Dead Babies?

[andimav]

I have 4 female guppies and all seem pregnant but one in particular has been very strange for the past few days, she looked like she had babies and her back looked very bent so kept an eye on her for a day or so, (could not find any babies) and then decided to put her in a net.

I have just noticed there is 4 babies in with her and 2 look dead, lying on the bottom of the net and not mooving. other 2 look fine swiming around.

Also mummy gupp has a thin white string like "Poo" coming out of her, is this normal and ahs she finished giving birth yet?

Thanx.
Andi

 

[WILDER]

Is her spine still bent, long stringy white poo can mean internal parasites, constipation, or bacteria infection.

 

[andimav]

Is her spine still bent, long stringy white poo can mean internal parasites, constipation, or bacteria infection.

Yes her spine is still bent.. i have only spoted 5 fry in the net with her but 1 is dead. she may have had the rest when she was in the tank. Long white stringy poo is also still there, has been all day.

 

[WILDER]

A bent spine means fish tb sorry, and she won't survive.

Leaving you this link as you need one with fish tb.
http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

 

[andimav]

A bent spine means fish tb sorry, and she won't survive.

Leaving you this link as you need one with fish tb.
http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

Many thanx for that link, will her fry be ok or will i have to get rid of those aswell, sould i only take out her or all the fish that could end up being affected by tb?

I am seriously concerned now for the welfare of my tank, what is the best thing i can do?

A bent spine means fish tb sorry, and she won't survive.

Leaving you this link as you need one with fish tb.
http/www.4qd.org/Aqua/disease/tb.html

Many thanx for that link, will her fry be ok or will i have to get rid of those aswell, sould i only take out her or all the fish that could end up being affected by tb?

I am seriously concerned now for the welfare of my tank, what is the best thing i can do?

This has all only become apparent since she has given birth.

 

[WILDER]

Keep her seperated from the rest, the fry might be ok don't no really no if they can catch it inside the fish, Also you should be careful wear latex gloves.

 

[tttnjfttt]

If at all possible, I would put the guppy and her fry in a quarentine tank, to see if it does straighten back out. As wilder said, use gloves when handling anything inside either tank, as fish TB can give you a nasty skin infection.

If the spine not straighten up (just thinking on the SLIGHT chance it was something from giving birth), i would euthanize the fry as well. I know this sounds harsh, but here is my reasoning on this. These fry have been growing inside her body, which is full of the bacteria. You admit you are worried about the rest of your fish from being inside the tank with one fish with TB. Well, these fry have been in an environment exposed to a much greater concentration of the bacteria. I would also do a few water changes in your maintank, and preventitively treat it with minocycline if it is avaliable where you are (I can't tell from your loccation where you are from, if it is in the UK or not)

 

[andimav]

If at all possible, I would put the guppy and her fry in a quarentine tank, to see if it does straighten back out. As wilder said, use gloves when handling anything inside either tank, as fish TB can give you a nasty skin infection.

If the spine not straighten up (just thinking on the SLIGHT chance it was something from giving birth), i would euthanize the fry as well. I know this sounds harsh, but here is my reasoning on this. These fry have been growing inside her body, which is full of the bacteria. You admit you are worried about the rest of your fish from being inside the tank with one fish with TB. Well, these fry have been in an environment exposed to a much greater concentration of the bacteria. I would also do a few water changes in your maintank, and preventitively treat it with minocycline if it is avaliable where you are (I can't tell from your loccation where you are from, if it is in the UK or not)

I am from england and will see if minocycline is avalable at my local suppliers. I have had guppie that have had the same problem in the past and did not survive but they only got this problem after giving birth, so i though it was part of the proccess but have since read up and become more real to fish keeping. I have other guppie that are pregnant aswell and will keep close eye on them.

It is not possible to put her and the rfy anywere else but the breeder net in my main tank, as i have recently moved house and only have this tank set up...........i wonder weather to just euthanize her and keep the fry and see how they go, as she does not look her self and wouldent want her to go through any more stressa and pain.

I have not worn gloves in the past few weeks when doing anything with the tank but will form now on, everything should be ok though?

 

[WILDER]

Minocycline is only available through a vet or doctor i'm afraid.

Minocycline 100 mg/10 gallons every other day bacteria possibly effective against fish tuberculosis

 

[tttnjfttt]

Minocycline won't be avaliable except by perscription over in the UK. I would seriously consider euthanizing, since TB can be contagious and is almost impossible to get rid of (I lost about half my fish to it last year)

 

[andimav]

Minocycline won't be avaliable except by perscription over in the UK. I would seriously consider euthanizing, since TB can be contagious and is almost impossible to get rid of (I lost about half my fish to it last year)

I think euthanizing is the safest and best bet, for the mother, but shall i risk it with the fry or not, i have other guppie that are ready. Do i need to ask my vet or G.P for Minocycline and will they give it too me?

Many thanx for your help "tttnjfttt" + "wilder"

 

[WILDER]

Doctor won't give it you, but you might stand a chance with the vet, but sometimes vets like to see the fish, but some are good they might give you a percription.

 

[tttnjfttt]

You will need to ask a vet for it. I have heard of some people getting it from their doctor as well, and just explaining what they need it for. As for if they will give it to you or not, if you ask, the worst they can say is no.

Be sure to keep a very close eye on the fry.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I am sure the previous posters are right and I certainly wouldn't want to lead anyone to take risks with the rest of their fish.

I just felt I should mention that I had a similar experience with a guppy- difficult birth, bent spine, bits of white tissue passed- which did not in fact turn out to be fish TB. I don't know for what it was, but am guessing at miscarriage caused by bacterial infection. I isolated the guppy in my hospital tank and sat around waiting for her death. After several days of looking miserable and passing big lengths of thick white string and ?dead foetuses, she gradually recovered, after treatment with Pimafix. This was in Octover or November, she is still with me, tail now straight, spine no longer bent, looking the picture of health. After a few months I decided it was safe to move some juvenile platies in with her, and have had no further ill health in that tank.

But if you have no means of isolating, it is probably better to play safe and euthanise.

 

[tttnjfttt]

Thanks Dwarf. I tried searching online to see if there was something on birth complications, but didn't find anything. If she was fine before, then i would say there is a CHANCE this is not TB, especially with dwarf's story. However, i would still recomend playing it safe and finding a better way to isolater her other than a breeding net.