Red like hairs - is this normal?

[trustemedia]

I noticed my pregnant guppy has 3 or 4 like red hairs protruding from what I think is her birth canal. Is this normal? Does this mean she's real close?

 

[HUKIT]

I would be more inclined to say Camallanus worms, which is pretty serious since they're contagious and fatal.

http://www.fishchannel.com/fish-health/freshwater-conditions/camallanus-worms.aspx

Treatment:

http://www.inkmkr.com/Fish/CamallanusTreatment/

 

[trustemedia]

Guppy

Oh no! Thank you for that information. Do I leave her in the tank and treat the tank or should I put here somewhere else somehow and treat her and treat the tank - I guess I can read and post on unhealthy fish for this.

I posted a couple pics just to get your opinion on whether it's birth related or worm related before I jump to conclusions. Everyone in the tank "seems" fine, including her and no one else has this. She just showed it yesterday.

 

[trustemedia]

Just adding, I also noticed she has like a V shaped belly now instead of squared off and flat across the bottom.

 

[HUKIT]

It's hard to see from the pictures but here are a couple of good shots, compare them to yours and let us know.

 

[trustemedia]

Stumped

Well, I have to say that I am completely stumped. I have no idea. Some pics, I think maybe. Some, I think nope, doesn't look like that. I keep reading and looking at more images, but really getting nowhere. Without an expert standing here to see and say "Yep, that's what it is," I have no idea if that is what it is or not. Are there any other symptoms to look for? I read a bunch online about it, but again, fish can show no signs it says and no one is showing any signs and neither is she besides he protrusion she started yesterday. Everyone eats, swims, and has a good time.

 

[trustemedia]

I am also finding a lot of people online using a Google search that are seeing red "spikes" and tissue from their females right before birth. Ugh. Keep my fingers crossed and keep an eye on her.

 

[trustemedia]

Emergency!

I think I have a pretty big emergency on my hands. It seemed to be looking like some sort of hemorrhoid, hernia, or prolapse. She dropped a piece and then another piece started to stick out and now it is very big and thick and very long (at least for her size). I am very worried about her. I don't know what is going to happen. Any help appreciated. Not sure what caused this or if she will make it or can birth her fry like this or what... Don't know what to do.

 

[HUKIT]

Wow she's having a tough day, since the color of the protrusion is more of a red-ish color, the leading suspect would still be camallanus.

A prolapsed anus is also difficult to treat as there can be several causes. It either heals or it does not. It can be a sign of blockage, which would eventually be fatal.

Recommended treatment (for prolapsed anus) would be:

1. Stop feeding for a couple of days.

2. Dose with Epsom salt at 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons.

3. I'd also dose with API General Cure (or another medication containing metronidazole & praziquantel).

I'd try the up one method or euthanize the fish, to prevent any suffering. I'd also recommend not allowing her to give birth again if she pulls through, if she prolapsed now she will be more prone to this in the future potentially causing further damage.

 

[trustemedia]

Thank you for all that help.

 

[HUKIT]

Thank you for all that help.

No worries I'm happy to help. And let us know how she does if you could.

 

[AquaAussie]

It is definitely callamanus worms and it is terrible! I lost a few amazing fish to it months after I set up my first tank. The vet didn't catch it until I went in the second time with the fish and worms I pulled out myself. They prescribed levamisole and I had to get it from a special vet. It isn't easy to get but you can get it. Avian and lizard specialist use it too. Treat all your tanks then again in two weeks or you will surely lose more fish.

 

[trustemedia]

I did order some of that yesterday on ebay after doing some research. It was only $5. So, I will have it just in case. It's hard since I spoke with a guppy breeder who said red hairs were normal before birth. I also red alot about it online being normal. But then the big thing came out. Some people thought it was just poo and her cleaning herself out before birth. Some had this big of a poo before. Some don't know what it is. Does Callamanus worms make that big thing come out of her? Did your fish poo huge ones like that when they had worms? It's gone now. She pushed it out and it's off. I guess after she delivers, I will know. I have the meds on the way in the meantime, so I am prepared. Ugh, wish me luck with this one... And thanks for all the input. I need it desperately to know what to do with her.

 

[AquaAussie]

My advise is use it as soon as you get it. I had a lot of problem with it. It seems like no one knows about it. Everyone focuses on ich and fin rot etc and I have seen the misleading information about how it is normal too. It isn't.

The first apistogramma I had it came out big like that but was still attached to the fish. He died. Then an amazing huge black veiled angelfish got it and it obstructed his insides bloating him up and killing him. I told myself it would go away too and that other fish wouldn't die but they did. It became expensive. Nip it in the bud. You might think it's gone and in a month it will happen again if you don't treat them. There will still be some inside her breeding organs and stomach.

I was pretty annoyed that my first fish was misdiagnosed. What other fish do you have?

 

[trustemedia]

I have 4 guppies, 2 swordtails, and 2 gobies in the tank right now.