Please help! Severe tail/fin rot!

littletankbigworld · 09-16-2009, 06:02 PM

I posted this before in the disease forum, but no one has helped for the week, and I understand everyone is busy, but my guppy is dying and I really don't know what to do. I was treating my guppy with MelaFix. I removed the carbon insert from the filter and treated for about 10 days. Regular treatment is 7 days. My guppy has gotten worse and has not healed up at all. What started as minor tail flaking is now severe tail/fin rot.

I have quit using the medication since it hasn't helped at all. Now, I do frequent (almost daily) 20% water changes in the tank. My guppy sits at the bottom of the tank all day in the castle and does not seem any better.

What else can I do???

homebunnyj · 09-16-2009, 06:13 PM

IMHO there is no way to get your fish well in such an overcrowded tank. Plus, you will lose those fry in such conditions even with daily water changes, I daresay.

You need to put those fish in the 29gallon tank immediately. First do a big water change to get the cycling ammonia out. Place the filter or at least the filter media from the 5 gallon tank on the 29. Then go buy an ammonia test kit and test daily. Do big enough water changes to keep the ammonia below 1.0.

You could leave the guppy in the 5 as a hospital tank.

And what's with all the snails in the 1.5??

OrangeCones · 09-16-2009, 06:48 PM

Get PRIME as a dechlorinator. It will detoxify the ammonia and nitrites until the tank is cycled, but not interfer with the nitrogen cycle.

MissFishy · 09-16-2009, 08:35 PM

Fin rot is caused by bad water conditions. You need to immediately do a HUGE water change and for goodness sake get those fish into the larger tank, they are way too crowded. The melafix is a good idea, but the tank is really way too small. Huge water changes to make the water conditions better is all you can do at this point.

stoddern · 09-16-2009, 09:42 PM

all I can say is do as these guys say they know what they are talking about, I am sorry for your fish being so ill I know I'd flip if one of mine got that way, good luck I hope the guppie pulls through

littletankbigworld · 09-20-2009, 04:38 PM

I placed him in the big tank this morning, and not even an hour later, he died.

All my larger fish are now in the 29 gallon.

"You need to put those fish in the 29gallon tank immediately. First do a big water change to get the cycling ammonia out. Place the filter or at least the filter media from the 5 gallon tank on the 29."

That's already been done.

"You could leave the guppy in the 5 as a hospital tank."

The fry are in this tank. Plus the guppy died.

"And what's with all the snails in the 1.5??"

I started out with 2 that I didn't want to begin with. They came into my tank on a plant and multiplied like crazy. I had to take them out because they were overtaking my tank. I don't know what to do with them. I doubt the pet store would take them since they do not have any fish that eat snails.

"Get PRIME as a dechlorinator. It will detoxify the ammonia and nitrites until the tank is cycled, but not interfer with the nitrogen cycle."

Thanks for the advice. I will look into that.

"Fin rot is caused by bad water conditions. You need to immediately do a HUGE water change and for goodness sake get those fish into the larger tank, they are way too crowded. The melafix is a good idea, but the tank is really way too small. Huge water changes to make the water conditions better is all you can do at this point."

I've been doing that.

"all I can say is do as these guys say they know what they are talking about, I am sorry for your fish being so ill I know I'd flip if one of mine got that way, good luck I hope the guppie pulls through"

Thank you stoddern. He passed on unfortunately.

stoddern · 09-20-2009, 04:47 PM

I'm sorry to hear that, hopefully your others will do better with the new tank and more space to strech out.

littletankbigworld · 09-20-2009, 05:08 PM

Yes, I hope so. I know I was a silly newbie when I got my tank, but I'm really trying harder to make things work out. It's difficult, though. A person only has so much money to spend on fish.

homebunnyj · 09-20-2009, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littletankbigworld

It's difficult, though. A person only has so much money to spend on fish.

So true, so true. My 55 is vastly understocked. Hopefully one month I'll be able to add another tetra school, then a pair of Bolivian rams. It is in bad need of a new light tube as well. lol, it looks like a before and after pic, with the left side having a bad case of brown algae and the right side being clear -- a graphic demonstration that old light tubes' inferior light does indeed contribute to brown algae outbreaks.

