Bout To Lose First Fish

[rowdyates]

Got home today and one of the guppies I added to my tank last saturday isn't looking too good (1 of 5). He's just hanging around on the gravel, very slow movements and every now and again stops and rests on the floor of the tank. I noticed last night that he didn't seem as lively as the rest but thought nothing of it as he was still moving around at all levels. I've looked closely at him and can't see much apart from his body doesn't seem as shiny/smooth as the rest, infact and I need to look closer, he's hiding at the moment so I can't see properly. No idea what to do for the best.

Help

Keith

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What are your recent ammonia, nitrate and nitrite stats please? Tell us as much as you can about his appearance and behavior when you get the chance to see him properly.

 

[rowdyates]

Mean't to add those in: ammonia 0, nitrite < 0.3 mg/l and nitrate @ 20 mg/l, he's still under the internal filter housing so I can't see him well, but he's just moving slowly and every now and again he rests on the gravel not moving at all.

Keith

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

You have nitrites in the tank which means it is cycling, just do a 30% water change with dechlorinator to help lower them whenever they rise above 0. The guppys stress is probably linked to the nitrites, until you have some exact sysmtoms for him tho i would just add a dose of melafix to the tank to help boost his imune system.

 

[SkiFletch]

Even though nitrites are indeed poisonous I wouldnt necessarily think such low levels would be the cause of his fish's behavior.

how old is the fish? Were there any new introductions to the tank within say the last month? Have there been any temperature swings? what do you feed them? how many other fish are in the tank? does he have any outward physical symptoms like clamped fins, red gills, gasping for air, bent spine, discoloratoins, red lips, growths, etc?

I guess I'll answer some of my own questions since I actually read who was posting and recognized your situation. If I'm correct, the guppies are a newer addition... Being that as it may, he may have carried a disease with him from your LFS.

A couple other questions, does he rub up against anything actively like scratching himself against substrate/plants/etc? And, do you have a means to quarantine him? If so I would reccomend doing it until we can get a diagnosis.

Finally is he exhibiting similar symptoms to this thread?

 

[rowdyates]

Hi there,

The tank has been through a fishless cycle since the start of September, I added 6 harlequins on the 29th and then on the 1st I added the 5 guppies. Temp has been ok, fluctuating by .6 .7 degrees during the day. I've not seen any ammonia or nitrites since adding the fish and the nitrates have been constant. His tail looks a little ragged a bit like fin rot and his body has "bits" on, hard to describe really, not sure if these guys have scales but if he did I would say it looks like scales hanging off, but only a few.

He's not been rubbing against anything either and unfortunately I can't quarantine him as I don't have an extra tank.

He's been swimming about a bit more but just doesn't look well.

Keith

 

[SkiFletch]

Is the tail white, same color as the reast of it, or red and enflamed at the "rotted part"?

These bits on him, do they look like something is pushing out of his body behind the scales and raising them? Or are they white spots? Or is it more of a stringy white growth on top?

Theres a disease associated with raised scales but I forget what its called. Hopefully someone more expert than me can offer concrete suggestions instead of just questions to narrow symptoms.

Also, how does his mouth look?

 

[WILDER]

Do the bits look fluffy, does the skin look like it is peeling, i think the finrot is a secondary infection.

http/www.aquatic-hobbyist.com/profiles/d...columnaris.html

 

[rowdyates]

OK hes lying upside down on the gravel now, hardly moving, everynow and again he just twitches, I don't think he's going to make it, really not sure what to do, just let him alone till he goes or what?

His fin is the same colour as its always been but ragged along the trailing edge, I now can't see anything along the sides of his body, now I can see him up close.

Keith

 

[WILDER]

Your'e right the fish is dying can you issolate it, sorry.

 

[rowdyates]

I've just taken it out of the tank, I'm afraid it's gone.

Keith

 

[WILDER]

Sorry R.I.P. awful, i would do a few daily water changes on your tank.

 

[rowdyates]

Curious why I should do that, is it because I can't be sure what it was that got him?

Keith

 

[WILDER]

It's just advised when you lose a fish and didn't quite no what was wrong, to do a few daily water changes to dilute what caused it, it's just a precaution more than anything, good luck.

 

[rowdyates]

It was mentioned adding Melafix above, which I think is a general treatment, should I also look to add some of this in case, or just see how things go?

Keith