Guppy tail damage

[Tenko]

Due to a gang of vicious black widow tetras (which are no longer in my tank), 2 of my guppies have damaged tails. 1 is split, the other appears to have a narrow long section pulled out. They were luckier than my now dead cardinals.

I've done a 20% water change, added the watersafe stuff that is supposed to prevent infection and aid healing etc. Is there anything else you recommend to help them?

I only have the 1 tank so can't set up a hospital for them. They don't seem unhappy or sick so I'm hoping it's largely superficial. Would any particular types of food help them recover?

 

[Tenko]

Looks like my post got attached to another one again.

Also, will guppy tails grow back? How long would it take?

 

[guppymonkey]

Guppies tails can grow back pretty quickly as long as they don't get infected. Just watch out for fin rot because fancy guppies are very susceptible to that. The tails should be back to full in a few weeks to a month.

 

[snowyangel]

When my fancy male guppy got nipped by a barb it turned into bad fin rot But i did daily water changes, used melafix, fed him rich foods(like blood worms, tubifex worms) and gave my barbs away to another person. His tail has gotten alot better, not 100% back yet but he's doing way better and doing his usual routine of chasing his ladies again.
I also had a cory i saved from an aggressive tank and his top fin was practically all biten off. But with clean water and good foods his fin grew back as well.

Here's the link to pics i took of my guppy with fin rot and his recovery: http/fish.orbust.net/forums/index.php?sh...showtopic=24117

 

[Tenko]

Thanks snowyangel, would freeze dried foods do? Would it be okay to add medication like melafix to the tank with all the other fish there too?

Unfortunately I've had to be away from home for a day and a half, I didn't know fin rot could happen so quickly. I'm going back home this evening so perhaps I should get some medication on the way to add tonight.

 

[snowyangel]

Yes freeze dried is fine, all my food was freeze dried b/c no places around here sell live bait. With the meds remember that some may require you to remove the carbon filter or it will just remove the med from your tank. Also, be careful with sensitive fish like small tetras(neons, glowlights etc.). Since i own 12 small tetras, i reduced the amount of meds so it wouldn't stress them. Recovery takes longer though...
Hope it all works out

 

[Tenko]

Thanks again. Got home tonight and all were alive. Both injured guppies were no better though. Fred's split tail was closed and withdrawn (if that makes sense) and Scooby's tail was a bit smaller than before with a few red spots on.

I've done a 20% water change and added tetra medica, I hope it helps them. It had better do, cost £4 for a 100ml bottle and has turned the tank water bright green.

I gave them a sprinkle of freeze dried blood worms too. I can get live bloodworms, shrimp etc from a couple of shops near me, have never got any though cos of the fear of introducing disease into the tank.

 

[guppymonkey]

I gave them a sprinkle of freeze dried blood worms too. I can get live bloodworms, shrimp etc from a couple of shops near me, have never got any though cos of the fear of introducing disease into the tank.

From pet stores there shouldn't be a problem with disease. At least not from reputable pet stores.

 

[Tenko]

From pet stores there shouldn't be a problem with disease. At least not from reputable pet stores.

The shop I'm stocking from at the moment keep the fish in excellent condition so I have no worries about fish health. I think they get their live food in from an outside dealer though so I'm not as sure of it's quality. I might take a chance though, I'm sure my fish would enjoy catching their food for a change.

Another lfs I've got fish from was sorting out their bloodworms the other day when I went in. The counter was a writhing mass of them, looked disgusting. Glad I'm not a fish, wouldn't want to eat them myself.

Guppy tails are no worse today, don't expect an improvement in 24 hours though so I'll inspect them again tomorrow.

 

[Tenko]

I couldn't find Fred today, even moved decorations. I'd given him up for dead and assumed he'd been an opportune meal for his tankmates. He just appeared though, looking in a bad state.

His tail is worse and his top fin is withered and fraid almost to nothing. What else can I do?

I did everything the Tetra Medica bottle said to do but it's made no difference. It says if there's no improvement after 7 days repeat it but I'm not convinced he'll last until Monday.

Would you risk a water change and repeat of the doseage or would that risk damaging the other fish due to over medication. I don't have a hospital tank.

Shouldn't the treatment have at least stopped any further degredation of his tail? Is it a good idea to get peat granuals for the cannister filter to soften the water a little?

 

[guppymonkey]

It might be too late for the guppy but you can always hope. I would try a 10% water change and then start the medication again. It can't do any worse and maybe it could help.

 

[Tenko]

He was getting no better so I went to another lfs. They contradicted what the previous lfs had said, basically saying not to put black widow tetras in with guppies. Also told me that tetra medica wouldn't do any good.

I got some Waterlife Myxazin instead, did a 3rd water change and added some. With a bit of luck he'll show an improvement soon. Also got some live bloodworms, only 25p for a bag.

 

[Tenko]

Update

Out of the 2 guppies with fin rot, one of them is a lot better now. The other one was a bit too far gone to save and died yesterday.