Hi all,

Add a bit of a wits end at the moment as i seemingly keep losing fish and no matter what treatment i use the fish never seem to get better.

I've had various fish die previously but this was mainly due to my water conditions, my nitrate was always very high. Nitrate filter now installed, it doesn't got above 10ppm on a water change.

Problems began abotu 6 weeks ago when one of my older fish started losing some of his fin. I treated with Esha 2000, with no luck. Everntually, after a couple of weeks of treating, i lost him. No other fish had been affected at all.

I left it a week and, as i had lost a few fish last year, i decided to buy 4 more. 3 died within 3 days, i put this down to stress of the move, especially as 2 died the day i got them. However a week later i lost 2 of my other fish so i put those down to maybe the new fish bringing something in, so i treated with Esha 2000, just before Easter. I had also noticed one other fish started to get finrot.

Just before i went away i did a water change and my father-in-law, an experienced fishkeeper, fed them for the 4 days i was away. When i got back, i was shocked to see one of my fish, not the one i first saw with finrot but another, with nearly no tail fin at all. 2 other fish, including the original one i treated before i went away, were the same. I've treated with Melafix since i've been back, but no change to any of the fish. Infact, one of those that appeared fine, dropped dead tonight

I don't know if it's my diagnosis but finrot is quite clear to see, but no treatment, either the melafix now or the Esha 2000 before i went away, seems to have done anything.

I'm due to put my last melafix in tomorrow and then do a water change on Monday. can anyone offer any suggestions as to my next move. do i treat with Melafix (maybe double up woth Pimafix) again, or do i switch to Esha 2000 again?

Just to confirm, my water conditions are fine. Ammonia, Nitrite both 0ppm, Nitrate 10ppm, Ph 7.8. 7 male guppies in the tank.

Any advice is appreciated. Sorry for the long post!

Thanks
Steve

Sorry to hear about your losses - I've just been through something similar but only lost 2 fortunately.

I'm no expert, only just started myself but in order to help the experts will need tank size, fish numbers and types, waTer PH, Gh & Kh.

I treated with EshA 2000 and it worked for me so keep at it.

Google fin rot as the treatment won't help if the cause is still present, I know this may not help but at least it'll give u an idea of what mYbe happening

Am assuming that you removed any carbon from the filter before starting any treatment?
I have read a few posts that point to some water conditioners being responsible for certain meds not working as they should. Might be worth posting which one you use.
Hopefully one or two of the fab advisers will be on later to help.

Is it possible they're nipping each others' fins? Sometimes all male Guppy groups can become aggressive and will pick on one or two weaker members. Both physical damage from nipping and the stress of the situation can cause fin rot on the victims. They can sometimes also attempt mating behaviour with other males where no females are avialable, also leading to fighting or damage and stress.

Do let us know which dechlorinator you use as that can be an issue with certain meds.

Thanks for the replies. I haven't noticed any chasing or nipping, my puppies have always been placid, though there is of course the possibility it happens whilst I'm at work

I use Prime as my dechlorinator

Hi Steveo

Well it's not the water treatment then, you can at least rule that out

Given they had only a very shaky beginning which was resolved with the high nitrate issue (common in a lot of areas) I really do think this may be just be a weakened fish/breeding issue. Whilst Guppies historically were very hardy indeed, latter day species, from inbreeding possibly, seem to be quite fragile now.

Many here see losses just from short transportation issues and the fin rot, possible bacterial issues could be connected to less than perfect immune systems, that even with treatment cannot rally. TBH, I have stopped mentioning Guppies for now to newbies with slightly harder water. Short of trying a larger tank to give them more respite and space to get away from one another, this may not resolve the immuno issues, so would be a gamble

Your water would favour the cooler White Cloud Mountain Minnow, very pretty you would just need to set the temp lower.

Something to consider perhaps in time.

It might be worth checking your tap water in case there's been a change. Another member had an issue with unexplained fin rot in a group of previously healthy Cherry Barbs recently. It finally emerged that his water supplier had changed sources and the hardness and pH of his tap water had changed drastically, thus stressing the fish and leading to fin rot.

Can tell me last post was from my phone - puppies?? They wouldn't do well in a fish tank!

I will check with my water company, i will also check my tap water to see if it has change from my previous readings.

I am looking to get a bigger tank once our flooring is done, though that may still be the end of this year - the guppies i have left (except one) were all born in the tank as i previously had some females but became over-run with litluns.

For immediate treatment, do you recommend starting another week of melafix or running carbon for a couple of days then treating with Esha 2000? In the meantime i can speak to my water company.

Steve

Switch to eSHa 2000 as it seems this is rather a stubborn case and Melafix isn't enough to deal with it. Run some carbon for 2-3 days, do a 50% water change and then treat with a course of eSHa 2000. If there's little to no improvement after the 3rd day of treatment, continue the lower dose (used on days 2 and 3) for another 3 days. Hopefully that will clear the rot and leave clean fins ready to regrow.

Thanks will do as stated.

How do i know when fin rot has cleared? Are there any particular signs. I've had no luck previously but it may have been that i thought the fin rot had stopped and was back on the mend but should have continued treating for a few days. Would you expect fins to start regrowth whilst treating?

Also, i was due a weekly water change last friday but delayed as i was running a 7 day treatment of melafix. Am due to do the water change tonight, should i still run carbon for 2-3 days then do the water change, or do my normal tonight, then run carbon for 2-3 days and do another water change?