why is my guppy hunchbacked?

Question

i've had my guppy for about 4 months or more now. when i got her, she was fine. but over time, it seemed as if she was gradually becoming more crooked-backed. her back looks hunched...like as if she has scholiosis or something. why is that ?

Answer 1

A couple of possibilities here.

You've already suggested scoliosis, which could come from a vitamin deficiency. If you are feeding a good quality food (or better, a variety of foods) this would be less likely, although possible.

Another is fish (piscine) tuberculosis. If this is the cause, it's not treatable, and you should use caution when cleaning the tank as this can be transmitted to humans. Wear gloves when working in the tank.

A third possibility is a parasite called camallanus - here you'll see small red worms hanging out the fish's anus when it's at rest. This can be treated, but the curvature will be permanent.

Both the piscine TB and camallanus can be transmitted to other fish, so you should quarantine the effected fish as soon as possible until/unless you can rule these out.

If you should decide the cause is TB, since there is no treatment, unfortunately the most humane thing to do would be to euthanize the affected fish. Also, watch for signs of either condition in any other fish that may be in the tank.

http://www.fishdeals.com/fish_diseases/stressdisease.shtml
http://www.fish-disease.net/diseases.htm
http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/management/Keefer_FishTB.html
http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-the-most-humane-way-to-euthanize-a-fish.htm

Answer 2

Elaine,

I suppose your guppy was still growing when you got her.

Firstly, don't worry about it. There's not much you can do now but to chill out. Well, I would also separate the guppy in question just in case she is infected with some pathogen. If she gets better or if she doesn't die after a few weeks which I think she will (I'm so sorry), that will only be the time to consider dumping her back into the old tank.

This disease is rather unexplainable. This same thing has happened to my guppies a couple of times as well. This is a phenomenon that has been happening with no apparent explanation as yet. This in fact has been going on mysteriously around the world and was unheard of until recently. This has been afflicting many guppies of late.

One theory could be a genetic anomaly. As evolution, together with negative factors such as the environment come into play, the results are totally unpredictable.

Try have a read at this article: http://www.aquarticles.com/articles/breeding/Pegasus_Guppyaids.html

Answer 3

A possible reason could be a vitamin C deficiency:

The classical cause of scoliosis, or "broken back disease" in fish is ascorbic acid deficiency. Improvements in feed manufacture, including phosphorylation of vitamin C, and feed storage, have decreased the incidence of nutritionally derived scoliosis. Still, ascorbic acid deficiency must be considered as a possible cause of scoliosis and a thorough review of feeding practices is warranted when evaluating such cases. -University of Florida

Answer 4

Yay guppies! OMG that's one in all those completely spectacular be conscious to declare! GUPPIES GUPPIES GUPPIES GUPPIES GUPPIES! great, now i'm asserting it plenty it does not even recommend something anymore. geez.

Answer 5

I forget what it is called but it often happens in danios I believe it is just called bent spine, it is not exactly a good thing.

Answer 6

I think its old age. I dont knowexactly but fish dont live forever!