Midwestfishkeeper
07-30-2008, 01:18 AM
So awhile back I bought a small 2.5 gal tank for my bedroom. Just a small, simple acrylic tank for a pair of guppies, which I raised throughout my childhood without a problem. They were doing fine, and I was happy.
One day, the female gave birth to a bunch of baby guppies. I was, of course, excited. But then I noticed something. The young guppies started dying off. Their tails would fold down into a triangle, become useless, and they would die and get sucked into the filter. Soon all but one of the young ones had died. And then, mysteriously, the male died.
I thought there must be a big problem, so I replaced almost all the water and put in medication for fin rot, because I assumed that was the problem. I ran a full cycle (four pills) of triple sulfa, bought another pair of guppies, and got on with my life. I also turned down the power on the pump in the tank, because it appeared that the fish might be stressed.
But then, the last surviving young fish became sick and died (photo included). And one of the adult females is acting strange. Here's the symptoms as I can see them:
-Fish becomes lethargic
-Fish begins to squirm like a worm, as if it can't get it's tail to work when it locomotes.
-Fish's tail collapses to a point, and fish loses the ability to move properly.
-Fish moves to the bottom of the tank and dies.
So what disease is this, and how do I treat it or cure it?
One day, the female gave birth to a bunch of baby guppies. I was, of course, excited. But then I noticed something. The young guppies started dying off. Their tails would fold down into a triangle, become useless, and they would die and get sucked into the filter. Soon all but one of the young ones had died. And then, mysteriously, the male died.
I thought there must be a big problem, so I replaced almost all the water and put in medication for fin rot, because I assumed that was the problem. I ran a full cycle (four pills) of triple sulfa, bought another pair of guppies, and got on with my life. I also turned down the power on the pump in the tank, because it appeared that the fish might be stressed.
But then, the last surviving young fish became sick and died (photo included). And one of the adult females is acting strange. Here's the symptoms as I can see them:
-Fish becomes lethargic
-Fish begins to squirm like a worm, as if it can't get it's tail to work when it locomotes.
-Fish's tail collapses to a point, and fish loses the ability to move properly.
-Fish moves to the bottom of the tank and dies.
So what disease is this, and how do I treat it or cure it?