Help! I Think My Guppy Is Near Death!

[CrazyAboutFish]

I have a guppy that is nearly 1 year old. Since midnight it has been hanging around the top, or bottom of the tank. It has an orange tail, and I have noticed that the tail nearer to the body is going a bit black, as if its bruised or rotting. Same with the top fin. I have put some treatment in that helps a range of different diseases including fin rot. It also helps remove bacteria from the tank and is not harmful at all.

I really don't want to be scooping a dead guppy out of the tank...urgent help please!

 

[ncguppy830]

the only thing you could do is QT it and treat fin rot. best of luck

 

[Man of fish]

Just some blackening near the body of the tail is not typical of fin rot I believe, and if it was fun rot you would begin to see signs of the tail shredding or rotting, if I may. Also guppies are considered top dwellers so it's not surprising he's staying near the top, and mine also tend to venture to the bottom on occasion. As long as he isn't gasping for air, sounds to me like he will be fine!

 

[Sophie]

You've had him a year or a year since you got him from LFS?

 

[guppielover99]

My guppies recently came down with a bacterial infection as well as fin rot. I treated it with MELAFIX but I'm sure any other treatment for the same things would do the same job. Yes i lost 3 of my guppies. but that was before the treatment after the treatment my 4th guppie was fine , eating ect. I recently introduced 3 mickey mouse platties and continued the treatment as it said for 7 days. It's been 5 days and everything seems to be doing great. my fish are very active ect.

 

[CrazyAboutFish]

You've had him a year or a year since you got him from LFS?

 
No, one of my guppies gave birth to him along with 10-15 others that I gave to my lfs. The Mum and Dad are no longer with us. The Mum went to the lfs as breeding fish isn't my thing. And, actually considering the range of fish there appeared to be 2 fathers. Some had the same pattern as one, and others had the colors of another. Anyway, they both died. One got attached to the filter and suffered, and I'm not sure how the other one died. 

 

[CrazyAboutFish]

Just some blackening near the body of the tail is not typical of fin rot I believe, and if it was fun rot you would begin to see signs of the tail shredding or rotting, if I may. Also guppies are considered top dwellers so it's not surprising he's staying near the top, and mine also tend to venture to the bottom on occasion. As long as he isn't gasping for air, sounds to me like he will be fine!

 
I believe that little crumb-sized bits come off his tail now and then. I'm assuming that that is natural for guppies, as most (probably all) of them have rough tail edges. 
 
Anyway, he is back up and full of energy now. Lets hope it lasts!

 

[Man of fish]

What are tank stats so I can help you further. Tank size, other tank inhabitants, parameters (ammonia nitrite etc), maintenance routine, do you change the filter pads etc