Guppy Questions

M

MarkInNC

AC Members
Jun 16, 2009
107
0
0
74
Hampstead NC
I have a 45 gal community tank and have a few fancy guppys as part of the stock. The tank is about 8 mo. old now and it has been about 6 mo. after my initial cycle. I do weekly 25% water changes, (I use well water with no amonia, no chlorine, pH is on the high side at 7, and I have minerals in the well water.). My water parameters are stable and stay at amonia 0, nitrite 0, and nitrate at 10 as measured with an AI liquid test kit. The temp stays at about 78F.

Over the past six months I have lost about half of the fish that I added. I have purchased all my fish at the same LFS, a national chain and the only local place in my area. I lost a female guppy the day before yesterday which was the only fish loss for about a month. (I lost the fish one by one with days or weeks in between.) (Losses have included all the dwarf gouramis 6, two neon tetras, and four fancy guppies.

I have one batch of guppy fry about a month old in the tank now. I thought a female was about ready for a second batch of fry about a week ago. Two days ago I noted her poop was a long white string, actually about an inch and a half long. She carried that around for at least a day. Next morning she was gone on the bottom. I have read about various worms and parasites and not found anything that sounds like this. What happened?

Mark
 
I breed guppies and sell them. Long ago, I used to subscribe to the "Mysterious Guppy Disease." Later, I got a good microscope from a yard sale, a geologists wife was selling her deceased husbands tools.

First time I "cut open" the guppy corpse of one which had fallen to the "Mysterious Guppy Disease" its' "guts" where packed with very small ~1mm worms/nematodes. I began treating for worms/nematodes/parasites. The "Mysterious Disease" disappeared from my tanks.

Other times this disease has cropped up, and I have done an "iodine stain" of tissue from the diseased fish, I have noticed ~1mm, very thin, worms in the actual "meat" of the fish! Whether these two are related (gut, flesh worms), I really can't say.

This may, or may not, relate to your specific fish ...

Addition: Forgot to mention, long, "stringy", clear feces were one of the conditions noted before death ...

Regards,
TA
 
Last edited:
How do you treat for worms/nematodes/parasites? Can you treat in the same tank at the same time as other fish are?

I noted last night that my last adult guppy had the long stingy feces. I am suspecting that she will follow her sister.

thanks,

Mark
 
For internal parasites, you do need to treat the whole tank as it is very likely everyone is already infested. I prefer praziquantel since the added bonus is it eradicates the possible flukes. Your other options are levamisole hydrochloride, fenbendazole or flubendazole.
 
But once we're talking about parasites actually embedded in the muscles of the fish, I think we're looking at incurable.
 
KarlTh said:
But once we're talking about parasites actually embedded in the muscles of the fish, I think we're looking at incurable.
Click to expand...


Fenbenzadol does a very good job on most parasites. It is possible to completely eradicate them, but the question remains of the infected's ability to recover from the infection.

praziquantel and fenbenzadol can harm inverts.
 
Last edited:
MarkInNC said:
How do you treat for worms/nematodes/parasites? Can you treat in the same tank at the same time as other fish are?

I noted last night that my last adult guppy had the long stingy feces. I am suspecting that she will follow her sister.

thanks,

Mark
Click to expand...

Here is a page which talks about worms in angels, it may or may not apply to you. However, it is a darn good read! When one first wakes up to the fact (a fact in my humble opinion, and especially true if the same disease keeps "popping up" for you) that most diseases are rooted in worms and parasites which weaken fish, it is good to read everything you can lay your hands on!
http://angelfishconnection.net/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=111

Yes, you do need to treat the whole tank. UV light can lessen/stop the spread of worms. However, I strongly suspect that once a fish is infected and secondary diseases have began to attack the fish, you MUST deworm that fish! Death is lurking around the corner.

Since running UV light ALL disease of all types and parasites are not even 1/10 of the problem disease used to be for me. Indeed, the purchase of new fish, plants, etc. is the only time I ever see it now. However, consider that AFTER you get rid of this infestation, or use it in conjunction with a good wormer. The wormer I use does not seem to suffer any damage from UV, however you might want to error on the side of caution.

Regards,
TA
 
I have pointed out, in other threads, that though friends I have access to "people/animal meds" I have grown used to using in my tanks. Just thought I would mention that right up front.

However, I would think that one could buy like a 1 pound tin or so of a pond med for koi or gold fish which is for worms/nematodes/parasites and would last one a good long time, for cheap/reasonable. If I needed to, I would pursue these lines.

Just a thought for the cost conscious fish keeper ...

Regards,
TA
 
Last edited:
Just an FYI, Levamisole Hcl is fading from the market place..it is slowly being replaced by newer meds.

Fenbendazole,flubendazole are currently being used replacing Levamisole.

btw Levamisole Hcl is effective in treatment of both capillaria and camallanus.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom