Help Me!!! Sick Guppy??

M

Marinebio444

AC Members
Dec 30, 2008
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Hi, I'm a newbie to the aquarium scene. I recently got a 20gal tall tank. Today I bought a number fish from a well-known local seller: 6 guppies
2 Swordtails
1 Pearl Gourami
When I put the fish in my tank, I noticed right away that one of my male guppies wasn't swimming very well. It seems like he couldn't move his caudal (tail) fin at all. The fin is not looking what it is supposed to look like: it's drained of a little color, and it's raggedy on the end as opposed to the flowing semicircular one of my other guppies. Can Someone tell me what is wrong with my fish???
 
Water parameters? Did you cycle the tank? Is this the only fish looking affected? What is your waterchange schedule? Have you noticed any aggression from the other fish? Sounds like it may be fin rot which is sometimes caused by water quality issues.
 
If it is fin rot, then it must've been there before i bought it because my water parameters are fine and i've only had it for a say, and it was showing these symptoms right out of the bag.
 
It could have come from the stock if it's fin rot. but...
Did you cycle the tank?
Is this the only fish looking affected?
Have you noticed any aggression from the other fish?

EDIT:
My parameters are pH=7.2, ammonia=0 to.25, nitrite and nitrate=0
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Sounds as if you didn't cycle the tank (no trace of nitrate and slight ammonia). Cycling: http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=84598
 
I am currently cycling the tank with these fish, that is what was recommended by the fish store and numerous web sites and books that i have looked at.
 
Guppies are prone to a baterial disease called Columnaris. This disease resembles symptoms of fin rot, but will eventually kill the fish, and all the occupants in the tank. This disease is highly infectous, and should remove the fish immediately to treat it. Tetracyline works, or anything to combat gram negative bacteria. I've had this before in Guppies, and lost a few to this disease.

Good luck with him, and the other fish. There are other ways to cycle a tank aside from sacrificing the guppies.
 
There are other ways to cycle a tank aside from sacrificing the guppies.
Click to expand...
Yeah, most people just do a fishless cycle with pure ammonia. Much more humane IMO... don't always trust the fish stores.
 
It wasn't just the fish store that said to cycle the tank with fish, a lot of books i've read say that too. Should I just return the fish to the pet store instead of paying $7 for a $3 fish?
 
2redtailed.gif


sorry just had to do it :lmao:
 
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