Craigslist the snails as puffer food.

littletankbigworld · 09-22-2009, 04:10 PM

Thank you. I will certainly do that. I just need to peel myself away from my tanks for two minutes to set up a Craigslist account. :P

I love watching my tetras school. They are a wonderful addition to any aquarium.

09-16-2009, 06:02 PM	#1
littletankbigworld Large Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 682	Please help! Severe tail/fin rot! I posted this before in the disease forum, but no one has helped for the week, and I understand everyone is busy, but my guppy is dying and I really don't know what to do. I was treating my guppy with MelaFix. I removed the carbon insert from the filter and treated for about 10 days. Regular treatment is 7 days. My guppy has gotten worse and has not healed up at all. What started as minor tail flaking is now severe tail/fin rot. I have quit using the medication since it hasn't helped at all. Now, I do frequent (almost daily) 20% water changes in the tank. My guppy sits at the bottom of the tank all day in the castle and does not seem any better. What else can I do??? __________________ 29 gallon tank-2 orange Mickey Mouse platies, 2 white Mickey Mouse platies, 2 dalmatian mollies, 3 bleeding heart tetras, 2 serpae (blood) tetras, 1 peppered corydora catfish, 1 upside down catfish, 4 otocinclus catfish -hornwort plants, sword plant 5 gallon tank-molly fry, platy fry -hornwort plants 1.5 gallon hospital tank-empty Updated: 1/20/10 R.I.P. Mimzy 9/20/09 R.I.P. Oreo 9/22/09

09-16-2009, 06:13 PM	#2
homebunnyj Super Fish Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Western NC Posts: 1,299	IMHO there is no way to get your fish well in such an overcrowded tank. Plus, you will lose those fry in such conditions even with daily water changes, I daresay. You need to put those fish in the 29gallon tank immediately. First do a big water change to get the cycling ammonia out. Place the filter or at least the filter media from the 5 gallon tank on the 29. Then go buy an ammonia test kit and test daily. Do big enough water changes to keep the ammonia below 1.0. You could leave the guppy in the 5 as a hospital tank. And what's with all the snails in the 1.5?? __________________ Judy Down to 3 tanks... from 7!! 29g: 3 goldfish (temporary)... thinking of convicts instead 55g: 12 glowlight tetras, 3 yoyo loaches (planning for another school of tetras, some more yoyo's, and maybe a pair of rams... any suggestions?) 2g: 3 guppies waiting for a bigger home and a few more buddies

09-16-2009, 08:35 PM	#4
MissFishy Super Fish Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,237	Fin rot is caused by bad water conditions. You need to immediately do a HUGE water change and for goodness sake get those fish into the larger tank, they are way too crowded. The melafix is a good idea, but the tank is really way too small. Huge water changes to make the water conditions better is all you can do at this point. __________________ http://missfishy.tripod.com/ The Basic Guide to Cycling a Tank, Sick Fish and more! Updated 10/13/09 with a new layout!

09-16-2009, 09:42 PM	#5
stoddern Little Fish Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 139	all I can say is do as these guys say they know what they are talking about, I am sorry for your fish being so ill I know I'd flip if one of mine got that way, good luck I hope the guppie pulls through __________________ 10gal.- Planted Anubias Lanceolota, Water Wistera, 4 Blue platy's, 1 Male Phantom Tetra, 2 Female Phantom tetras, 1 Upside Down Cat, 1 Blue Gourami. 20gal.- Planted Anubias Lanceolota, Water Wisteria. 1 Gold Gourami, 1 Giant Danio, 6 White Clouds, 2 Bristle Nose Pleco's.

