Damaged fin

Just started on your fishy adventures, ask for help in here.
Post Reply
Fishgib
Junior Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2024 19:13 pm
Has liked: 1 time
Been liked: 2 times

Hi, was just wondering what could cause this to my guppy.

We've had some water issues but have been getting good test results for the last 4 tests.

Also lost 4 fish because if this so we only have 4 guppies in the tank.

Going to look to build back up now.

I have hard water so I know thay dictates what fish I can have so any recommendations would be great!

Also in regards to plants and algae growth. I have x 2 live plants had them around 6 weeks they're not doing too well- what can be done to help this or should we get rid and replace or get plastic plants?

Tank gets a fair bit of green algae growth. Hard for it not to be near a window as my house is quite bright.

Thanks!!!!!
Image
User avatar
Martinspuddle
Forum Jester & TOTM Winner
Forum Jester & TOTM Winner
Posts: 8227
Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2019 18:07 pm
Location: Sceapig
Has liked: 4680 times
Been liked: 4388 times

Fishgib wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 18:06 pm Hi, was just wondering what could cause this to my guppy.
Image

Poor water quality is one reason for spilt fins and this fish has clamped fins which is a sign of this, which in turn usually leads to bacterial infections. How often are you doing water changes and how much?

Also what is your current aquarium water values?
Fishgib wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 18:06 pm We've had some water issues but have been getting good test results for the last 4 tests.
What period is this over with these tests you've carried out?
Fishgib wrote: Tue Oct 22, 2024 18:06 pm I have x 2 live plants had them around 6 weeks they're not doing too well- what can be done to help this or should we get rid and replace or get plastic plants?

Tank gets a fair bit of green algae growth. Hard for it not to be near a window as my house is quite bright.
The only reason for plants looking poor is the algae is out competing them for nutrients plus with excess sunlight the algae will thrive.
Fishgib wrote: Mon Sep 16, 2024 19:25 pm Image
They're not still in their pots like you showed above or have you planted them into the substrate? Are you feeding the Alternanthera reineckii and Vallisneria?

Think you need to reduce your photoperiod from the eight hours you previously told us and half it, if the aquarium getting a fair amount of sunlight during the day, either that or on sunny days close the curtains.

Also lower the amount your feeding your Guppies, as with only four fish it would be very easy to over feed. :]
WARNING - DO NOT BREED, FEED OR PET THE PUDDLE! :dodgy2:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
:swim2: :swim2: :swim2: :swim2: :swim2: :woo: :swim2: :swim2: :swim2:
User avatar
Vale!
Super Mod - TOTM & FOTM Winner
Super Mod - TOTM & FOTM Winner
Posts: 2274
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 15:34 pm
Location: Concrete Cowland
Has liked: 46 times
Been liked: 1464 times

Hello FB

Those who know far more about guppy behaviour and hard water aquariums than me will surely take the reins when they're next around - I just didn't want you to feel that you were being ignored!

So we need to arm them with some details (apologies for what is about to be a list of question!) ..


How big's the tank (dimensions and volume of water) and what's the makers name?

Which water conditioner (dechlorinator) do you use?

How often do you do water-changes (and how much volume-wise)?

What's the temperature?

Do you use an airstone (bubbles!)?

What's under that gravel (if anything)?

What kind of water tests do you use (dippy-strips or liquid)?

What are the parameters (e.g. hardness ; pH ; ammonia) that you test for and what are the latest results (they'll need actual numbers!)?

What filter do you use, what's inside it (e.g. cartridges or foam - if it's not a bubbly air filter) and what's your maintenance regime?

What are you feeding them (and how much and often)?

Are they LED lights? And how long are they 'on' for, daily?


I think I recognise those plants and seem to recall that they're not necessarily a good 'starter' plant. You need either no live plants or (much more preferable!) lots of fast-growing plants that take their nutrient from the water column rather than from the gravel. Fast-growing 'weeds' soak up some nitrate with which, I suspect, your tapwater is loaded and which the algae is very grateful to receive.

Do you observe your tank mainly, or only, through the front pane? If so then a sneaky ploy is to clad all the other sides with some sort of opaque material to give you some control over the light intensity, particularly if sunshine is involved. I use foam board stuck on with double-sided tape ...

Image

... and as it happens, I've got half-a-shedload of it. If you wanted to take that route, PM me and we'll make arrangements.

Hang on 'til the Guppy People arrive!


