Red Line

[PrairieSunflower]

Well, I originally posted in the livebearers section and someone posted "parasite"... but I'd like to have some more elaborate answers or differing opinions.

I have a male guppy and my daughter panicked thinking he'd split himself open. I went to investigate and found he had a red line along his belly... it appears to be apart of him rather than something attached to him. In appearance, it looks very much like the little red lines you'd see in the white of your eye.

I decided to remove him and place him in a jar with the intent on taking a picture of this strange red line. But, when I tried... the line had become completely invisible... his belly was its usual silvery-white color. I gave up after a few minutes and put him back in the tank. It was about 5 minutes and then again the red line appeared. And it seems to appear and disappear from time to time.

I am sure this is not a new developement in his color, especially sure since its along his belly.

I got a reply to my thread in livebearers that said "parasites". I've been attempting to read up on what it could be but have yet to find anything that seems to describe this. I have come across anchor worms but they seem to be attached to the fish whereas this line seems as apart of him as your veins are in your eyes. And the appearing and disappearing really has me scratching my head.

I have gone ahead and raised the temperature and added salt to my tank since that is the general "to do" with parasites.

Could someone tell me what this might be?

 

[fluttermoth]

I know this might be a really stupid question, but you don't have anything red/pink in the tank that could be reflecting off him, is there?

It sounds nothing like any parasite I've ever come across, that's for sure. I don't have any guppies I can inspect for any similar features, I'm afraid!

Do you have any more male guppies, or is it just that one?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I know this might be a really stupid question, but you don't have anything red/pink in the tank that could be reflecting off him, is there?

It sounds nothing like any parasite I've ever come across, that's for sure. I don't have any guppies I can inspect for any similar features, I'm afraid!

Do you have any more male guppies, or is it just that one?

I'm sure its not a reflection of anything. It moves with him, I'd expect a reflection would not go along with him. Its like it comes out in a similar fashion to when males colors darken when they are excited... but I just don't think this is part of his coloring (his tail and fins are orange/black ruffles, and his body has those sort of wild like blotches but more pastelish shades).

This male (Ben10, named by my kid), is one of 4 of similar colorings born from the same mother and none of the others have this... Ben10 is a month older than the other 3. I have 4 other males from other mothers and none of them have this either.

In this tank I have 8 grown males (4-5 months of age) and 2 probably males (1 month old).

 

[PrairieSunflower]

HAH! Done it finally... not the clearest picture there ever was... Ben10 is far too active for my camera... but you can make out a portion of the mystery line.

 

[Boromir]

Could it not be something like he's getting too hot and the blood is just coming to the surface? Just like when we get hot we go a bit red and sweaty. This is just a guess though otherwise I dont know.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I don't know. Its not hot here and the tank was at 25-26, until today when I raised the temperature in case its a parasite.

 

[WILDER]

Strange.

So the red line on the fish appears, than disappears.
Does the red mark look like could be an internal worm. As camallanus worms are red when they have
been feeding on the host.

Only other thing I can think of is -
Make sure the red line is not tiny red dots joined up to form a line.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Strange.

So the red line on the fish appears, than disappears.
Does the red mark look like could be an internal worm. As camallanus worms are red when they have
been feeding on the host.

Only other thing I can think of is -
Make sure the red line is not tiny red dots joined up to form a line.

According to the google images I've looked at, those worms look like they dangle from fish and this line definitely looks apart of him with nothing being detached.

I shall try to observe more and make sure its a red line and not dots, seems a red line though. He is extremely active ALL the time in the tank... and when I take him out to look closely it goes invisible! Very hard to observe!

What would red dots mean?

 

[WILDER]

Camallanas worms are internal worms. Just something to consider.
Red dots can be septicemia. Blood poisoning.
Red veining can also be septicemia.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Hmmm... if it is? How would he have caught that? I've not introduced a new fish (other than the 2 fry) in 2 months.

I just went away and found another link... more blog style from an experienced aquarist about those worms. Quite interesting... except, that he says this worm comes in with new fish. That it can take 6-12 weeks to show up... BUT that it should show up first on the host fish before spreading..... and its not the one and only fish I bought from the pet shop with the worm, its one of mine that I've raised from a fry (7 of the 8 are home raised and only 1 store bought).

Anyhow, he does talk about it being unseen for a time before they show up... and isn't filling me with much hope at all for the entire tank if it is this kind of worm... and seems a bit pointless to quarentine my fish if it is.

 

[WILDER]

it's best to worm fish.

I not saying your fish has any of these ailments.
We are just working out what the red line could be.

If you doubt it any of the above ailments. I would just keep a close eye on the fish to see if
anything changes.

Keep a look out for when your fish go to the toilet.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

I can't figure out what it is, but I am sure its not normal.

 

[WILDER]

With the red line disappearing from site, it's hard to pin point what it is.
Do you think the red line could be disappearing when the fish add pressure to the area around the red line,
(Like a rash when you add pressure)

 

[PrairieSunflower]

That could be possible. It appears sometimes for whatever reason, it appears when he is displaying, its not there when I feed him.