Guppy Troubleshooter

Having trouble figuring out what is happening to your guppies? Go through this checklist questionnaire...it may help you discover the nature of the problem.

Many diseases can be also be avoided by limiting the amount of stress that a fish endures when they are newly acquired and during day-to-day care. Here is an article on stress, and it's role in fish diseases.

Frequent observation and immediate action to correct a problem will help eliminate the possibility of the spread of a disease and will greatly improve the odds of your fish recovering. In other words, if you see something wrong with your fish - act on it!!

1. BACKGROUND

What is your pH? Any sudden changes in temperature or pH? See Water Quality .

Do you use salt as a general additive?

What temperature is your guppy tank?

Any sudden recent water temperature fluctuations of more than 4 degrees?

Has anything been done to the tank that is out of the ordinary? Such as changes in water changing practices or addition of new fish or plants, use of live food, new tank decorations?

Is there a possibility of any of the following being in contact with the fish tank: aerosol sprays, paint fumes, tobacco, other fumes or chemicals, metal of any kind? See Water Quality .

Any new piping or plumbing or mains work by the local water supply company (such as the addition of chloramines)?

What is the size of the tank(s) involved and the stocking level?

What is your method(s) of filtration? How often do you make partial water changes? How often do you rinse the filter or change it?

What types of food do you feed and how often?

2. MORE DETAIL

When did the problem start?

How many fish are affected?

What action did you take?

What medications have you tried?

3. SYMPTOMS

N/R = No Remedy

Q= Quarantine Note: most sick fish should be quarantined. This is added where it is especially important.

Area	Symptoms	Advice
Tail	Split, often in middle as if cut	"Split tail" - should heal naturally, various causes: check for sharp ornaments, fighting. Could be caused by large water changes, weak genetics.Watch for fungus
	Ragged, deteriorating with whiteish or red edge	Bacterial tail rot. Q Ailments
	Clamped or closed (pin-tail)	Check water quality (i.e.ammonia). If no problem, likely body Flukes Parasites
Body	Bulge, bump	Tumour, not threatening, N/R
	Smooth, yellow/white cyst	Nodular disease caused by spores.Can be introduced by live tubifex worms.N/R.Q/DESTROY
	Cauliflower-like growth, starts as cyst	Lymphocystis, caused by virus. Destructive but uncommon in freshwater tanks. Can be transmitted & will grow. Q/DESTROY (may try Quick Cure)
	White cottony patches or white discolouration on lips or body	See fungus and columnaris Ailments
	Slimey, cloudy skin	Sliminess of the skin (excess body mucus) Parasites
	Lesions, ulcers or sores, reddening at base of fins/vent	Haemorrhagic Septicaemia, Q - see Ailments
	White salt-like specks over entire body	White spot (Ich)  Parasites
	Yellow/grey/gold dust, peeling skin, loss of appetite	Velvet Disease Parasites
	Tiny sand-like spots, peeling skin, difficulty swimming, protruding scales	Guppy Disease Parasites
	Reddish worms protruding from anus	Camallanus Q Parasites
	Thin, pale, bent back, pop-eye, ulcers, listlessness, sores, fin rot	TB - Q/DESTROY - See TB information under Ailments
	Swollen, protruding scales (usually), sometimes pop-eye	Dropsy Q Ailments
	Bent, malformed spine	Could be genetics,TB or malnutrition N/R
Gills	Gasping for air	Poor water quality Water Quality
	Reddened, inflamed, rapid movement	Gill parasite Parasites or water quality Water Quality
Eyes	Protruding from head	See TB, Dropsy, Pop-eye Q N/R Ailments
	Darkened	Colouration
Behaviour	"Flashing" - quickly scratching body on surfaces	Check for ammonia and other toxins ( Water Quality ) - External Parasites Parasites
	Unnatural swimming, floating	Swimbladder complications N/R Ailments
	Fish is vertical (head-standing)	Swimbladder inflamation Ailments
	Loss of appetite, spits out food	Tainted/stale food? - Stressed? - Internal problems - See TB, camallanus, dropsy
	Listless, inactive, surface resting, gasping, jumping, sporadic movements	Water quality problems - or other causes. Water Quality or Parasites

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