| Guppy Diseases |
Fungus is actually a colourless plant which appears as a whitish cotton-wool look on
the guppy body or fins. Fungal diseases normally only attack weak guppies where they
have had damage to the skin or gills, or when their slime layer has been weakened for
some reason (such as a previous bacterial problem). Fungus also occurs when guppies
are kept in tanks that are too cold. Saprolegnia fungus seems to be a culprit in the
death of fry, attacking the gills and causing massive deaths even before symptoms
show.
Cure: Salt, Malachite Green, Methylene Blue
Fin Rot This seems to generally be a bacterial problem in guppies, however fin nips by
aggressive tank mates or damage from sharp ornaments can cause physical damage to
the tail and fungus sets in. A fish with an obvious bite out of it's tail or a split that has
acquired a white edge, has been infected by fungus.
If there has been no obvious damage to the tail and the edge shows disintegration and
shredding (usually with a light-coloured edge), it should be assumed to be a bacterial
infection.
Cures: Tetracycline, Maracyn or Maracyn Two
Dropsy There are two forms this takes but both look similar, and both are caused by a
bacterial infection. With one, the scales protrude from the body (like a pine cone) and
with the other, the body swells with fluid which causes scale protrusion and protruding
eyes. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to cure. The fish should be isolated
immediately, and destroyed if its condition does not get better. By the time the scales
protrude, the internal organs including the liver have been damaged to the point of no
return. The cause is what the fish keeper should investigate to avoid another case of
dropsy. Poor water conditions, weakened fish and feeding too many bloodworms may
also be part of the problem.
Cures: Antibiotics
Columnaris This looks similar to fungus, but is actually caused by one of two types of
gram-positive bacteria. Its causes are not really understood, but it may arise due to
crowded tanks, poor water conditions, inadequate filtration, or poor water circulation
(aeration). It manifests itself in the beginning of the disease as a whiteish area where
the pigment appears gone, usually on the peduncle or the body's middle area
("saddleback columnaris"). The guppy will later show difficulty swimming as the body
slowly becomes paralyzed. Most often this affects female guppies for some reason,
and it is highly infectious -- it can destroy all the fish in the tank if the affected fish is
not removed.
Cures: Formalin, Maracyn
Mouth Fungus This appears as a white edge around the mouth. This is usually
columnaris (a bacterial disease) in most fish, but in guppies and other livebearers, it is
usually a true fungus. Treat as fungus, however, keep in mind that it may be
Columnaris.
Cure: Salt, Malachite Green, Methylene Blue
Pop-Eye This condition may lead to blindness and loss of the affected eye(s). The
cause of this disease is hard to determine. All you can do is hope that it goes away.
Cures: Unkown
Swim Bladder Disease Unnatural, uncontrolled swimming or floating on an angle.
Guppies are not prone to this problem, however it does occur, usually after a stress-
related experience. It is difficult to determine the cause for this , but it seems that
moving a fish from shallow water to deep water can trigger it, and poor water quality
can cause it as well.
Cure: Salt
Swim Bladder Inflammation This is caused by a virus, which is highly infectious. The
fish stops eating and cysts are formed at the rear of the abdomen. This distends the
body and the fish appears to be standing on it’s head. The body degenerates and
chance of recovery is low. The fish should be removed immediately and destroyed.
Cure: Salt
Fish Tuberculosis Also appropriately named the Wasting Disease. Fish stop eating,
become hollow-bellied, emaciated, grow ulcers, eyes protrude, fins rot, colours pale and
the fish becomes inactive. Guppies may live months in such condition. All symptoms
will not appear, but be cautious if more than 2 show. TB is caused by mycobacterium
bacteria, and is passed from fish to fish by feeding on dead infected fish and feces.
Guppies can pass TB to their offspring as well, so it is particularly dangerous and action
must be immediate. Remove the diseased fish for observation. If there is no
improvement, destroy the fish. Be sure to remove any dead or dying fish from the tank,
and quarantine completely. If a number of fish die from TB, tear down the tank and
disinfect everything with bleach. TB outbreaks can usually be avoided with proper
environmental conditions. TB bacterium is pathogenic to humans. Do not reach into the
tank water with bare skin, especially if you have any damaged skin, and never touch a
sick/dead fish with bare hands.
Cures: Antibiotics
Body Sores Sometimes, due to aggressive behaviour, netting, shipping, etc., guppies
can get damaged bodies and fins.
