Sick Guppy gave birth in isolation

[xxSarahxx]

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=103039&hl= Please look at that for some background information!!
Right, firstly, I am new to livebearers......I have never had fry UNITL NOW!! I am a Grandma!
Right, Moggy the fish above has been in isolation since the above incident, for those of you that haven't read it she was attacked by the other guppies in the tank for no apparent reason. I've been using melafix and then pimafix and now melafix again but in weaker doses. She has been going through phases but is generally still very up and down!
Anyway, I went to pick up her tank today as it needed a clean only to find she had given birth!!! I thought she might have been pregnant when I got her but had't expected this in the slightest I have to admit! I had a 10gallon breeding tank set up for my other guppies and one female platy to give birth in when they were showing signs of labour, etc. SO far I had a guppy that was going to go into it within the next couple of days...........I was NOT expected fry in Moggy's tank!
I separated her out into another tank a bit bigger than she was already in as I thought she was done, then out popped two more!!! One was very active the other was a bit weaker and so she ate it.....something I would rather not have seen but it's all part of the process thing!
The one that was fine is now in with his brothers and sisters and she seems to have stopped for now.
ANYWAY!!! The main thing is, the tank the fry are in really needs a clean and I would like to be able to remove the few dead ones that are already in there out. I am worried about the fry's health as well as Moggy's as I suspect they will be weaker from the meds. I don't think I can catch them and of course there is a very fluffy fake plant in there and a bridge and some gravel and this causes more problems as to finding them all.
ALSO if Moggy has internal parasites then will she have passed them onto the little ones??
BASICALLY........... what do I do?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Sorry for the long post but I don't know what to do! This is my first lot of fry and it is very exciting but I'm concerned as well. I do have some liquifry so if I can change the water I can fed them then. PLEASE help!!

 

[xxSarahxx]

I've managed to use a cup to empty out half of the water and have use a vaccum to clean some of the gravel but there is a lot of junk down there, more than I was expecting and I'm afraid of sucking up a fry as they keep swimming up to the vacuum.........REALLY cute but slightly annoying as I can't clean it properely.
If I poor the water through a net it will catch the babies but it will also collect the other stuff so........aaagh!
They should have clean water and a clean start and I still don't know how to get the dead ones out!
Please help! I want to do this right!

 

[xxSarahxx]

I am really sorry about being pushy and impatient but I really need some help! Please......advice!
I'm currently using a cup to empty out water so in effect I am doing a 75-80% water change and using the vac when possible!
Some input on this would be lovely!
EDIT: Actually in all honesty my biggest concern is for the health of the fry and the Mum as she has been so up and down. IF she has had internal parasites and that is why the other guppies attacked her as they were picking off the weakest will she have passed them onto the fry?

 

[Annastasia]

Can you not use a net to get the dead ones out? And as for vacuuming, you can use a turkey baster or fashion a small siphon out of airline tubing.

Also, it will be hard to tell if they are internal parasites or not. If you can, watch them for a while and see if any of them have white poo. As for the ones that died, they may have had internal parasites, and passed them on to others. I would try crushing up little medicated food flakes for internal parasites. The fry should eat those, and that may cure them.

I know this sounds cruel, but even if these don't turn out so well, you'll have more in a month. These won't be your only babies.

Edit: I have to go, so I can't help you anymore, but try posting in Emergencies!

 

[xxSarahxx]

True....... but they are my first lot!! I can now see why people love livebearers so much....... SO CUTE!!!
I think some were still born not sure any died after arrival!
Mum seems to be ok for now so we'll see how things go. I've got some of the dead ones out already and am now topping up the water in their little tank.
The shock of the whole situation is decreasing now so I can think a bit better! Thanks so much for the reply Annastasia, much appreciated!!!!
I am yet to find medicated food. Is there a brand name I can try? I don't know if it's a UK thing (doubt it) but just can't find any!

 

[tishygirl]

one thing i've noticed about my little fry, is when i powdercrush up some flakes, they will all hover around right at the surface, you might have more luck vacuuming the bottom if you can get them to come up and nibble on some flake powder

LOL.. I appreciate your nerves.... I have a maternity tank set up as well, but didnt get mom in there quick enough and suddenly had fry being chased all over in my main tank. In fact, had the same thing happen 10mins ago when I woke up ! lol. I put a nice bushy hanging plant hovering in the top of my tank now though, so its better than last time this happened... at least they have a place to hide out... I think I am going to let this batch fend for themselves.. or watch and attempt to catch one if I see it wiggle out from behind a leaf.

 

[Annastasia]

I am yet to find medicated food. Is there a brand name I can try? I don't know if it's a UK thing (doubt it) but just can't find any!

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It's a not a UK thing, it's hard to find it here too. Usually you have to end up ordering online or through a catalog.

I couldn't tell you a brand, since I don't know what you get over in the UK...do you get Jungle fish products? I've seen they have Antiparasitic medicated food. http/www.junglelabs.com/pages/details.asp?item=JF170

 

[xxSarahxx]

Nope no Jungle Fish products, it's such a nuisance though!
They appear to be doing well and Mum has recovered well I think. Her colour is possibly the best I have ever seen it! I have two more very pregnant guppies in the main livebearer tank as well as a heavily pregnant platy so hopefully, any day!
I'm going out on Tuesday to buy two more birthing tanks, possibly three!! That way I know it's safe! I'm not a fan of the bredding trap things, I put the most heavily pregnant guppy in it a few days and it just stressed her out too much.
On a slightly different note I haven't put the fry in the tank I was talking about the rearing tank that has been set up in anticipation as I looked in there today and there are millions of small things swimming in it. Some of them are pin-prick size others are about 2-3 mm long and not that much smaller than they fry. Anby ideas? I have not used it at all so not sure what it could be. I had a few of these in my main community tank and I put it down to planaria but maybe there is something in my tank water as I am very careful about gravel cleaning and keeping feeding to a bare minimum. They are sort of heart shaped, almost look like tiny flat fish, but that's not possible! Any ideas?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Annastasia]

That's weird. I would say they sound like Baby Brine Shrimp or some other kind of Livefood to me...have you ever fed that tank live foods?

And the Guppy fry may eat them. And probably will enjoy them. Though I'd find out what they are, first. You don't want to hurt the fry, or anything.

Here's Baby Brine Shrimp (Blown up) for reference..

 

[xxSarahxx]

Nope! The tank has never had anything in it! Nothing! Literally though there are thousands of them! I might try and take a couple out and see what the fry do. Although worried that they might be harmful.
I've actually not fed any of the tanks live food before as my LFS have only just started getting it in so will be getting the first batch on Friday.
I have no idea what they could be.

 

[xxSarahxx]

Look sort of like this but white and sort of transparent! Thousands of them!
They are smaller than the fry, the smallest being pin-prick size the biggest are 3mm ish. Free-swimming as well. Sorry about the bad drawing but it was all I could think of to show you!!