diagnosing sick guppy

[loyal2theroyals]

This is my first fish tank experience, and I'm trying so hard to keep my baby alive. I've got a 5 gallon tank. The pH level is at about 8.2. I tested ammonia and it's at .25 right now. I've had the guppy since Tuesday afternoon (so 2 days now) and he's been acting funny. I've noticed that he spends a lot of time down on the bottom of the tank followed by sporadic swimming (sometimes to the surface, sometimes just around). His fins are starting to fray at the ends; at the top of his caudal fin is a darker color than the rest of his fin. When he swims it just looks like he doesn't always have control over what he's doing. I wonder if the current from the filter system is too strong for the poor little guy to swim in? I've got bulbs for lilies and aponogeton that are starting to sprout.


I suspect that he's got fin rot or ammonia burn, but I can't really be sure. I want to help him get better and any help with that would be much appreciated.

[Quixotic]

It could very well be ammonia. I can't remember the exact figure, but ammonia, even at very low levels, is fatal to fishes. The figure you got from your test may be a little high.

How long has it been since you started the tank? How long did you take to cycle it before adding the fish? It seems as though it is a fish tank but you mentioned plants. So it is actually a planted tank?

What you probably can do now is move the fish to a hospital tank, ensure good water conditions throughout, reduce the feeding and/or dose some mild medication, e.g. Melafix to speed up recovery.

You would still need to find out the source of ammonia in your tank in order to counter it.

[loyal2theroyals]

thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, he died last night. I'd bought him melafix...I'm guessing I didn't diagnose it soon enough or I did something wrong.

I'm going to clean out the tank, let things sit for a while, and then maybe attempt buying another fish.

[Quixotic]

Sorry about the loss. Yeah, you will more likely to be successful to exercise a little patience and wait for the tank to settle down first. Good luck.

[Interestor]

thanks for your suggestion. Unfortunately, he died last night. I'd bought him melafix...I'm guessing I didn't diagnose it soon enough or I did something wrong.

I'm going to clean out the tank, let things sit for a while, and then maybe attempt buying another fish.

fancy or feeder guppy in lfs normally needs more salty water parameter, suggest you QT in bare tank when first bought for 2 weeks, if they servive, than add to your comm tank. platy will be more hardy


CHeers..