I have 2 fancy guppies and 2 albino cory catfish. About a week ago I noticed that the cory cat had fin rot so I had been treating the entire tank for that. However, in the last couple of days I've noticed that one of my fancy guppies wasn't looking so good. He was not fanning out his tail fin and along the back edge there seems to be a red line. He is not holding his back straight (his tail seems to sag) and he isn't very active. Is it possible that the guppy is allergic to the medication?
I thought that one of the signs for fin rot was a white fuzzy substance on the fins. Is it possible for it to be red and the fin rot have spread to the guppy? If so, the instructions on the fin rot medication says it's almost time to stop treatment. Do I continue treatment for the guppies? The albino cory cats still aren't fully healed!
So, as you can see, my tank is VERY sick! I've had the water tested and it was a little acidic, so I've been adding ph increasers. Please HELP!!!
2007-05-26 17:44:10 · 7 answers · asked by Courtney M 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
How long since you've done a water change? Do you test for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate in your tank? A 25% water change is always a good place to start.
The redness in the tail could be the sign of a bacterial infection. There is a bacterial fin rot as well as a fungal type. This may be why you haven't sucessfully treated the cory yet. Fungal fin rot is usually slow in progressing, but bacterial fin rot is faster. Both types can be present at the same time, which only complicates matters. Could you post what you've been using and how long you've been treating as an "added details" (use the pencil icon under your question)?
I wouldn't bother trying to change the pH of your tank unless it was lower than 6. Most fish are quite comfortable in a range of pH levels, so it doesn't need to be a perfect 7. The buffers to change pH allow the actual level to fluctuate, and this does more harm to your fish than allowing it to stay at a consistent (although not perfectly neutral) level.
Take a look at the photos of bacterial and fungal fin rot at this website: http://www.fishpalace.org/Disease.html If you have the fungal, if you've treated for a while without being able to resolve the condition, it might be time to change your medication. I would try Furanase if the bacterial fin rot seems more appropriate - this treats both gram positive and negative types of bacteria, which may be another reason that your current medication isn't being effective, if it contains a medication that only acts against one type.
2007-05-26 18:34:37 · answer #1 · answered by copperhead 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
3-4 days after you applied the medication you must stop the medication and change at least 1/3 of the water. But be careful with the water changes, as now, being so warm the tap water may contain the same bacterias and parasites that you are having already in the tank. Treat the water before filling the tank with malachite green solution, it is very good against parasites and other protozoans as itch, fish fungi and to prevent fin rot. You can find in fish shops.
The Cory catfish won't recover immediately after the treatment, they need at least a month to regenerate their fin. It is a good sign if the fins stop the degradation. Wait patiently. About the guppies, they may have the same bacterial infection, but the treatment was enough. The water change may change their mood.
You need to change the water, but treat the water before. I think as you have a small tank (4 fish), don't use to much medication, try to calculate the amount of drops according to the instructions to your tank size.
Hope this helped...
2007-05-26 19:44:55 · answer #2 · answered by zsozso 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Some really good answers, but disease comes from introduction when adding a new fish or poor water quality. If you are not doing regular water changes the Nitrates buildup. This causes stress on the fish. The first thing to go is the slime coat around the fish. That is how the bacteria and parasites are able to attack the fish. Now its very possible that the medicine you are using to cure one disease can stress out the other fish in the tank. Most of the time when a fish shows signs of sickness its pretty much too late to cure. It takes lots of work to cure fish of disease. m Try not to add to much to the tank. Most tap water is neutral and just keep doing water changes, its less stress.
2007-05-26 19:19:25 · answer #3 · answered by Jose R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is possibly fin clamp which can be caused by stress, or dropsy which is similar. Once a fish becomes inactive it's hard to bring it back. Do a partial water change to make sure everything is clean. I have never seen a fish be allergic to medication so I doubt that that is your problem. You can add some aquarium salt which is very inexpensive. It will help all the fish including the guppy to heal faster and adds electrolytes that can help with energy.
2007-05-26 17:48:41 · answer #4 · answered by Lauren R 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
there is a special fish medication that you can buy at a pet store try www.petsmart.com and look for fish medication and you could have it shipped to your house if you want
2007-05-26 19:54:27 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
no poor guppies!!!*sends you a get well guppies card.
2007-05-26 17:47:41 · answer #6 · answered by colbyismyfriend577 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DWOAN EM IN THE TOLET. THATS WHAT I DO.
LOVE
WOGER
2007-05-26 17:51:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