Guppies Dropping Like Flies!

[arvlyn]

I do NOT understand this one bit. For the past week to 10 days, I've lost a minimum of one fish a day in my 39 gal. tank, mostly my guppies.
I've done my maintenance as always - 10 - 12 gal. water change/gravel vacuuming/filter media rinse in tank water once a week. Tank has been set up/cycled since August. Only one death up to this point. I successfully treated ich at the beginning of October (I believe it was) and didn't lose a single fish. No new fish added for at least a month and a half.

Stats as of today are as follows:
Temp. 78°
pH 7.6 (Tap is the same)
Nitrate 0
Ammonia 0
Nitrate 20
Tests done Friday were the same.

Ignore fish list for this tank in my signature, it's drastically changed with all these deaths, I just haven't updated it yet, it's at least 15 fish less now.
***List updated now***

Ideas?

 

[rust81]

I have had the same problem with guppies dropping dead recently. I have had 3 die in the past week and i have no reason why as well. Unfortunately i cant offer any advice, but i do think that Guppies are not a very hardy species and are obviously one of the first to go if things arent right.

 

[WILDER]

The fish that died can you say what they died of like sores on the body or finrot as it can help to see whats going off.
I keep guppys and they can carry camallanous worms if the lfs got them from the wild.
Sometimes you notice them having long stringy white poo, other signs of internal parasites are being thin, red inflamed to inlarged anus, worms prutruding from the anus.
Have you lost any fish to bent spines.

 

[arvlyn]

I have had the same problem with guppies dropping dead recently. I have had 3 die in the past week and i have no reason why as well. Unfortunately i cant offer any advice, but i do think that Guppies are not a very hardy species and are obviously one of the first to go if things arent right.

Sorry you're going through this as well...
I've had guppies many many times over the years I've had aquariums and I've never had this kind of luck. They're not all from the same place either, they're from the three different stores I go to, so that can't be it.

I need to add that I've got two little babies in a breeder tank in that aquarium, not sure what they are just yet, but they've been fine. I'm also working on updating the fish list...if the remaining fish would just come out front and center and be still so I can see who's in there and who isn't!!

 

[arvlyn]

The fish that died can you say what they died of like sores on the body or finrot as it can help to see whats going off.
I keep guppys and they can carry camallanous worms if the lfs got them from the wild.
Sometimes you notice them having long stringy white poo, other signs of internal parasites are being thin, red inflamed to inlarged anus, worms prutruding from the anus.
Have you lost any fish to bent spines.

I watch them off and on all day and especially when I feed them. They'll all be fine, swimming normally, eating, etc., and the next thing you know, someone's floating or dead on the bottom.
The one that I just found today looked a bit "bent" when I took her out of the tank, like her head and tail were "curved" a bit upwards...but she was fine when I last saw her alive a while ago this afternoon.
There's one thin one in there, but she's always been thinner and smaller than the rest.

 

[rust81]

The fish that died can you say what they died of like sores on the body or finrot as it can help to see whats going off.
I keep guppys and they can carry camallanous worms if the lfs got them from the wild.
Sometimes you notice them having long stringy white poo, other signs of internal parasites are being thin, red inflamed to inlarged anus, worms prutruding from the anus.
Have you lost any fish to bent spines.

I watch them off and on all day and especially when I feed them. They'll all be fine, swimming normally, eating, etc., and the next thing you know, someone's floating or dead on the bottom.
The one that I just found today looked a bit "bent" when I took her out of the tank, like her head and tail were "curved" a bit upwards...but she was fine when I last saw her alive a while ago this afternoon.
There's one thin one in there, but she's always been thinner and smaller than the rest.

Sorry for hijacking this post, but one of my guppies that died had a bent spine when i found it on the gravel. Could that be a sign of internal parasites then?

 

[WILDER]

If you have a thin guppy and still eating well points to fish tb, to internal parasites.
I've kept guppies on and off for about 4 years and believe me never had any luck with them.
I had a skinny one and wormed the whole tank with flubenol, but its been taken off the market.
The skinny fish still died though.
Once the fish is infested with the camallanous worms they damage the organs resulting in bacterial infections on top.
Do search on guppys and camallanous worms symtoms.

 

[WILDER]

Look under camallnous worms.
http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm

 

[arvlyn]

Look under camallnous worms.
[URL="http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm"]http/www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm[/URL]

Thanks for your help and that link.
Do you really think that's what they've got if only the one was bent after it died? Or is that what happens when it gets that bad that they do die?
I don't have any of those medications listed on that site, I've never even heard of them. Can't go out and get anything today either, we're snowed/iced in right now. Any "home" remedies that you know of?