Cures: Melafix, Methylene Blue
Septicaemia Caused by bacteria that grow in the blood, this disease appears as
lesions, ulcers or sores on the body, reddening at the base of the fins and the vent.
The fish will eventually stop eating and may darken in colour. Ulcers may get a
secondary infection of fungus. It may be a latent infection, which breaks out when fish
are crowded, shipped, or handled roughly. It is important to isolate the fish since they
release pathogenic bacteria directly into the water and other fish will be infected.
Cures: Maracyn, Antibiotics
Ich / Ick Often the first sign of infestation is that the guppy rubs its body against
things in an effort to rid itself of the parasite. Eventually, the entire body becomes
covered in white cysts that look like salt or sugar. The gills may be irritated. The
parasite penetrates the skin and becomes a cyst, feeding on blood and skin cells. It
grows for a few days until it drops to the bottom of the tank and forms into a cyst and
cell division creates up to 1,000 zoospores, which try to attach to a fish within 70 hours
- this is the infectious stage. This cycle takes about 5 days at 27°C. (the higher the
temperature, the faster it's life cycle is completed). The best time to attack ich is when
the parasite leaves the fish, so raising the temperature helps to aim the medication at
this stage. The fish should be quarantined for a month after treatment so they cannot
infect other fish.
Cures: Malachite Green, Quinine, Formalin, Copper, Salt
Guppy Disease There is actually a disease caused by a protozoan that is more
commonly seen in guppies than in any other fish. This is a tiny parasite that attacks
the skin and may even reach as far as the muscles or bloodstream. They may get large
enough to resemble ich and the scales may protrude, swimming is difficult and the skin
usually falls off as well. If this is not taken care of quickly it can spread throughout the
tank and be very difficult to control.
Cures: Malachite Green, Copper, Formalin, Clout
Velvet Is similar to ich however these organisms are smaller, like gold-coloured dust,
while ich is white, larger and more rounded. Velvet disease ("rust disease") is highly
contagious. It may be difficult to see until a heavy infestation develops. Bleeding can
eventually occur, with the skin peeling off. When the gills are affected the fish will
have difficulty breathing and may die from asphyxiation. Velvet is a rather uncommon
disease.
Cures: Copper
Excessive Slime Coating Also called Costia, (one protozoan parasite which may be
involved.) A greyish-white film of excess mucus covers the fish's body, most obviously
on the eyes or darker body areas. The fish's gills may swell and breathing appears
difficult. It is caused by body parasites, which may be protozoans, monogenetic flukes,
or often a combination.
Cures: Salt, Clout, Methylene Blue, Quinine, Formalin
Anchor Worm A crustacean (copepod), it is not really a worm. It resembles a twig with
a "v" on the end as the female hangs out of the fish with a deep anchor. It can be up
to 2 cm long and has 2 egg sacs hanging from it. The fish can become weak and thin.
The eggs are released and a hole is left in the fish which may become infected.
Cures: Organosphorous insecticide
Flukes These are smaller than anchor worms, too small to be visible to the naked eye.
There are several types of flukes (monogenetic) that show up in aquariums. These are
all flatworms that grow only as long as 1 mm in length. Younger fish are particularly
affected due to their size and action must be immediate.
Cure: Organosphorous insecticide, trichloromethyl, Formalin
Gill Fluke / Gill Worm The symptoms are reddened/inflamed/bleeding/slimy gills,
growths, and heavy breathing near the water surface. The gills will bleed and the fish
will have trouble breathing.
Cure: Organosphorous insecticide, trichloromethyl, Formalin
Body Flukes These seem to be common in guppy tanks. Usually the first symptom a
guppy shows is scratching on ornaments or the bottom in an effort to rid itself of the
parasite. Fry normally display closed tails, or "pin tail". The tail may completely fall off.
Heavy infestations cause a grayish look to the skin, sometimes even inflammation and
redness. Usually fry are dead before they succumb to this symptom.
Cure: Organosphorous insecticide, trichloromethyl, Formalin
Internal Parasites These are nematodes, also called roundworms or threadworms. The
most commonly seen in guppies is Camallanus, which can reach up to 2 cm in length.
They are reddish-brown or orange, and can be seen protruding from the anus like a tiny
paintbrush. Other intestinal worms usually do not pose a threat in aquariums since they
have a rather complicated life cycle, but Camallanus nematodes are capable of passing
from one fish to another.
