My Fish Are In Trouble

[naomi.brookes@gmail.com]

Hi there

Am very new to this site and have a question.
I've got a 35 litre (I think) tank containing platies, honey guaramies guppies and bottom feeding fish that I can't remember the full name of but end in Dora and are black and white striped and look very much like catfish.

I've lost 4 of these doras in the last 2 days. I've had the doras for about a month and the others for a few weeks longer. The tanks been up and running for about 4 months but I have been prone to overfeeding so the nitrite levels have gone up and down. The tanks settled down over the last three weeks, partly because I've been really careful not to overfeed and partly because the doras are doing their stuff on the bottom. I have been regularly doing a water change, once or twice a week and the other fish have been fine and I've even found two tiny baby fishes around and have also been given a baby molly by a neighbour which are all absolutely fine.

I've got three guppies, one male, two female (unfortunately I lost 6 of them over the last few weeks because of the nitrite levels) and the female has a huge tummy so I think is pregnant, however the male also has a huge tummy which has only grown in the last few days - is this normal?

What I was wondering in my very long message - sorry - is why are my Doras dying and why does my male guppy look pregnant?

any advice would be appreciated as I keep getting very attached to my fishes especially the ones that stay with me when the others give up.

thanks very much

 

[n3ont3tra]

The 'doras' are probably a type of corydoras. Cories, for short. They are sensitive to water parameters, so if you have ammonia or nitrite readings, that's probably the problem.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

The catfish might be dying because of the high nitrite levels. As for the guppies, are you sure the male is actually a male? Does it have a fan-shaped anal fin? Are any of his scales sticking out? If not, then he might be constipated due to the over-feeding. Try fasting him for a couple of days then feeding his a de-shelled pea (in pieces)

 

[naomi.brookes@gmail.com]

Thanks for the replies.

The nitrite level has been fine for about 3 weeks, and I'm checking at the moment every couple of days. Would they be sensitive to anything that the platies and guppies aren't?

I'm only feeding the fishies once a day but the male guppy (they said in the Acquatic centre he was male as he is very pretty and has a massive tail fin) does look a bit portly to say the least. If I starve them will it affect the other fish? I don't want to lose anymore if I can help it.

 

[rabbut]

why are my Doras dying and why does my male guppy look pregnant?

Does your guppy have raised scales, or is he just looking bloated? I ask, as it may be one of two bactirial infections, brought on by the nitrite spikes you have had in recent weeks. Is the guppy the only fish suffering these symtoms?
If this does turn out to be a bactiria baced problem, can you please let us know your general location (USA, UK, rest of europe e.c.t.) so we can recomend appropriate medications to you. Constapation is another option, but someone else has covered this in another post.
Regards
rabbut

 

[orange shark]

your male could have dropsy

 

[naomi.brookes@gmail.com]

Hi Rabbut

The male does have raised scales and is having a bit of trouble moving around but he gets a sudden burst of energy now and then. The female is also tubby but doesn't have raised scales and the third guppy is absolutely fine.

I'm in the UK (South). Is there anything specific you'd recommend to treat him with and will the treatment harm the other fish?

 

[I Love my fishies]

Hi I think that 35litre tank may be too small for all of your fish.

 

[mommyof2bettas]

If it has raised scales it's dropsy. Try giving him an epsom salt bath.