What's Happening To My Guppy?

[AmyStardust]

I have a male guppy and yesterday I noticed that he had what looked like a small hole in his tail - when I woke up this morning and checked on him the hole now looks like a complete tear through his tail!!

He's staying at the bottom of the tank at the mo too...?

Any ideas??

 

[chesterscot]

he could have injured himself amy or another fish might of had ago at him
how many fish and what type have you got and do you have your water test results to hand as ppl will ask you for them
regards scot

 

[WILDER]

Size of tank in gallons or litries.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Holes in fins can be finrot but also be caused by nipping from another fish.
Any white or red edging to the tail.
Do fins look cloudy and transparant.
Any red streaking in the fins.
Is he laying on his side at the bottom of the tank.

 

[AmyStardust]

5 Gallon Tank

5 Male Guppies

Ammonia - 0.25
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 10

He's not laying on his side at all - every so often he does have a swim around - but the other fish seem very interested in him today??

He has a little redness around his fins - no whiteness that I can see...

His tail is slightly transparent - but it was when I first got him??

 

[smegforbrains]

I would say, IME, that he has been bullied. However, the ammonia trace won't be helping his wounds.


I would suggest a 50% water change to help reduce the ammonia level. I would also cut feeding down to a bare minimum.


The fact that the others are paying him more attention, again IME, is that they can sense a weakness and they may move in 'for the kill' so to speak.


If you have facility, isolate the little guy and treat him with Melafix to help his wounds heal. Otherwise, treat the whole tank and hope for the best.

 

[AmyStardust]

I did a 40% water change earlier - added some ammonia remover too!

The others don't seem to be bullying him and he is swimming around every now and again, but always goes back to the same spot after...

How much would you say I should be feeding them?

They were due for some blood worms today but should I maybe just give them a few flakes later?

I've also been using stress coat!

 

[WILDER]

How long has the tank been set up.
Your tanks really overstocked if you go by the one inch per gallon rule.
What filter are you using as its best to over filter when your stocking over.

Melafix is only good on cuts and wounds and when fins are healing.
You need to improve water quality or all the fish will become ill.
I would issolate him if there pecking at him.
Red fins can be septicemia to bad water quality.

 

[AmyStardust]

How long has the tank been set up.
Your tanks really overstocked if you go by the one inch per gallon rule.
What filter are you using as its best to over filter when your stocking over.

Melafix is only good on cuts and wounds and when fins are healing.
You need to improve water quality or all the fish will become ill.
I would issolate him if there pecking at him.
Red fins can be septicemia to bad water quality.

To be honest I haven't got a clue what filter it is - it's a kids tank and the filter came with it??

I'm doing water changes daily - should I up it to twice a day?

The other fish aren't pecking at him and he seems ok-ish, just less active than usual...

Should I feed them later??

 

[WILDER]

Yes do about two water changes aday to get that ammonia reading down.
How is the fish now.

 

[AmyStardust]

Yes do about two water changes aday to get that ammonia reading down.
How is the fish now.

He seems ok - still hanging around near the bottom - not on the bottom though!

Poo seems normal - not white or stringy!

What should I do feeding wise?? He looks a little bloated...?

 

[WILDER]

Are his scales sticking out.
Fish need a good varied diet of frozen foods and veg.
Frozen daphnia good as its helps the fish digest its food, brimstrimp.
You can buy packs of frozen foods with four different types of food.
Veg is good anything green like sproat, lettuce, cucumba, savoy cabbage, spinach, peas.
Peas are good for constipation they are a laxative for fish.
Cook frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell, mush between fingers into small peices and add to the tank.
You need to pop out of shell as fish can't digest the shell part of the pea.

 

[AmyStardust]

ok - I'll get some frozen peas when I go shopping later!

No his scales look fine!

Do you think it is fin-rot?? Does it make the tail deteriorate that fast??

 

[WILDER]

Finrot is mainly caused by bad water quality.
Once guppys lose half there tails or more they rarely make it.
They struggle to swim and get exhausted and die.
If you are worried I would add some anti internal bacterial med by interpet to the tank with him being bloated aswell.
When fish are bloated epson salt baths help draw the fluids out.
You have to increase aeration in the tank as med reduce 02 in the water.
Plus its better to increase aeration in bad water quality as fish find it hard to breath.

 

[AmyStardust]

Finrot is mainly caused by bad water quality.
Once guppys lose half there tails or more they rarely make it.
They struggle to swim and get exhausted and die.
If you are worried I would add some anti internal bacterial med by interpet to the tank with him being bloated aswell.
When fish are bloated epson salt baths help draw the fluids out.
You have to increase aeration in the tank as med reduce 02 in the water.
Plus its better to increase aeration in bad water quality as fish find it hard to breath.

Ok - I don't know half of what you just said!! Lol!

So - I have an air stone in the tank, how can I increase aeriation even more??

If I go to Pets at Home later and ask for - Interpet Anti Internal Bacteria Med - will they know what I'm talking about?

 

[WILDER]

If you already have an airstone running with the filter thats fine.
yes the lfs should have interpet meds most carry them.
Keep us all updated on his progress bless him.
Good Luck.