Male Swordtail's sword furry

[Clareg]

Hi,

On reading the forum I've made the mistake of having 2 male swordtails and 3 females in my tank, when I should only have 1 male.

The two males have started to become aggressive to one another. The smaller of the two seems to win while the larger male skulks around the back of the tank. About 10 minutes ago I noticed that this males "sword" is looking sore. It's furry on the end and slightly red. Has he picked up an STD??

Can anyone advice what this might be, I have some general fungal medicine, is it worth adding some to the tank?

I general, should I increase my female population or try and get rid of one of the males?

As well as the swordtails, I have 2 yoyo loaches, 3 female platies (2 males died recently) and 2 male guppies. All seem to get along fine except for the male swordtails.

Any help appreciated,

Clareg

 

[WILDER]

The stress is probably making him ill, you will have to get rid of one of the swordtails, the furry bit where is in on the fish, what size is the tank how many gallons, can you post water stats in ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,and ph, look at this aricle with you saying it furry.
http/www.flippersandfins.net/flexibacter.htm

 

[Clareg]

Hi,

I'm going to get some water stats now. The furry bit is on the end of his gonopodium. The article you posted sounds similar to what is wrong with the swordtail, especially as I have recently lost 2 male platies. What struck me is the article mentions temperature rises. In my part of the world we have just had a mini heatwave, and the temp. in my tank rose from 24 to 28c. I slowly reduced the temp and by the time the heatwave was over the temp. was ok.

I'll post the stats shortly.


Clareg

 

[Clareg]

Hi,

The tank size os 85 litres. Just checked the stats and they are no different since I took them 3 days ago. Here they are:

PH 8 (as tap water)
Ammonia 0.0mg/l
Nitrite 0.0mg/l
Nitrate 12.5mg/l

According to my test kit these are all normal.

I have the following fish:

3 female platy
3 female swordtails
2 male swordtails
2 yoyo (pakistani) loaches

Thanks for your help so far,

Clareg

 

[WILDER]

Water stats and stocking good, only thing with columnaris you have to use antibiotics but they are not available in the uk, i would do some daily water changes on he tank, the affected fish do some salt baths, and if you can issolate him you can use interpet anti internal bacteria med with anti finrot med by interpet.

 

[Clareg]

Thanks for your help, my lfs is open tomorrow so I will see if they stock the meds you have recommended. I do have Melafix general anti-bacterial medication. I don't have anywhere to isolate him though. I have an old tank that is not set up, but I fear that the shock of an uncycled tank would be too much for him. What is your opinion?


Clareg

 

[WILDER]

You can add some tank water from the main tank, then top up with fresh, you just do daily water changes and add the correct amount of med back to the water removed, remove debris and waste with a net, keep an eye on water stats in ammonia,and nitrate,you will need a heater and some hiding places for the fish, don't need gravel, a bare bottom is best for a hospital tank,don't want to add both the meds to the main tank as it could send it into a mini cycle.

 

[Clareg]

That's brilliant, thanks for all the information, I'm setting up the tank now so it is ready for tomorrow when I get the meds. I'll let you know how everything goes.

Clareg

 

[WILDER]

Good luck, hope the fish makes a full recovery.

 

[emma12321]

Hi clareg,

Not sure about the fungus but as far as stocking goes in a way the males have 3 females each as they will most likely crossbreed with the platies.

My lfs has got loads of these cross breeds in (some have got really weird tails).

Emma

 

[Clareg]

Hi,

I have set up a hospital tank and moved the sick swordtail. I've started him on medication but he's not eating and is looking worse than yesterday. Not sure if he is going to make it but I'll keep trying!

I seem to be losing a lot of fish recently. I've lost 6 fish without visible signs of disease, all from the same lfs but bought at different times (to replace those that died).

I now have another fish missing as well as the sick swordtail.

Something is going wrong in my tank and I don't know what. The only difference between my old tank and new is that there is wood in the new and therefore a slight discolouration with the tanin.

Fish only started dying when I bought new ones, the old fish from the old tank where all healthy.

Clareg

 

[WILDER]

Sounds like the fish fetched something into the tank,no signs of flicking and rubbing or heavy breathing, has there coloured darkened, what does it look like when they go to the toilet.

 

[Clareg]

Hi,

Some of the swordtails have spells where they dash around the tank but other than that they behave normally, have normal bodily functions and look the same, no visible signs of the usual fish diseases nor changes in colour. They simply disappear, some of the bodies I find others I don't which is even more bizarre!

The swordtail in the hospital tank is now so poorly I don't think he will survive the next couple of hours. He has not eaten for 48 hours and he's incredibly thin.

I'm not going to buy anymore fish for a long while, and never from the lfs I've been buying them from lately. I'm going to monitor the water quality every couple of days and do 20% water changes every week (as I normally do). If there is disease in the tank then I'm not going to risk anymore fish.

Thanks for everyones help so far, really appreciate it.

Clareg

 

[Clareg]

Just wanted to close this topic by saying that the swordtail didn't make it. He was dead when I got home from work yesterday. All other fish seem healthy and I'm keeping a close eye for any signs of stress or disease.

Thanks once again to everyone who helped

Clareg

 

[WILDER]

Sorry, R.I.P. just a few daily water changes on main tank.