 

[WILDER]

Yes there meds you can get in the states a popular two meds which you can get.
Find you the info.
There is a sign you have a thin fish and one died of a bent spine points to fish tb, or internal parasites.
Dp your fish do long stringy white poo
Metronidazole: (FLAGYL) Treatment of hole in the head disease (
hexamita ) salt water ich or bloat. 250 ml per 20 gallons of water, and can be mixed in foods.
http/www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/nematodes.shtml

 

[WILDER]

http/www.fishforums.net/content/Disease-...Levamisole-Hci/

 

[WILDER]

This info is taken from this link http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/discusfish/discus2.php
Internal parasites
A Discus can harbor internal parasites without really being ill, but in some situations the parasites will start to grow exponentially and can then pose a serious threat to your fish. Common warning signs are emaciation and white feces. It can be hard to diagnose exactly which parasites that is responsible without performing an autopsy, but many different parasites are fortunately sensitive to Metronidazole (Flagyl) treatment. Increasing the water temperature and providing additional aeration is also recommended. If your Discus is still eating, you can prepare a solution of 200 ml water and 10 ml liquid Flagyl and soak its favorite food in it, e.g. live worms or larvae, for about one hour. Feed your Discus medicated food every 2-3 days for 10 days. If your Discus has stopped eating it is much harder to medicate it since you will have to force feed it using a syringe without the needle. Prepare a mixture of one part liquid Flagyl, two parts Liquid fry food and three parts water. The liquid fry food is there to prevent the fish from starving to death while you treat it. Add the mixture to a syringe and place your Discus on a wet towel. Use the syringe to force 2 ml down the fish's throat and wait for it to swallow before you return it to the aquarium. It will expel a lot of the mixture through its mouth and gills, but at least a bit of it will be swallowed. You need to feed your fish the medication twice a day until it starts to recover. Being exposed to this type of treatment is naturally always highly stressful for a fish, especially one that is already weakened by parasites.

 

[arvlyn]

This info is taken from this link [URL="http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/discusfish/discus2.php"]http/www.aquaticcommunity.com/discusfish/discus2.php[/URL]
Internal parasites
A Discus can harbor internal parasites without really being ill, but in some situations the parasites will start to grow exponentially and can then pose a serious threat to your fish. Common warning signs are emaciation and white feces. It can be hard to diagnose exactly which parasites that is responsible without performing an autopsy, but many different parasites are fortunately sensitive to Metronidazole (Flagyl) treatment. Increasing the water temperature and providing additional aeration is also recommended. If your Discus is still eating, you can prepare a solution of 200 ml water and 10 ml liquid Flagyl and soak its favorite food in it, e.g. live worms or larvae, for about one hour. Feed your Discus medicated food every 2-3 days for 10 days. If your Discus has stopped eating it is much harder to medicate it since you will have to force feed it using a syringe without the needle. Prepare a mixture of one part liquid Flagyl, two parts Liquid fry food and three parts water. The liquid fry food is there to prevent the fish from starving to death while you treat it. Add the mixture to a syringe and place your Discus on a wet towel. Use the syringe to force 2 ml down the fish's throat and wait for it to swallow before you return it to the aquarium. It will expel a lot of the mixture through its mouth and gills, but at least a bit of it will be swallowed. You need to feed your fish the medication twice a day until it starts to recover. Being exposed to this type of treatment is naturally always highly stressful for a fish, especially one that is already weakened by parasites.

Thanks for the information!!
I can't find the Flagyl at any of our local pet store's websites. I can order it from Drs. Foster and Smith, but w/ a high shipping charge and who knows how long it'd take to get here.
I did find Jungle Medicated Anti-Parasite fish food that has that ingredient in it though, would that be any good for now?
We're still pretty snowed and iced in but it's getting better, don't want to try to venture too far from home yet.

 

[WILDER]

Heard members on here using the jungle parasite clear med but not sure if it worked so ask in chat as more members go over there.
Good luck.

 

[arvlyn]

Heard members on here using the jungle parasite clear med but not sure if it worked so ask in chat as more members go over there.
Good luck.

Oohhh I've never used the chat function here...maybe I will try it a bit later.
My daughter braved the snow and ice and stopped by the pet store since she had to pass it anyway. She got the Jungle Medicated Anti-Parasite food since she heard me talking about it. I had to crush it up so my little guys could eat it. I figure for right now at least, it's better than nothing.
Thank you for all your help, I really appreciate it!!