[Edit: Mr. Spuddle arrived while I was so-slowly typing (I try to be as accarut as I can)!]
User avatar
plankton
Super Mod
Super Mod
Posts: 12699
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 17:02 pm
Location: S. Derbyshire
Has liked: 5383 times
Been liked: 3617 times

If you've been having problems with the parameters for any length of time there will be damage done to the fish. :(
What you need to do now (if ammonia and nitrite are clear) is keep the water as pristine as possible and hope the fish recover somewhat, they may not though. Melafix will help to aid fin regrowth.
I wouldn't add anything else until everything has been stable for at least a month anyway.
It will be easier to assist if we get all the answers to all the questions above. ;)
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it! :D

Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
Fishgib
Junior Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2024 19:13 pm
Has liked: 1 time
Been liked: 2 times

Going to do my best to reply to everyone in one!

I've done water changes every day for 7 days as advised in my last post about water quality. Then started testing every other day.

The last water change I done was Tuesday of 20% with prime and stability (I think that's right they were the 2 I was recommended).

The plants have been put into the substrate now as advised! But I haven't fed them anything. I'll remove the plants and look at something fast growing as advised?


So we need to arm them with some details (apologies for what is about to be a list of question!) ..


How big's the tank (dimensions and volume of water) and what's the makers name? It's a Superfish Qubiq Pro 60 LED Aquarium the filter came with it. 40 x 40 x 51 cm

Which water conditioner (dechlorinator) do you use?
Seachem Stability

How often do you do water-changes (and how much volume-wise)? I've been doing them daily up until last week now every couple of days 20%

What's the temperature?
22degree

Do you use an airstone (bubbles!)?
No

What's under that gravel (if anything)?
Nothing.

What kind of water tests do you use (dippy-strips or liquid)?
Liquid tests

What are the parameters (e.g. hardness ; pH ; ammonia) that you test for and what are the latest results (they'll need actual numbers!)? It's hard water my tests I done Tuesday which were; ammonia 0, nitrate 0 and nitrite 0.

What filter do you use, what's inside it (e.g. cartridges or foam - if it's not a bubbly air filter) and what's your maintenance regime? It has foam and gravel. Give it a wipe down every other day and syphoned/clean the bottom.

What are you feeding them (and how much and often)? Tiny pinch every other day

Are they LED lights? And how long are they 'on' for, daily 6 hours at the moment but can do less!


Appreciate you offering the foam thank you!

I'll have a look at melafix.

Not going to lie these fish are such a pain!!!!!!
User avatar
Gingerlove05
Guru & FOTM Winner
Guru & FOTM Winner
Posts: 6968
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 20:21 pm
Has liked: 5707 times
Been liked: 2738 times

Seachem stability is a bacteria in a bottle not a water conditioner, seachem prime is their water conditioner.
Can you find out if your water contains chlorine or chloramine?
Even doing water changes, if your only using stability as a conditioner then the bacteria that deal with the fish waste etc will get killed off by chlorine or chloramine. Fish won’t do well in water with chlorine or chloramine as it damages gils etc
Make sure you add the prime to the water first then the stability
To the tune of “the saints go marching in”:
Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful, they’re white Welsh and fluffy! Oh fluffy sheep are wonderful!
Image
User avatar
plankton
Super Mod
Super Mod
Posts: 12699
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 17:02 pm
Location: S. Derbyshire
Has liked: 5383 times
Been liked: 3617 times

It doesn't sound as though there's a water quality problem now.
I think you may have got confused with the conditioner as you have Prime and Stability? ;)
How long did you have ammonia/nitrite in the water? I'm wondering if this is long-term problems because of the toxins...
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it! :D

Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
Fishgib
Junior Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2024 19:13 pm
Has liked: 1 time
Been liked: 2 times

Waters fine now, tested this morning.

I've been using both everytime I've done a change as recommended on a previous post. But I'll just use the prime from now on.

I think from when I introduce the fish. It wasn't ready for them to be introduced - went on advice of maidenhead aquatics which was clearly wrong but we won't be going back there!

I've removed the live plants today aswell and I'm going to get some plastic or easier ones to manage!
User avatar
plankton
Super Mod
Super Mod
Posts: 12699
Joined: Sun Jan 21, 2018 17:02 pm
Location: S. Derbyshire
Has liked: 5383 times
Been liked: 3617 times

You may find you get more algae without any plants. ;)
All you really needed to do was remove them from the pots and plant them. :)
If at first you don't succeed....
...get someone else to do it! :D

Enjoy your fish, shrimps and snails!
Ian
Fishgib
Junior Member
Posts: 24
Joined: Mon Sep 16, 2024 19:13 pm
Has liked: 1 time
Been liked: 2 times

plankton wrote: Mon Oct 28, 2024 8:57 am You may find you get more algae without any plants. ;)
All you really needed to do was remove them from the pots and plant them. :)

I bought some plastic ones - had removed the plants and planted them but they didn't look as nice as the plastic - looks a bit more vibrant now.

When I get a bigger tank I'll go all out with real plants etc hopefully it will all work out
Post Reply