Problems With Tail Fins Of My Guppies. What Can It Be?

[aquaidoka]

Dear all! I bought a couple of blue cobra guppies two weeks ago, and now I have some problems with their tails. Here are their pictures. Quality is good to provide realistic enough view on the problem:

As you can see, they have lighter spots/line on the tail edges shown with orange arrows. Male's tail started also to deteriorate. A big pease of tail shown by green arrow dissapered and edge became very rugged. I don't see that some other fish nibbles on the male's tail fin at all.

Several minutes before I quarantined them in separate 1/2 gal bowl that I have without any equpment on it (no heater/filter etc.).

Please advise what it can be and what should I do?

In my main tank I have UV sterilizer for 1.5 days now.

 

[lilfishie]

what are the other tankmates? they could be nipping after lights out

the females looks a little like finrot , normally sorts itself out with good quality clean water, might be worth getting some finrot meds though just incase

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks, lilfishie! Tankmates are: 2 Pearl gouramis, 3 neon tetras, 2 high fin black skirt tetras, 2 dalmatian mollies, 1 swordtail, 2 otocincluses, and 2 siamese algae eaters.

 

[helterskelter]

High fin black skirt tetras are known as fin nippers so are neon's but not as bad. So I would suspect them to be nipping

We also may need a few more questions answered to get to know your setup.

Have you tested your water quality?
Also dose the the tail look like it's been nipped, also can see any redness around it?
How long have you had the tank running?
When did u last ad any fish?
What filtration do u have running?

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks, helterskelter! Do the tetras do it at night (because I never saw similar behavior during the day)? Answers for your quesionts follow:

> Have you tested your water quality?

Yes, I do it regularly with liquid tests. The latest readings are:
NH3 0
NO2 0
NO3 0 (planted aquairum, and I have a moderate green water problem for a month now - aquarium clears rapidly now with UV sterilizer, but all nitrates and phosphates below are consumed buy plants and algae)
PO4 0
GH 4 deg
KH 4 deg (adjusted from 2 degrees by baking soda)
pH 7.1-7.2
CO2 ~8 ppm
Adding about 5 ml of starndard Flourish every week

> Also dose the the tail look like it's been nipped, also can see any redness around it?
No redness around fins can be found.

> How long have you had the tank running?
About three month.

When did u last ad any fish?
> 2 affected guppies were added about 2 weeks ago after internet purchase together with 2 algae eaters and 2 otocincluses

What filtration do u have running?
> two HOB filters (Aqua-Tech 20-40 and AquaClear 30; together 310 GPH) filled with everything necessary (changed only mechanical/activated coal part in Aqua-Tech only - other parts are untouched).

 

[helterskelter]

everything sounds quite good and would rule out poor water at least, so 90% it's the Black skirt's nipping them, sorry

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks, Helterskelter! I'll keep an eye on those tetras. Nice to hear that everything sounds good!

 

[AstonN24vantage]

what about the gourami? your guppy should be fine, but i would keep an eye on it. probably just a nip from the black skirts or the gouramis

 

[Bettawhisperer]

Yes I was going to say the gouramis also. I have guppies and long fin tetras and have never had a problem. If infast it's dew to nipping. If it's fin rot you can try putting a little aquarium salt in the tank. Won't hurt anything in there. My other though is that Bettas long fins will sometimes get caught in the intake of the filter. With the long caudal fin of your male that could be a thought but the female does look like fin rot maybe not caused from bad water but from open sores from nipping.

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks, AstonN24vantage! Thanks, Bettawhisperer! I'll keep some watch , and write when something changes. I've returned guppies to main aquarium.

 

[helterskelter]

while gourami's are know fin nippers the Pearl's are a lot better others. this is why i did not suggest.

 

[Athena]

My dalmation mollies were also prone to fin-nipping my guppies when I used to keep guppies.

I guess you have a lot of possible culprits LOL

Athena

 

[aquaidoka]

Thanks Helterskelter, and thanks to the Olympians for deigning to my humble person!

Yesterday, I spent an evening hour watching over the aquarium. Male guppy was afraid of one black skirt tetra named Oscar, but no direct nipping was observed. Besides the same guppy spent almost all the time under the top of aquarium probably gasping for air but he didn't seem to be stressed. None of the other fish did it except for gouramis, which raised for air a couple of times and that is normal for their breathing system as I understand. Several days before, the guppy spent time mostly in the middle or closer to the bottom of aquarium. However, Oscar occupies the same territory (middle to bottom). Who knows.

 

[kbowling]

hi , does any one know what could be wrong with my guppies . i have 2 females and it looks like the back tailfin is to heavy for them and their bodies are bending. any help would be great

 

[aquaidoka]

Hi, kbowling! I've no experience at all with the guppies, but my male also had obvious problems with the bulkiness of the tail before it was partially nipped off by other fish . On the other hand, having some experience with forums, I'd suggest starting a new topic for your question in order to receive more answers.