09-20-2009, 04:38 PM	#6
littletankbigworld Large Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 682	I placed him in the big tank this morning, and not even an hour later, he died. All my larger fish are now in the 29 gallon. "You need to put those fish in the 29gallon tank immediately. First do a big water change to get the cycling ammonia out. Place the filter or at least the filter media from the 5 gallon tank on the 29." That's already been done. "You could leave the guppy in the 5 as a hospital tank." The fry are in this tank. Plus the guppy died. "And what's with all the snails in the 1.5??" I started out with 2 that I didn't want to begin with. They came into my tank on a plant and multiplied like crazy. I had to take them out because they were overtaking my tank. I don't know what to do with them. I doubt the pet store would take them since they do not have any fish that eat snails. "Get PRIME as a dechlorinator. It will detoxify the ammonia and nitrites until the tank is cycled, but not interfer with the nitrogen cycle." Thanks for the advice. I will look into that. "Fin rot is caused by bad water conditions. You need to immediately do a HUGE water change and for goodness sake get those fish into the larger tank, they are way too crowded. The melafix is a good idea, but the tank is really way too small. Huge water changes to make the water conditions better is all you can do at this point." I've been doing that. "all I can say is do as these guys say they know what they are talking about, I am sorry for your fish being so ill I know I'd flip if one of mine got that way, good luck I hope the guppie pulls through" Thank you stoddern. He passed on unfortunately. __________________ 29 gallon tank-2 orange Mickey Mouse platies, 2 white Mickey Mouse platies, 2 dalmatian mollies, 3 bleeding heart tetras, 2 serpae (blood) tetras, 1 peppered corydora catfish, 1 upside down catfish, 4 otocinclus catfish -hornwort plants, sword plant 5 gallon tank-molly fry, platy fry -hornwort plants 1.5 gallon hospital tank-empty Updated: 1/20/10 R.I.P. Mimzy 9/20/09 R.I.P. Oreo 9/22/09

09-16-2009, 06:48 PM	#3
OrangeCones Large Fish Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: USA Posts: 993	Get PRIME as a dechlorinator. It will detoxify the ammonia and nitrites until the tank is cycled, but not interfer with the nitrogen cycle.

09-20-2009, 04:47 PM	#7
stoddern Little Fish Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Vermont Posts: 139	I'm sorry to hear that, hopefully your others will do better with the new tank and more space to strech out. __________________ 10gal.- Planted Anubias Lanceolota, Water Wistera, 4 Blue platy's, 1 Male Phantom Tetra, 2 Female Phantom tetras, 1 Upside Down Cat, 1 Blue Gourami. 20gal.- Planted Anubias Lanceolota, Water Wisteria. 1 Gold Gourami, 1 Giant Danio, 6 White Clouds, 2 Bristle Nose Pleco's.

09-20-2009, 05:08 PM	#8
littletankbigworld Large Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 682	Yes, I hope so. I know I was a silly newbie when I got my tank, but I'm really trying harder to make things work out. It's difficult, though. A person only has so much money to spend on fish. __________________ 29 gallon tank-2 orange Mickey Mouse platies, 2 white Mickey Mouse platies, 2 dalmatian mollies, 3 bleeding heart tetras, 2 serpae (blood) tetras, 1 peppered corydora catfish, 1 upside down catfish, 4 otocinclus catfish -hornwort plants, sword plant 5 gallon tank-molly fry, platy fry -hornwort plants 1.5 gallon hospital tank-empty Updated: 1/20/10 R.I.P. Mimzy 9/20/09 R.I.P. Oreo 9/22/09

09-22-2009, 04:10 PM	#10
littletankbigworld Large Fish Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 682	Thank you. I will certainly do that. I just need to peel myself away from my tanks for two minutes to set up a Craigslist account. :P I love watching my tetras school. They are a wonderful addition to any aquarium. __________________ 29 gallon tank-2 orange Mickey Mouse platies, 2 white Mickey Mouse platies, 2 dalmatian mollies, 3 bleeding heart tetras, 2 serpae (blood) tetras, 1 peppered corydora catfish, 1 upside down catfish, 4 otocinclus catfish -hornwort plants, sword plant 5 gallon tank-molly fry, platy fry -hornwort plants 1.5 gallon hospital tank-empty Updated: 1/20/10 R.I.P. Mimzy 9/20/09 R.I.P. Oreo 9/22/09