Calling all Guppy Gurus

[mdfa.ca]

I have a small sorority group of large Guppy females that I do not want to breed. They have a nice 20 gal tank to enjoy and enjoy it they must as they are all HUGE. We’re talking 2.5 “ fish here. They’re not that old either, maybe about a year to a year and a half. At some point a few months ago I added a female I got at our local club auction, following one month quarantine. Now most of them seem to be falling prey to some strange wasting disease. They just slowly start losing weight, lose appetite, become less mobile and then die. I have seen a few (very few) white spots on a couple of them at one point, but it was not ick and I wasn’t really sure what it was. There are no other symptoms that I can see to help me identify what the problem is... I’ve checked for Camallanus – negative. There is really nothing else. Oh, and I should add that a couple of yoyo loaches that reside with them seem totally healthy. I've also been observing them a lot and it doesn't seem like the loaches are bothering them. They keep to the bottom, the girls stay upstairs.

Would anyone have any idea what is going on? I don’t want to start throwing treatments and chemicals at them without knowing what I’m dealing with. I’ve lost 2 now and three more may be following soon.

Margaret.

[sunshine]

I hope this site helps you.
http://guppyplace.tripod.com/Problems.html
A General treatment for many issues with guppies you can do the following:
Add salt(aquarium) about 1 teaspoon per gallon or 1 tbs per 5 gallon. Added slowly over a period of time to not stress them.
Increase tank temp to 78-80. Again increase slowly to not stress them.
Do frequent small water changes.
Pimafix and melafix are 2 name brade "natural" products that can be used together to treat a variety of issues.
I have something similar with some mollies lost all but the male who seems to be recovering. I tried the above. Seemed to help s bit . Finally used a product called parasite buddy (I think). I think the male will live but lost the 3 females.
I hope this helps.
Sunshine

[GaryofMontreal]

Look up Mycobacter marinum, fish tuberculosis, and see how it fits. Wear gloves if you have any open cuts or abrasions on your hands when you put hands in the tank.

[mdfa.ca]

Thank you Sunshine and Gary. I'm still reading, the site you suggested and about fish tuberculosis. Friend of mine had an outbreak once but it doesn't seem the same. Mind you, she had different fish affected so that may be the difference. Hmmmmm.

[Melody]

There's a lot of diseases that can mimic fish TB. I don't think it's nearly as common as it might seem, but I don't have a lab to verify that.

I think a lot of the issues with fish these days are starting with one virus or another, which may or may not kill them, but it does leave them open to secondary infections. One thing is certain, most of the time all we can do is sit there and watch it do what it will. There's the routine waterchanges & all that of course, and diet will help them fight whatever it is, but when it comes down to it they can either fight it off or they can't.

Try to focus the diet on items that tackle everything, like garlic. It's anti-everything :Smile: .