Cures: anthelmintic treatment, Jungle's Internal Parasite Guard, Pepso food, Tetra's
Anti-Parasite Medicated Flakes, garlic
the guppy body or fins. Fungal diseases normally only attack weak guppies where they
have had damage to the skin or gills, or when their slime layer has been weakened for
some reason (such as a previous bacterial problem). Fungus also occurs when guppies
are kept in tanks that are too cold. Saprolegnia fungus seems to be a culprit in the
death of fry, attacking the gills and causing massive deaths even before symptoms
show.
Cure: Salt, Malachite Green, Methylene Blue
Fin Rot This seems to generally be a bacterial problem in guppies, however fin nips by
aggressive tank mates or damage from sharp ornaments can cause physical damage to
the tail and fungus sets in. A fish with an obvious bite out of it's tail or a split that has
acquired a white edge, has been infected by fungus.
If there has been no obvious damage to the tail and the edge shows disintegration and
shredding (usually with a light-coloured edge), it should be assumed to be a bacterial
infection.
Cures: Tetracycline, Maracyn or Maracyn Two
Dropsy There are two forms this takes but both look similar, and both are caused by a
bacterial infection. With one, the scales protrude from the body (like a pine cone) and
with the other, the body swells with fluid which causes scale protrusion and protruding
eyes. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to cure. The fish should be isolated
immediately, and destroyed if its condition does not get better. By the time the scales
protrude, the internal organs including the liver have been damaged to the point of no
return. The cause is what the fish keeper should investigate to avoid another case of
dropsy. Poor water conditions, weakened fish and feeding too many bloodworms may
also be part of the problem.
Cures: Antibiotics
Columnaris This looks similar to fungus, but is actually caused by one of two types of
gram-positive bacteria. Its causes are not really understood, but it may arise due to
crowded tanks, poor water conditions, inadequate filtration, or poor water circulation
(aeration). It manifests itself in the beginning of the disease as a whiteish area where
the pigment appears gone, usually on the peduncle or the body's middle area
("saddleback columnaris"). The guppy will later show difficulty swimming as the body
slowly becomes paralyzed. Most often this affects female guppies for some reason,
and it is highly infectious -- it can destroy all the fish in the tank if the affected fish is
not removed.
Cures: Formalin, Maracyn
Mouth Fungus This appears as a white edge around the mouth. This is usually
columnaris (a bacterial disease) in most fish, but in guppies and other livebearers, it is
usually a true fungus. Treat as fungus, however, keep in mind that it may be
Columnaris.
Cure: Salt, Malachite Green, Methylene Blue
Pop-Eye This condition may lead to blindness and loss of the affected eye(s). The
cause of this disease is hard to determine. All you can do is hope that it goes away.
Cures: Unkown
Swim Bladder Disease Unnatural, uncontrolled swimming or floating on an angle.
Guppies are not prone to this problem, however it does occur, usually after a stress-
related experience. It is difficult to determine the cause for this , but it seems that
moving a fish from shallow water to deep water can trigger it, and poor water quality
can cause it as well.
Cure: Salt
Swim Bladder Inflammation This is caused by a virus, which is highly infectious. The
fish stops eating and cysts are formed at the rear of the abdomen. This distends the
body and the fish appears to be standing on it’s head. The body degenerates and
chance of recovery is low. The fish should be removed immediately and destroyed.
Cure: Salt
Fish Tuberculosis Also appropriately named the Wasting Disease. Fish stop eating,
become hollow-bellied, emaciated, grow ulcers, eyes protrude, fins rot, colours pale and
the fish becomes inactive. Guppies may live months in such condition. All symptoms
will not appear, but be cautious if more than 2 show. TB is caused by mycobacterium
bacteria, and is passed from fish to fish by feeding on dead infected fish and feces.
Guppies can pass TB to their offspring as well, so it is particularly dangerous and action
must be immediate. Remove the diseased fish for observation. If there is no
improvement, destroy the fish. Be sure to remove any dead or dying fish from the tank,
and quarantine completely. If a number of fish die from TB, tear down the tank and
disinfect everything with bleach. TB outbreaks can usually be avoided with proper
environmental conditions. TB bacterium is pathogenic to humans. Do not reach into the
tank water with bare skin, especially if you have any damaged skin, and never touch a
sick/dead fish with bare hands.
Cures: Antibiotics
Body Sores Sometimes, due to aggressive behaviour, netting, shipping, etc., guppies
can get damaged bodies and fins.
