Red on guppy's tail

[fishtonic1]

Hey all, i noticed my yellow guppy has some red on his tail today.

Tank parameters are all in check.
0 ammonia and nitrite, around 5ppm nitrate. ~7.4-7.6 ph. Water is quite hard.

Any ideas? thanks!

Note: that split has always been his tail, and the ends have always been a bit 'transparent'

 

[Andy Sager]

He may have been nipped by another fish but that looks like the beginnings of an infection. I'd remove the fish to a hospital tank and use non iodized salt at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 3 gallons of water. If there is no reduction in red after 4-5 days, after a water change, I'd add salt at a rate of 1 Tablespoon per 2 gallons of water and add either Methylene Blue or Malachite Green to the water. If after another 4-5 days and no difference, you can treat with an antibiotic such as API Fin & Body cure OR Kanaplex.
If you need help with setting up a hospital tank, I address this in post #2 in my thread: Quarantine tanks and Hospital tanks, are they really different?

 

[fishtonic1]

He may have been nipped by another fish but that looks like the beginnings of an infection. I'd remove the fish to a hospital tank and use non iodized salt at a rate of 1 tablespoon per 3 gallons of water. If there is no reduction in red after 4-5 days, after a water change, I'd add salt at a rate of 1 Tablespoon per 2 gallons of water and add either Methylene Blue or Malachite Green to the water. If after another 4-5 days and no difference, you can treat with an antibiotic such as API Fin & Body cure OR Kanaplex.
If you need help with setting up a hospital tank, I address this in post #2 in my thread: Quarantine tanks and Hospital tanks, are they really different?

Hey Andy,

I have treated the hospital tank with salt for 5 days, and salt + methylene blue for an additional 5 days. The red has gone but his tail has stayed almost half the size since i first noticed red. How should i proceed?

Cheers

 

[Andy Sager]

Hey Andy,

I have treated the hospital tank with salt for 5 days, and salt + methylene blue for an additional 5 days. The red has gone but his tail has stayed almost half the size since i first noticed red. How should i proceed?

Cheers

That's good to hear.
Fish fins take a while to regrow but the fish needs a good balanced diet with clean water to help the fins grow back. If you are only feeding a single food, I would suggest getting a vitamin supplement to add to the tank or food to help the fish get the nutrients it needs to regrow the tail. If you are feeding multiple types of foods that are nutritionally balanced, it's just going to take time and clean water.

 

[fishtonic1]

That's good to hear.
Fish fins take a while to regrow but the fish needs a good balanced diet with clean water to help the fins grow back. If you are only feeding a single food, I would suggest getting a vitamin supplement to add to the tank or food to help the fish get the nutrients it needs to regrow the tail. If you are feeding multiple types of foods that are nutritionally balanced, it's just going to take time and clean water.

Right, so i should be all good to move my fish back to the main tank, just ensure a varied diet and clean water?

 

[Andy Sager]

I'd keep the fish in a separate tank to make sure the tail fin is regrowing before returning it to the main tank.

 

[fishtonic1]

I'd keep the fish in a separate tank to make sure the tail fin is regrowing before returning it to the main tank.

Hey there, im not sure if its for concern but my fish keeps pooping black, and theres lots of it (all this from one little feed)

 

[Andy Sager]

Black is fine. It's coming from what he ate. White or Red poo when the food isn't red would be a concern.

 

[fishtonic1]

Black is fine. It's coming from what he ate. White or Red poo when the food isn't red would be a concern.

The food ive been giving is red

 

[Andy Sager]

The food ive been giving is red

Let me explain: White poo is usually either from not eating or intestinal worms. Red is usually from camallanus worms if it's not coming from food. Because your fish's poo is black and it's broken up into smaller pieces, it's not worms. The color of feces can be effected by medications, foods, stress, etc. What we need to determine is if it's alive or not. Your fish's poo is not alive therefore not a concern IMO.

 

[fishtonic1]

Thanks for your help Andy, just one more quick one. There is one poo that is a bit bigger, longer, and different coloured. Is this a concern?

 

[Andy Sager]

If it' not alive and you didn't treat the fish with a dewormer, it's not of concern. Like I said in my other post, if it's not alive it's not an issue. When fish poo, there is sometimes some intestinal lining that comes out with it. Even a starving fish will shed intestinal lining when it poos. The difference between poo and a worm is the worm will be a solid white or solid red color but with red ( camallanus worm), you won't see it lose and alive. It will extend out of the anus as in this pic .