Bullied Male Guppy

[rhian]

Hi I was advised to post in this section about my bullied male guppy. His eyes and body look ok. The other males have badly nipped his fins, it didn't look that bad on the weekend, just a chunk missing, but now his tail is quite stumpy. He had a long flowing tail, like two ribbon like swords, and these have all been bitten off. He seems to have been bitten around the mouth too, it looks a bit red on his lips. He is just lurking all day in the floating plants. Whenever he come out, he gets chased and bitten. I was quite surprised to see it happening and worried to see how much of his tail had gone!

I was told on the other thread to try a salt bath, so I'd like to know what to do please - I have a pet carrier I could do this in, but I only have one aquarium. As I said on my other thread, I did lose one guppy the day after I bought them, I went to the shop for something else a few days later, and saw they had sick upside down guppies, so I am concerned it could be a disease. The guppy I had was upside down at the bottom of the tank. There are platys, otos and lemon tetras in the tank also - they all look ok, and my water is ok too. I got all my fish from the same shop.

Many thanks in advance

 

[WILDER]

You need to isolate him i'm afraid. The stress won't help him get better.

How many gallons or litres is the tank.
How many fish and which type.
Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Once fish are upside down on the substrate they rarely make it.
It can be swim bladder, bacterial infection, bad water quality, etc.

Any red streaking on the body or fins.
Is he struggling to stayed balanced in the water.

The mouth area, Any whiteness to the mouth, any cotton wool on his mouth. Is his mouth swollen.
Any bleeding beneath the skin.
Hows the fish breathing.

 

[rhian]

Hello

thanks for your help

my tank is 90l, it is a planted tank with many plants
ammonia, nitrate & nitrite levels ok
ph 8

There is no sign of white fluff or bleeding, and apart from lurking & his damaged fins he looks otherwise ok. He seems to be able to swim, apart from his tail. He is near the surface, but not gasping. He didn't try to take any food either. His mouth isn't swollen, but his bottom lip is red - he is so small its difficult to see closer.

However, one guppy died suddenly after I got him, and I lost a platy a week later too
after I saw the sick ones in the shop I began to worry

there are 2 platy, 3 oto and 4 other male guppies in the tank. The tank was set up end of june and has cycled.

 

[WILDER]

He needs isolating i'm afraid. Even if its just in one of those breeding boxes that you place in the tank.

I would add some myxazin by waterlife to the tank to stop infection.

Try soaking his food in garlic juice to increase his appetite, and boost his immune system.

 

[rhian]

thanks that's great, I'll get one of those breeding boxes & myxazin

He seems to have a white, mucous string hanging from him now, is that indicative of the problem?
I read it might be an intestinal problem, like parasites or infection

 

[WILDER]

Where the mucas string hanging from?

 

[rhian]

Hi thanks for your reply, the mucous string is coming from the bowel

and he seems to have a mucous string from his mouth today, or somwhere areound the face. The redness has gone from the lips, but he is looking pale, and I'm not sure if his sides are showing red patches now. The tail has a white edge now, and he is looking a bit hunched, but has been swimming about more today. The guppies seem to be nipping another male now.

I added the myxazin today, I am worried about my other fish

 

[WILDER]

Wow, Bless Him.

It's not sounding good for him now.

If he's not eating the mucas poo could be that.

Have you isolated him.

Did you add a med.

Is the spine bending.

 

[rhian]

hello, thanks I've kept an eye on him & added the myxazin to the tank - his back looks a bit curved compared to the others

Kind of bewildered about the cause, as it doesn't look like photos I've seem online of the main diseases, and theres no ammonia/nitrite -going to the shop tomorrow to get a separate box to isolate him, but he is avoiding all food

I agree, it doesn't look good for him
but he is the 3rd fish in the last 3 weeks, the other 2 died before I could see they were ill so I am concerned there is some disease in the tank

 

[rhian]

the little guy died last night

I'll keep treating the tank with the course of myxazin, I did a waterchange yesterday before treating, so I hope to minimise any infection for the other fish - fingers crossed, thanks for your help wilder

 

[WILDER]

Bless him.
R.I.P.

Did the spine bend. If so I want you to keep a look out for these symtoms with the other fish in the tank.
Don't panic. It just a precaution.

http/www.torrens.org.uk/NatHist/Aqua/disease/tb.html

 

[rhian]

Hello, yes the spine was bent when I found him.....it happened quite quickly

I'll keep an eye on the others. I think if any more show signs I'll have to remove them - what is the kindest way to euthanise an infected fish?

fortunately I don't have that many fish, and the guppies are more sensitive, if it is tb

 

[WILDER]

Also look out for these signs.
Long stringy white poo, clear mucas poo, red poo.
Worms prutruding from the anus.
Enlarged anus, red inflamed anus.
Fish swimming on there sides.
Fish looking skinny or bloated.
Bent spines.

Best way in my opinion to end a fish suffering is -
Jug or bucket of cold water and add ice cubes till the water freezing cold.
If no ice cubes add the jug of water to the freezer till a thin sheet of ice forms on top.
Then place the fish in the freezing water.

 

[rhian]

thanks for the tips wilder, the platies do red poos and the sick guppies had bent spines

there is another guppy looking unwell today (same thing, same type of guppy all bought at the same time)
I might have to do the deed
same symptoms:
- missing/nipped part of tail fin
- what looks like some scales missing
-no appetite & lurking

I think I bought sick fish, the platy that died would eat anything in the tank.
I've finished the myxazin, and so far the other fish look ok - don't know if I should buy any more fish if it is TB
the shop is a dedicated aquatics place, and looks reputable

 

[WILDER]

Do you feed any red foods.

Could the guppy have knocked his scales off in the tank.
As falling out of scales can be a sign of fish tb.