Flashing Guppies!

[miss.Original]

Tank size: 10 gallons
pH: 7.6
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 0
kH: n/a
gH: n/a (don't have a card to test it
tank temp: about 76-77F

Fish Symptoms: Guppies started flashing recentley, about a day or so ago, and they have lost a bit of their appetite, don't show any signs of spots or lesions, ulsors or anything. but fins are clamped sometimes but no other obvious signs of discomfort.
Volume and Frequency of water changes: often, and anywhere inbetween 25-50% just did a 25% today to lower Ammonia
Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: no chemicals. Media?
Tank inhabitants: one male guppy, one female guppy, one guppy fry
Recent additions to your tank: Java moss.
Exposure to chemicals: none
Digital photo: n/a

I just set up the tank about a week ago but used the mature filter from my five gallon. The guppies had just recentley been bought, and had not showed any signs of disease. They had been kept with four small comet goldfish though before, but I located the goldfish into a better (colder) tank since the warm water was stressing them. (yes, I do know that tropical and coldwater fish should not be kept together) The goldfish had been in a tank with two Ryukin goldfish and a black moore before they were moved to the 10 gallon, and the three goldfish that they were with earlier had also been flashing, which leads me to beleive that the comets may have carried whatever it was that the Ryukins and black moore had, although the Comets had not been flashing. I have asked my mom what to do about it, but she has told me that It may just be the tank cycling, and that this is just something the fish will do while the tank's bacteria and bio, etc. is being established. Is this it? Or is there something wrong? And can I treat my guppies at all while the fry is in the tank with them? Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

What test kit are you using.
What is your tap nitrate reading.
Do you have live plants.
How many gallons is the goldfish tank.

Any signs of darting or erratic swimming.
Is there a greyish white film on the fish,
or blue film on the fish.
Check for parasites on the fish body and gills.
Any red pin prick marks, or red sores on the body of the fish.
Any tiny white spots, dusting of talc, yellow spots, gold dusting on the fish, or a rusty coloured varnish.
Any excess mucas or slime on the fish body or gills.
Do the gills look pale with excess slime, or red and inflamed, or bleeding gills.
Any signs of laboured breathing or gasping at surface of tank.
What does it look like when the fish to to the toilet.
Do any fish look skinny or bloated.
Is the anus of the fish enlarged or red and inflamed.
Do any fish have bent spines.
Do any fish swim oddly like in a jerky movment.

 

[miss.Original]

What test kit are you using.
A Doctor Fish master test kit.
What is your tap nitrate reading.
Unsure, as I only have a saltwater Nitrate bottle.
Do you have live plants.
Yes, 5 java ferns, and another tall crypt plant, and java moss.
How many gallons is the goldfish tank.
50

Any signs of darting or erratic swimming.
Only when the male chases the female.
Is there a greyish white film on the fish,
or blue film on the fish.
No
Check for parasites on the fish body and gills.
None
Any red pin prick marks, or red sores on the body of the fish.
No
Any tiny white spots, dusting of talc, yellow spots, gold dusting on the fish, or a rusty coloured varnish.
No
Any excess mucas or slime on the fish body or gills.
No
Do the gills look pale with excess slime, or red and inflamed, or bleeding gills.
No
Any signs of laboured breathing or gasping at surface of tank.
No
What does it look like when the fish to to the toilet.
Brown, it was pinkish yesterday, but is normal today, somtimes gray though.
Do any fish look skinny or bloated.
Well, the female, but she may be pregnant and the male looked a little bloated yesterday but he had just eaten and is normal today.
Is the anus of the fish enlarged or red and inflamed.
no
Do any fish have bent spines.
No
Do any fish swim oddly like in a jerky movment.
No

Thank you so much for your help, I hope it's nothing bad. But I did talk to the owner of my LFS and he said that a shimmy block might help since there are no other signs of illness or discomfort besides the flashing. Would this help?

 

[WILDER]

By your answers it hard to say. As it's not pointing towards anything at the moment.
Just keep a close eye on the fish.

Livebearers tend to swim in and odd manor with the shimmies.

Shimmies



Symptoms:

This disease is named for the curious behavior seen in afflicted fish. Fish will swim with an odd, shimmying movement of the body. If left untreated, the afflicted fish will become unable to swim and will sit on the bottom, listlessly shimmying. This disease affects mostly livebearers, and particularly Mollies.



Cause:

Cause unkown but may be due to a variety of numerous pathogens, including protozoan, bacterial, and fungal.



Treatment:

Isolate the fish in a hospital tank and increase the temperature to 85�F (27�C). Treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic. Also ensure that the water chemistry is within acceptable ranges. Livebearers' should always be kept in water that has a pH of 7.8 - 8.3 and a hardness of 15�DH+.

 

[miss.Original]

kay, thank you so much for your help. I really appreciate it, and i'll definitely keep a close eye one them. Thanks again!

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
If any changes get back to the board.