View Full Version : Is it just her time to go? Help!
I have an unusually big female swordtail. I've had her for a year now and she was a full grown adult when I got her. She's given birth to 3 groups of young in the time I've had her w/ her last group being 2 weeks ago. Now she looks skinny and she's sort of waddling through the water instead of swimming like she normally does and her head is higher than the rest of her body. Almost like she's swimming like a sea horse. Does anyone know what's going on? :( Thanks.
thom336
04-07-2003, 12:08 PM
i have experianced the exact same problem with female guppies. if you look closely you may be able to see her sides sort of 'cave in'. however, this doesnt always happen. unfortunately, they all seem to die from this condition, what ever it may be. this death can also be a long one...but i have a guppy with it at the moment which appears to be picking up. if my guppy doesnt show any more improvement within the next few days thou then i am going to put the hammer to it. thats really the best suggestion i have, sorry mate.
thom336
04-07-2003, 12:10 PM
ah, you said she was skinny. didnt see that, that might be the sort of 'cave in' bit...but it normally looks a bit more drastic than just being 'skinny' on my female guppies, although they do get very thin before hand, and their gills and head come to look almost too large for their body.
Yes you are right! She is caved in on the sides!:( Wow. This sucks!!! She's been my favorite fish the whole time I've had her. I don't know if it's possible to get attached to a fish, but this is bothering me. This started up 2 days ago. Thanks for the response.
thom336
04-08-2003, 11:54 AM
your welcome. i am wondering does anyone know what this is that our livebearers are falling to? i origionally thought when it first happened to me that it was a genetic swimbladder problem as they seem to lose their balance, and float on their sides at the top for periods of time, but that would not appear to be the case now as we have a more mature fish fallen to it. i am at a loss.
She's still not looking good. She's eating ok, but still swimming vertically and looking very clumsy.:(
Bantam
04-08-2003, 4:13 PM
i don't know what the specific problem is but the symptoms sound fatal in my experience, sorry.
it is definitley posible to get attached to fish - ask anyone who has lost one they've had for 10, 15 or even 25 years.
i really hope things improve but euthanasia might be the kindest option.
craig
thom336
04-09-2003, 12:46 PM
my guppy died during the night....
i would agree with euthanasia, the only reason i held back on this occasion was because there seemed to be improvement in the condition.