Help! Sick Guppy

[Kristie]

Help please. I have a guppie that has suddenly developed what appears to be a fungal like growth at the rear end of its body and over its tail. I'm not sure "fungal" or "growth" are even the best descriptions so I'm probably not helping. Just befor the tail it has a yellowish colour to it. It appears swollen or raised and has a wart like appearance. It's not as bad on the actual tail but it's still ugly and I think it might be getting worse.

The fish is still eating but its swimming motion seems less effortless and a bit more frantic than usual (more body motion than normal).

Every now and then it will swim to the surface for 5 secs or so where I'm assuming it's gulping for air.

It shares a 22 ltr (I think) tank with 2 other guppies but it isn't its usual playful self.

I took photos but unfortunately they exceed the size limit allowed.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[WILDER]

Water stats in ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.

Does it look like cotton wool the growth. What colour is it?
How big is the yellow wart growth.
Does the wart resemble a cauliflower.

Turn tank lights out and shine a torch on all the fish for gold dusting, rusty coloured varnish, yellow golden spots, or yellow spots.
Any signs of flicking and rubbing, darting, excess mucas.

 

[Kristie]

Wilder,

PH is 7.4, that's all I know.

The growth on the tail is a bit cotton wool like, maybe.

The wart like area is a bit more like cauliflower. It covers about 3-4mm where the body meets the tail. It looks yellowish to me but the fish is orange so may just be more pale than yellow.

The other two fish dart about but they've always done that, just being playful. No signs of rubbing or mucas. One fish did show some rusty colouring around its face but I think it is its natural colouring.

Update: The sick guppy has just started 'pecking' at the rubber suction cap to the heater. Not a rub so much, more like it's trying to eat it.

 

[WILDER]

Immediate water change and increase aeration.

Take a sample of your water to the lfs and ask them to write the readings down for you.
Also I would strongly suggest investing in some liquid test kits of your own.

It hard to say if it's velvet, as darting can be due to bad water quality. That's why we need to know your water stats.

Keep a look out for flicking and rubbing.


Wart like growth and cauliflower looking growths can be viral lymthocystis. I would do some research on the disease.

I think I would add some myxazin by waterlife for now with the fungus on the fish.

 

[Kristie]

I did around a 40% water change as soon as I noticed the growth earlier today. The water is maintained fairly well, at least in terms of regular 10% water changes.

I've increased aeration as best I can for now.

I did find lymthosystis when googling fish diseases before coming in here. I'll do some more research as you suggest.

I hadn't really noticed before, probably because of the obvious problem at the other end, but the sick one may be slightly bloated, not certain though.

I really appreciate your help.

 

[WILDER]

If the fish is bloated epson salt baths to help draw the fluids out.
Try some peas. Only good if the fish is still eating.

All you can do is try some myxazin by waterlife.

Get your water tested. As it the first thing to look at.
It will help rules out alot of things.

Is it possible to load a pic onto the site of the sick fish?

 

[Kristie]

I'll try a pea and get some myxazin as soon as I can. What is this treatment anyway?

I will also invest in some water testers as you suggested.

I took some (dodgy) pics of the affected area but they exceed the size limit allowed in the forum so won't load and I don't know how to resize them.

Just checked...no peas handy. Any alternatives?

 

[WILDER]

Do you have a photo bucket account. If so just add them there and then leave the link.

Myxazin by waterlife for external bacteria infections.
Get you a link to the med.

http/www.waterlife.co.uk/waterlife/myxazin.htm

 

[Kristie]

I don't even know what a photo bucket account is. I needed help just loading the photos from the camera to the computer...and that help is not around at the moment though I should be able to get some suitably sized photos later on for loading in here.

 

[WILDER]

Here my account of photo bucket.
http/s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww45/E_Wilder/

 

[Kristie]

Here my account of photo bucket.
http/s704.photobucket.com/albums/ww45/E_Wilder/

Hi Wilder,

Here's a link to photo bucket a/c with photos loaded. The quality is not great but was best of an ordinary bunch. Hopefully good enough for you to get a fair idea. If not I could try and get some better ones:

http/s1181.photobucket.com/albums/x424/caletash/

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
All you can do is try myxazin by waterlife, or anti internal bacteria med by interpet.

 

[Kristie]

Thanks Wilder. I greatly appreciate your help. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[WILDER]

Good Luck.