brawlymcknuckles

Ok so I am beginning to think I am not meant to care for fish. I finally managed to cycle my tank a couple of weeks ago...unfortunately using fish not fishless thanks to my LFS (one guppy survived a very long sad tale...see other posts if you want history)

The sole survivor was fine until today, when I noticed a buldge in his stomach with what looked like a slim silver line in it. I don't think I have been overfeeding him, just a small small pinch in the morning and another in the evening.

I checked on him tonight a saw him at the bottom of the tank, at first I thought he was sleeping. But upon closer inspection noticed he actually passed on (RIP Brian, you are with Stewie now *sigh*)

I was terribly confused so turned him over for closer inspection and noticed that the whole bottom of his stomach was gone. Of course the first thing that jumped into my mind was James Cameron`s Aliens...wtf!

This one has me scratching my head, I could explain the ICH...but fish stomaches blowing up! Am I destined not to have fish..*sigh*

prairielilly

Wow, I'm so sorry to hear that. Please don't give up though! I had something similar happen with a rasbora once (I had some cycling-related illness issues too when I started out, never listen to the lfs ppl!) I don't know if it's the same as what happened to your guppy, but my harlequin had a bulge in his side that got bigger and bigger, then turned red. Medicating him didn't help in this case. Then one day his whole side was an open hole - I could see inside him. I euthanized the poor thing. I was told later it might have been septicemia, where they get a systemic infection inside that grows til it ruptures. Sometimes they're already sick when we get them from the lfs, and you can't see it bc it's inside them. Regardless, please don't beat yourself up at all - I don't think there's anything you could have done for him. Some more experienced fishkeepers may offer some more perspective too. I was told here when I was going through some pretty awful stuff 'You may not believe it right now, but someday soon you'll be enjoying a healthy fish tank'. I was encouraged to not give up (wow did I want to). This person was right - I love my now-healthy tank!

Red1313

awww... Poor brain RIP.

cognizant

I am so sorry to hear what you have been going through with your tank. Like everyone else has said, don't give up. It can be very trying on your nerves in the beginning, but in the end it usually works out.

Good luck!

Toxic

Don't give up, the fish are here to live on this earth just as we are. They may be held captive from birth due breeding, but you strive to give them the best life posible. Thats what counts.

NUMB3RS

Thats only one fish no need to be worried! Good Luck

agabr123

poor guy i'm sorry you lost him

you're NOT destined to not have fish.....if you can interpret the double negatives! lots of us, including myself, have gotten bad advice from the LFS and didn't know any better