

[Katewills4]

Oh is that what it is?! Yeah we only have males in the tank. He never displayed this before?

 

[Salty&Onion]

Oh is that what it is?! Yeah we only have males in the tank. He never displayed this before?

Either late male or was very young when you first got him. A gonopodium is used to impregnate females. Endler guppies (your ones) and normal, regular guppies can crossbreed which has happened to me, but the kids lost their father recently

 

[JuiceBox52]

Oh is that what it is?! Yeah we only have males in the tank. He never displayed this before?

I agree with salty, I think thats what it is is it like a fin? If not could you circle the issue?

 

[Katewills4]

I agree with salty, I think thats what it is is it like a fin? If not could you circle the issue?

Oh I hope so! I have other pictures, it's not a fin shape it's more like a pointy stick? It's like the browny red thing sticking out the bottom

 

[JuiceBox52]

Oh I hope so! I have other pictures, it's not a fin shape it's more like a pointy stick? It's like the browny red thing sticking out the bottom

Ah. Yes. That is a worm of some type.

 

[Katewills4]

Okay, we'll try a wormer then, just find it odd how he's not been ill at all!

 

[Essjay]

Before you buy any chemicals, does the brown 'thing' ever disappear then come back?

 

[Katewills4]

Before you buy any chemicals, does the brown 'thing' ever disappear then come back?

Hello, no it's always there, been there a couple weeks, never goes in and out or anything?

 

[Essjay]

In that case it's not poop. But it's not camallanus worms either - they are red and disappear into the fish when it swims. You can only see them when the fish stops swimming briefly, and they look more like hairs on a paintbrush.

I don't know what kind of worm it could be. Flat worms and round worms need different medication. But there is one that should kill both - wormer plus. It's a powder so it can be tricky dosing in small tanks. The other option would be to use two different meds. If you'd rather try this, I can tell you which ones.

 

[Katewills4]

In that case it's not poop. But it's not camallanus worms either - they are red and disappear into the fish when it swims. You can only see them when the fish stops swimming briefly, and they look more like hairs on a paintbrush.

I don't know what kind of worm it could be. Flat worms and round worms need different medication. But there is one that should kill both - wormer plus. It's a powder so it can be tricky dosing in small tanks. The other option would be to use two different meds. If you'd rather try this, I can tell you which ones.

Oh I see, thank you for the advice! The only wormer for internal parasites in the UK I could find is the one attached. Which one would treat roundworms?

 

[Essjay]

I have just looked at that one and it contains flubendazole, the same as wormer plus, so it should kill both types of worms. It will also be easier to dose. I'll make a note of it.
You will probably need to use more than one dose, follow the instructions. The reason for two or three or however many they say is because these chemicals kill the worms inside the fish but not the eggs which will in the tank water. After the first dose the fish will eat the eggs and they'll hatch inside the fish so the next dose kills those new worms before they have chance to mature and lay their own eggs.




[The other meds are eSHa ndx for round worm such as camallanus worms and eSHa gdex for flat worms such as tapeworms]

 

[Katewills4]

I have just looked at that one and it contains flubendazole, the same as wormer plus, so it should kill both types of worms. It will also be easier to dose. I'll make a note of it.
You will probably need to use more than one dose, follow the instructions. The reason for two or three or however many they say is because these chemicals kill the worms inside the fish but not the eggs which will in the tank water. After the first dose the fish will eat the eggs and they'll hatch inside the fish so the next dose kills those new worms before they have chance to mature and lay their own eggs.




[The other meds are eSHa ndx for round worm such as camallanus worms and eSHa gdex for flat worms such as tapeworms]

Yeah I searched it earlier too and has flubendazole so should kill them. Yep that's great, thank you so much, I'll start dosing them tonight just incase

 

[Salty&Onion]

[The other meds are eSHa ndx for round worm such as camallanus worms and eSHa gdex for flat worms such as tapeworms]

These are really great meds, I have used those and saved my fish.