Whats Wrong With My Guppy?

[KENYA]

Hi there,i am concerned about my female guppy,she is on the gravel in a vertical position (tail on gravel)almost stood up like.she is moving from side to side almost in a rocking motion,is she giving birth?i am sure she is pregnant but not sure if she is ill,her gravid spot is black can anyone help plz?her tail is clamped and so is her top fin,she appears to be struggling

 

[LauraFrog]

That is not a normal posture for giving birth. It's very rare for livebearers to have that much trouble. Something is wrong with your guppy.

We really need more information to help it. How big is the tank? What other fish are in it? Is the tank cycled/how long has it been set up? Photos would be a big help. How are the other fish reacting? How long has she been doing this and how pregnant is she?

It sounds a bit like a swim bladder problem, but very hard to know. Swim bladder problems don't often develop spontaneously in adult fish, mostly fry are born with them and if the swim bladder is gone there's not much you can do. 'taildragging' fry with swimbladder abormality are generally euthanised as soon as they are seen.

 

[KENYA]

That is not a normal posture for giving birth. It's very rare for livebearers to have that much trouble. Something is wrong with your guppy.

We really need more information to help it. How big is the tank? What other fish are in it? Is the tank cycled/how long has it been set up? Photos would be a big help. How are the other fish reacting? How long has she been doing this and how pregnant is she?

It sounds a bit like a swim bladder problem, but very hard to know. Swim bladder problems don't often develop spontaneously in adult fish, mostly fry are born with them and if the swim bladder is gone there's not much you can do. 'taildragging' fry with swimbladder abormality are generally euthanised as soon as they are seen.

the tank has guppies and platties and is established,a year old.all the other fish are fine,water quality fine.this guppies tail is clamped too

 

[kribensis12]

Try some Aquarium salt as it will reduce the stress and add electrolites for the fish, to fight off what ever it has. You also might want to try giving her some melafix( Fixes about everything!)

 

[altselgreen]

Try some Aquarium salt as it will reduce the stress and add electrolites for the fish, to fight off what ever it has. You also might want to try giving her some melafix( Fixes about everything!)

Am I right in saying that Melafix is just Tee Tree oil?

 

[modaz]

classic sign of birthing is some guppies, its not written in stone to how they react when dropping their fry, some swim around without a care in the world and drop like bombs, some hide, some head down and some tail down, she sounds like shes having a problem dropping her fry, but give her time as she may well be ok, she dont look that pregnant but the pic is blurred and she may well be only carrying a few fry so that could explain it. DONT go treating with salt or melafix if you dont know what your dealing with, meds should only be added when the fact is clear.

 

[helterskelter]

The fish in the photo dose not look very pregnant to me, clamped fish are never a good sign, you should do several water changes over the next 2 weeks of 20-30%.

 

[KENYA]

The fish in the photo dose not look very pregnant to me, clamped fish are never a good sign, you should do several water changes over the next 2 weeks of 20-30%.

THANKS for all your replies.Mrs Guppy died during the night.Have just completed a water change.We did add two new guppies to the tank,it seems that everytime we put in a new fish we lose one of our existing ones!!!Maybe i should change fish dealer?One of the new guppies i have noticed this morning has a chunk from her tail.No white spot or fungus just a chunk gone.A couple of the others are flicking and rubbing on the ornaments!hmmmmmmmmmmm wonder if i';ve got an infectedtank?

 

[LauraFrog]

The only fish that I ever had clamping fins died a few weeks later. (fungal, I think.)

Melafix is NOT tea tree oil, it is melaleuca oil. If you put tea tree oil in the tank your fish will die.

If a guppy is having trouble giving birth, sometimes you have to anaesthetise the fish and extract the fry by hand. Never had to do it thank god.

Flicking, rubbing - sounds like there is something there. Hard to try to work out what without seeing the fish. It could be fungal, bacterial or parasitic and they all require different treatment. Might leave that one to the more experienced people.

 

[omega59]

my pregnant platy was clamping her tail and top fins down for weeks, she also floated at the top looking like she is going to die. just leave that guppy alone when she is ready to drop she will drop. i don't think your gupp yis sick at all that looks and sounds like normal pregnancy actions if you ask me.

 

[LauraFrog]

Omega - it died. It sounds pretty sick to me.