Splitting Tails

[thisguyek]

my guppies, one in particular, are getting their tails split for some reason. It seems that one day their tails will be split overnight. It will be like that for a few days and then it will heal back together.

Whats causing this? anything i can to do speed up the healing process?

I'm also looking for opinions on UV sterilizers.... yay or nay?

 

[saz326]

Unless there is evidence of fin rot then I wouldnt be too concerned.

What your ratio of males to females ...?

Boy guppies will chase and get quite forceful with lady guppies so there needs to either be plenty of females around or a male only group. This unwanted attention can cause the fish to dart around and damage their tails.

May be worth looking at their diet too. Healthy fins should not split too easily so check that the fish with the damaged fins are eating properly and get a good varied diet, or at very least a quality flake food and an occasional treat.

 

[thisguyek]

the group of guppies is all males. I do have 10 platies as well (3 males, 7 females). when I added the females (about a week ago) the guppies were running around quite a bit, but things have seemed to calm down a bit. One of my guppy's tail was splitting before all of this though.

Diet consists of flakes as a staple, with alternating feedings of some floating crisps. Occasional feeding of frozen bloodworms as a treat. As I'm aware and have noticed, everyone is eating normally.

Stats are where they are supposed to be... perhaps they get caught in a filter here or there?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I have a tank full of male guppies, and they're always chasing each other around. There's a few instances of one or two really dogging one other. I don't actually see any nipping, but you just never know.

Do you have any lava type rock in your tank? Or other sharp stones?

 

[thisguyek]

nope, nothing overly sharp that I'm aware of. It's really only the one that is so noticeable. Could it just be his bad luck? I don't notice any chasing between the guppies themselves, I notice more chasing between the guppies and the platies to be honest...

 

[thisguyek]

well its been a few days now and his tail doesnt seem to be getting any better. To me it doesnt appear to be fin rot (there isnt the fungusy look at the tear, and none of my other fish show any signs). I started a treatment of melafix today. should i just continue on with the treatment, or will it eventually heal up?

 

[This Old Spouse]

I rescued a fancy guppy with a split tail. It wasn't fin rot, I think actually that the Chinese algae eater got after him (the CAE has since been rehomed). It took several weeks for the tear to heal, but heal it did, with no medications. I don't use medications unless I think it's the last hope, and then just in a QT.

 

[thisguyek]

so you think i should stop the melafix and let nature take its course? I have enough for maybe one dose... should i just use it up? like i said, it was really only the one guppy that kept tearing it, but it did heal back up. just a little more worried this time around because its taking a little bit longer than it has in the past

 

[soybean]

My guppies get the occasional tear in their tail for no obvious reasons. Unless you can see actual evidence of fin rot or fungus, I don't see any need to medicate the tank. Often the best medicine is good clean water. Keep up regular water changes and let it heal in it's own time.

 

[This Old Spouse]

+1

 

[thisguyek]

alright, will do! thanks

 

[thisguyek]

alright, its been another week and it doesnt seem to be showing any signs of getting better. i still dont believe it to be tail rot. it doesnt look like its 'rotting' none of my other fish have any damage to fins/tails... any other ideas? does it just take this long? is there anything else i can do to speed recovery?

He has been eating as much as everyone else, and seems to be just as healthy in every other aspect. test stats are where they should be.

I dont know if this will make a difference, but my tank has been running on the warmer side of things (summer months!) will that have an effect on it?

 

[thisguyek]

another 4 days and STILL no signs of a healed tail I dont have a quarantine tank set up... I'm not sure if he would make it in a bucket with meds for a couple days or not.....

It doesnt seem to be getting any worse, but i guess i cant really be sure. I've been trying to get a good picture for some time now, but the little #29### won't stay still long enough to get a shot!!

HELP ME!!!

 

[This Old Spouse]

Are there any signs of infection or fungus? If not, quit worrying!

 

[thisguyek]

well hes acting quite normal. eating regularly. it doesnt appear to have any fungus around the tear at all, but like i said, i cant be 100% sure. never stays in one spot long enough to get a decent look at him!

probably just being a worry wort but its never been torn this long, just has me concerned!