Help. Fish Body Gone White

[WRG]

I have a couple of Guppies that appear to have a problem. On the top of its body to the from the fin and half way up it's body it has turned white. I have googled it and the usual suggestions are White Spot and a fungal infection that looks like cotton wool. Neither seem to be the answer. It is more like the body is rotting away. Similar to our skin when we get out of the bath or atheletes foot. The fish do not seem to be distressed. I have cheked the water and all seems ok. The first fish developed this at the weekend and second fish we have noticed today. Any ideas? Do I take them out or can I leave them in and get something tomorrow?

Many thanks

WRG

 

[glolite]

What size is the tank, how many fish and can you give your water stats please?

 

[WRG]

I have a couple of Guppies that appear to have a problem. On the top of its body to the from the fin and half way up it's body it has turned white. I have googled it and the usual suggestions are White Spot and a fungal infection that looks like cotton wool. Neither seem to be the answer. It is more like the body is rotting away. Similar to our skin when we get out of the bath or atheletes foot. The fish do not seem to be distressed. I have cheked the water and all seems ok. The first fish developed this at the weekend and second fish we have noticed today. Any ideas? Do I take them out or can I leave them in and get something tomorrow?

Many thanks

WRG

The tank is 96 litres (Juwel Korner 96) I have 20 fish. 10 Neon Tetras, 8 Guppies and 2 Clown Loach. I have used Tetra test strips and they returned safe apart from water change I think. It was between safe and change. Anomia levels were 0. I am using RO water. Thanks for your reponse. It seems bright yellow on part of the body has turned white. The other Guppies seem ok

 

[glolite]

The test strips have a reputation for being inaccurate. It would be worth investing in the API liquid test kits for ammonia and nitrite. For now I would do a water change to be on the safe side and retest with the liquid kits.

 

[WILDER]

I would take the clown loaches back to the lfs as the tanks to small for them.

Water change and add myxazin by waterlife and pimafix.
Does it look like bleaching beneath the skin.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, darting, excess mucas, laboured breathing.

 

[WRG]

Yes I would say it looks like bleaching. I do have liquid test kits which I will do tonight when I get home. I cannot see any signs that would indicate that the fish are stressed. One of the Guppies seems just to be hanging around but the rest seem ok. I think there is enough oxygen as the fish are not darting to the top for air.

 

[WILDER]

You need to treat for columnaris with myxazin and pimafix. If there no signs of flicking and rubbing, excess mucas, darting, laboured breathing.
Good luck.

 

[WRG]

Tested the water. Ammonia & Nitrite bothe zero and Nitrate was 40. Have been to my fish shop today and they say that it is an Acidic Bacterial infection which is common in Guppies. I have purchased some medicine for them. Poor things.

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.

 

[WRG]

Good Luck.

Thanks. Have applied the treatment but another fish today is poorly. It seems only to be affecting the pregnant females. The one not looking to good at the moment is heavily pregnant and most of her body has gone white and she keeps sitting at the top of the tank. Do I ride this out till they die? I added the second part of the anti bacterial solution on Wednesday just gone? All males seem ok. Thanks for your time and help

 

[WILDER]

Are you also using the pimafix.

 

[WRG]

Not using pimafix. Sorry when I got the aquatic center I forgot to ask for it. What they gave me was the following solution "Interpet Anti Internal Bacteria number 9". I will call in and see if they have any. Still confused as to why only the females are affected though. Thanks for your response and advice.

 

[WILDER]

You need two meds in the uk for columnaris.

If a fish is weak and has a weak immune system it will affect them first.
Females giving birth all the time takes it toll.

Is it possible to load a pic up of the sick fish.

 

[WRG]

Wilder. Thanks so much for your help and patience. The one that was sick yesterday was dead this morning. If another one gets sick I will endeavour to do so. Just to throw a spanner in the works I changed water yesterday and I noticed that the Clown Loach that I bought at the same time as the Guppies is covered in lots of tiny little white spots. In fact at first glance I thought he was covered in specks of sand. I don't get to see him much as he likes to live in his tube. Is it possible that the Clown Loach has a disease that has passed on to the Guppies. The Loach does not show any signs of illness at all and my Neon Tetra are all ok. As you stated maybe the female Guppies are more susceptible when pregnant and giving birth

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like whitespot then if the clown loaches have white spots the size of a grain of salt.