Fish Health Problems?

Embers To Ashes · 12-02-2012, 07:23 AM

I have a 20 Long (About to upgrade to a 50 g) planted aquarium with two 20 gallon filters. My last remaining guppy, a female, is swimming head down in place. I don't beleive this is a swim bladder problem because she is simply swimming in place about an inch from the substrate in a fixed location, behind a peice of drift wood. I woke up and she was doing this and she has continued for about 30 mins now. Lastnight my other female guppy died. She was slightly bent where her tail met her boddy and her mouth was open. My water paremiters are good with 0 amonia, nitrates, and nitrites.

I added 2 1" congo tetras, a 2.5in paradise gourami, a replacement Dwarf Gourami (Dwarf Gourami Dissease)and a platy to my tank about three days ago. My complete stocking list is:
5 variations of zebradanios
3 platys
2 baloon mollys
1 2" pleco
2 otos
1 2" Golden Wonder Killifish
1 1.5" Yoyo loach
2 Dwarf gouramis
1 Guppy
2 Mystery Snails
1 Juvi Paradise Gourami

**emc7** · 12-02-2012, 10:45 AM

New fish always mean a "minicycle" with ammonia spike and often mean new disease. If she lives look for treatable symptoms, if she doesn't, next time QT.

Embers To Ashes · 12-02-2012, 11:13 AM

It is not a disease. She is having trouble passing something. I beleive she is either constapated or a baby is stuck. She is swolen and lumpy in her belly now near her opening and there is something red sticking out. She is no longer swimming in place. She is swimming normaly, but sluggishly and is hiding in some bushy plants and wont come near the front where I could get a better look. Is there anything I can do for her at this point?

Again, all my readings are 0 and the new fish where quarintened

**emc7** · 12-02-2012, 11:18 AM

If its birth (normal or otherwise) there isn't anything you can do really. You isolate the fish and add hiding places or an anti-septic to the water, but that is about it.

Betta man · 12-02-2012, 12:41 PM

I would just let nature take it's course. That's how I let my endlers do it, and I think the baby is still alive.

**lohachata** · 12-02-2012, 02:52 PM

if something red is coming out it may well be a parasite....in which case if it is you will need to treat the entire tank.....

Betta man · 12-02-2012, 05:42 PM

Treating an entire tank is only a last resort. If it is not giving birth, remove that female first and treat the hospital tank. It is rare that you need to treat the main tank. Just because one has it, it doesn't me that all of them have it. Also, if you treat the entire tank, the meds you use will most likely be antibacterial and your tank will have to be recycled.

Angelclown · 12-02-2012, 05:54 PM

Usually if you don't treat the main tank, the problem that you have had will just reappear. Lohachata is right, treat the entire tank. You have to assume that if one fish is sick that they all are. The other fish may not exhibit any signs of illness, and that is because their immune system is stronger than the one exhibiting illness. This is very true for sensitive fish, like clown loaches. When one is ill with ich, you cannot quarintine the sick fish, you have to dose the entire tank.

Betta man · 12-02-2012, 06:02 PM

If you've ever heard of wetwebmedia.com, than you might know that Bob Fenner owns it and I believe he owns wet pets which is a store, but I'm not sure. I was told by him that it isn't good to treat the main tank unless necessary. I do not think that it is necessary to treat the main tank in this situation. I would wait till the female is either done or dead and remove her then. If she survives, put her in a hospital tank. Also, it's not good to treat anything unless you know what it is. clown loaches are not really hardy and are very susceptible to ick. The fish embers to ashes has are decently hardy fish. It is embers to ashes' choice who she believes. It is his/her fish and her money to buy new ones if they die, and it is her time spent on recycling the tank. Honestly, my fish had velvet in a tank which is a parasite and I just removed all the fish, put them back in a month later and I had no problems with relapses. Parasites need to eat. If they don't have food, they will die. One fish with a red thing sticking out of it is not a sign that all the fish are diseased. I still say that treating the main tank should be avoided.

**lohachata** · 12-02-2012, 07:29 PM

well ;; you are the expert so who are we to argue with you...

Betta man · 12-03-2012, 02:46 PM

I'm nothing close to an expert, but I asked someone who is.

**emc7** · 12-03-2012, 03:00 PM

Whether you treat the tank depends on how contagious it is and how long it lasts in the tank. Some disease that is in the water all the time and only sickens fish when they are stressed and can't be completely eliminated anyway aren't worth treating the main tank.

But a PITA like internal parasites with be a months-long battle. You should treat the sick fish, treat the healthy fish, treat the water, & you might even replace or bleach the substrate and you will still have to do it again when it comes back. Not fun. QT new fish so you don't have to do this.

Betta man · 12-03-2012, 03:11 PM

If it can be avoided, avoid it.

Angelclown · 12-03-2012, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by emc7

Whether you treat the tank depends on how contagious it is and how long it lasts in the tank. Some disease that is in the water all the time and only sickens fish when they are stressed and can't be completely eliminated anyway aren't worth treating the main tank.

But a PITA like internal parasites with be a months-long battle. You should treat the sick fish, treat the healthy fish, treat the water, & you might even replace or bleach the substrate and you will still have to do it again when it comes back. Not fun. QT new fish so you don't have to do this.

I agree with this!