Cures: Melafix, Methylene Blue
Septicaemia Caused by bacteria that grow in the blood, this disease appears as
lesions, ulcers or sores on the body, reddening at the base of the fins and the vent.
The fish will eventually stop eating and may darken in colour. Ulcers may get a
secondary infection of fungus. It may be a latent infection, which breaks out when fish
are crowded, shipped, or handled roughly. It is important to isolate the fish since they
release pathogenic bacteria directly into the water and other fish will be infected.
Cures: Maracyn, Antibiotics
Ich / Ick Often the first sign of infestation is that the guppy rubs its body against
things in an effort to rid itself of the parasite. Eventually, the entire body becomes
covered in white cysts that look like salt or sugar. The gills may be irritated. The
parasite penetrates the skin and becomes a cyst, feeding on blood and skin cells. It
grows for a few days until it drops to the bottom of the tank and forms into a cyst and
cell division creates up to 1,000 zoospores, which try to attach to a fish within 70 hours
- this is the infectious stage. This cycle takes about 5 days at 27°C. (the higher the
temperature, the faster it's life cycle is completed). The best time to attack ich is when
the parasite leaves the fish, so raising the temperature helps to aim the medication at
this stage. The fish should be quarantined for a month after treatment so they cannot
infect other fish.
Cures: Malachite Green, Quinine, Formalin, Copper, Salt
Guppy Disease There is actually a disease caused by a protozoan that is more
commonly seen in guppies than in any other fish. This is a tiny parasite that attacks
the skin and may even reach as far as the muscles or bloodstream. They may get large
enough to resemble ich and the scales may protrude, swimming is difficult and the skin
usually falls off as well. If this is not taken care of quickly it can spread throughout the
tank and be very difficult to control.
Cures: Malachite Green, Copper, Formalin, Clout
Velvet Is similar to ich however these organisms are smaller, like gold-coloured dust,
while ich is white, larger and more rounded. Velvet disease ("rust disease") is highly
contagious. It may be difficult to see until a heavy infestation develops. Bleeding can
eventually occur, with the skin peeling off. When the gills are affected the fish will
have difficulty breathing and may die from asphyxiation. Velvet is a rather uncommon
disease.
Cures: Copper
Excessive Slime Coating Also called Costia, (one protozoan parasite which may be
involved.) A greyish-white film of excess mucus covers the fish's body, most obviously
on the eyes or darker body areas. The fish's gills may swell and breathing appears
difficult. It is caused by body parasites, which may be protozoans, monogenetic flukes,
or often a combination.
Cures: Salt, Clout, Methylene Blue, Quinine, Formalin
Anchor Worm A crustacean (copepod), it is not really a worm. It resembles a twig with
a "v" on the end as the female hangs out of the fish with a deep anchor. It can be up
to 2 cm long and has 2 egg sacs hanging from it. The fish can become weak and thin.
The eggs are released and a hole is left in the fish which may become infected.
Cures: Organosphorous insecticide
Flukes These are smaller than anchor worms, too small to be visible to the naked eye.
There are several types of flukes (monogenetic) that show up in aquariums. These are
all flatworms that grow only as long as 1 mm in length. Younger fish are particularly
affected due to their size and action must be immediate.
Cure: Organosphorous insecticide, trichloromethyl, Formalin
Gill Fluke / Gill Worm The symptoms are reddened/inflamed/bleeding/slimy gills,
growths, and heavy breathing near the water surface. The gills will bleed and the fish
will have trouble breathing.
Cure: Organosphorous insecticide, trichloromethyl, Formalin
Body Flukes These seem to be common in guppy tanks. Usually the first symptom a
guppy shows is scratching on ornaments or the bottom in an effort to rid itself of the
parasite. Fry normally display closed tails, or "pin tail". The tail may completely fall off.
Heavy infestations cause a grayish look to the skin, sometimes even inflammation and
redness. Usually fry are dead before they succumb to this symptom.
Cure: Organosphorous insecticide, trichloromethyl, Formalin
Internal Parasites These are nematodes, also called roundworms or threadworms. The
most commonly seen in guppies is Camallanus, which can reach up to 2 cm in length.
They are reddish-brown or orange, and can be seen protruding from the anus like a tiny
paintbrush. Other intestinal worms usually do not pose a threat in aquariums since they
have a rather complicated life cycle, but Camallanus nematodes are capable of passing
from one fish to another.
Cures: anthelmintic treatment, Jungle's Internal Parasite Guard, Pepso food, Tetra's
Anti-Parasite Medicated Flakes, garlic
