Bill

A few of my guppies have finrot, but this one seems to have it the most. Just this morning, he started lying down on the substrate or on a plant, with all his fins erect. He had been chased by my evil gourami, Colin, a minute before but I doubt this was the reason... he has gone all dark. This is really similar to how my female gourami died, ad I don't want to lose another fish His fins have gone black, he's got black around is nose and everything's gone dull. Here are before and now pics:

Before


Now

armadillo

Hi Bill

Do you have a hospital tank? I'd say please isolate him if you do.

He needs a quite place where he wont be attacked while he's in that state. Do you have enough decorations?

What do you treat him with? You need to get antibacterial medicines as soon as you can.

Bill

Plenty of hiding places, no hospital tank, as yet untreated He is looking better at the moment, he's swimming around with the rest of the guppies but he still looks grey.

COBettaCouple

even a clean durable plastic storage container can work as a temporary tank, if necessary.

Chief_waterchanger

I would suggest close monitoring, but your hopes shouldn't be up. Sounds like his systems are shutting down, and will probably pass soon. Sorry to hear it.

Bill

Poor little guy He's still going, but his tail seems to have got even worse. I don't really want to move him, he's hiding in a cave now and the other fish are leaving him alone.

Bill

He died... Could finrot have actually killed him, or would that have been only one of the factors?

armadillo

Oh no, Bill. I am sorry. At least your mind's at rest now. Let's hope it was nothing contagious.

I think the change of colour could be due to stress, and not a symptom at all. As for finrot, well that clearly is symptom, so my guess is that he was a weak fish and while other fish would survive finrot, he didn't. Let's hope that's the case so all your other fish are OK.

I'd definitely keep a close check on fish with symptoms, and I"d act early. Please stock up on some meds, like antibacterials, in case.

capekate

Are you really sure that it was finrot? My gut tells me that the gourami may have taken a few nips out of that guppies tail, and if it was getting chased around.. that would be enough stress to kill the poor lil thing. Can gourami's really be in the same tank with guppies? I don't know, Ive had dwarf gourami's but not guppies...
~ kate

COBettaCouple

we're sorry the little guy didn't make it.

Bill

Thanks..

Armadllo; Yes, he had always been the least active of the guppies, so I think that might have been it.

Capekate: The gourami wasn't chasing him regularly, I just noticed it when he was lying down. He never bothers any livebearers or tetras (they were in there before him) except if they get in his way. The guppy definitely did have finrot, the gourami might just have nipped him while he was weak.

I really need some meds now, I don't want any of my other fish to go the same way I just wish they weren't so facking expensive. One good-sized bottle of any aquarium additive is like a month's worth of money.