|
Post by momo on Jan 10, 2006 4:53:30 GMT 10
Not a very tasteful subject, but one of my boy guppies is doing some funny looking poops. A few days back he was swimming along with quite a long trail of it still attached, which didn't look quite normal to me. It's not there now, but I thought it worth following up anyway. Is there anything I should keep an eye on/be aware of when it comes to this sort of thing or was the poor little guy just constipated or something?
|
|
starshine
Aquarist
One day my ship will come in and I will be at the airport
Posts: 65
|
Post by starshine on Jan 10, 2006 11:18:23 GMT 10
How did the poo look exactly? what colour? was it normal thickness? and what have you Been feeding them? I know some times if i introduce new food their poo changes like if i feed them worms it goes stripy clear and black and is heaps long.
|
|
|
Post by momo on Jan 10, 2006 12:49:57 GMT 10
it was like a fleshy pink colour, reminded me of a raw sausage like when they're not completely filled up and some bits are thinner and more transparent than other bits (this is getting a bit gross lol!). it looked thicker than usual, but then, they usually don't have long trails hanging out behind them, it usually drops off while it's quite small so I don't really know. I haven't changed their food though - I feed them guppy pellets, i think the brand is HBH, and they also peck at the sinking algae pellet I feed to Suckie. After the poo finally stopped dragging around after him he had like two little red spikes poking out his behind...which are gone now. He isn't acting any differently though, doesn't seem to be sick. Maybe I should just stop looking at fish poop.
|
|
|
Post by sammigold on Jan 10, 2006 13:52:31 GMT 10
Its not silly to look at poop!! it actually is a good indicator of problems.... I am not sure if you have heard of the cammalanus worm but what you are describing is pretty much the same description... pin size red things poking in and out of anus... try this link... www.ausfishforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=61138it describes the worms and the treatment.....HTH
|
|
|
Post by momo on Jan 10, 2006 14:47:56 GMT 10
Oh wow, no i hadn't heard of this before. d**n. That sounds exactly like what my favourite boy fishy has. Now to try and find out if one of the three pet stores near me has anything that can fix the poor little guy :*(
|
|
|
Post by Cyberguppy on Jan 10, 2006 17:43:44 GMT 10
I would isolate him immediatley, also not get any more fish untill you are sure it is not camallanus. seems a lot of people are having problems with this parasite latley. there must be an infected guppy shipment out there ATM.
To be honest this parasite can devestate a guppy tank so if you have any other fish in separate tanks, keep them separate, even make sure there is no contamination from water/plants etc from the 'infected' tank.
it will take up to 3 months to show in infected fish and by the time you see the little red 'spikes' the female worms are depositing their young in the tank.
for My own experience with this pest I once bought a fish and didnt notice the worms untill 3 hours after purchase, they were very heavily infected (and got sent straight back to the lps) That night I did a complete breakdown of the tank and carefull washed EVERYTHING in the tank in clean dechlorinated water (so not to affect beneficial bacteria) gravel, filter cartridge, plants, ornaments. Not missing a single spot. I then did the not highly reccomended 100% waterchange, spent an hour re-adjusting fish to the new temp, then moved the fish to the new water without spilling a drop of the old stuff in the 'cleaned' tank. Out of 40 fish I only lost a single molly. The tank was then treated the next morning with 'Aquarium science' aquarium wormer and not a worm was seen afterwards. The lps owner also reccomended using dog/cat worm treatments that treat roundworm for infected fish.
|
|
|
Post by sammigold on Jan 10, 2006 21:48:10 GMT 10
Sounds like you were lucky to catch it so quick cyberguppy... I think I would go with the levamisole rather than the dog/cat wormer unless you know someone that has been successful with that treatment and can give a dosage indicator... I hope my gups or discus dont get any worms as it sounds terribly difficult to get rid of the rotters...
|
|
|
Post by momo on Jan 11, 2006 5:02:11 GMT 10
I think I was way too late noticing this, as there a few few other indicators making me think the other fish are already infected - they all swim madly to the top of the tank as soon as I come near, as if begging for food, which they never did before.
I did a really big water change yesterday, as close to 100% as I could get with the silly tank I bought, and noticed all these tiny little white 'threads' getting sucked up along with the usual gunk. Gross.
I only have a couple of pet stores nearby, and none of them have ever heard of cammalanus or levamisole. *Sigh* they're the typical evil pet stores that sell Betta's in tiny little boxes, and will sell you anything so long as to make money. Plus I don't have a car to get out to the burbs where I have heard there are a couple of good aquariums.
The only treatment I could find was "Wardley's Paraex" but it doesn't mention anything about cammalanus or treating nematodes on the side. I guess I'll just have to shop around online. I just wish the pet stores were more helpful.
I certainly won't be buying any fish for a while. and if I do I won't be going to the local pet stores any more.
Does anyone know where I can buy what I need online?
|
|
|
Post by sammigold on Jan 11, 2006 10:12:05 GMT 10
It took me a while but I found the link to the Sykes site which describes the product "Big L" pig and poultry wormer... if you contact them direct they may be able to put you onto an online distributor or a pet shop or vet that may sell it... HTH www.sykes.net.au/sykes/bigwormpoultrypigs.htm
|
|
|
Post by momo on Jan 11, 2006 15:26:47 GMT 10
I called the number listed on the Sykes page and have been following phone leads all day but none of the distributers sell to the general public. There are no places near me that are supplied that product or have it in stock. I don't have a car so I can't get out to the rural areas that definitely have it. I think I'll just have to say bye bye guppies. So, moving on, if they do die, what's the best way of disinfecting the tank? I don't trust plain old water to kill all the little blighters. I reckon they'd be like zombie worms too, able to dry out and then come back to life or something knowing my luck.
|
|
starshine
Aquarist
One day my ship will come in and I will be at the airport
Posts: 65
|
Post by starshine on Jan 11, 2006 15:35:11 GMT 10
Is swimming to the top of the tank begging for food and eating heap a symptom of this worm cos Ive seperated my females and they have started doing this I just figured it was cos they are pregnant and were extra hungry. should I treat them anyway? will treating them if they dont have worms harm them? God now im all paranoid
|
|
|
Post by momo on Jan 11, 2006 15:45:51 GMT 10
I would say not unless they've got the little red spikes poking out their behinds. I also noticed little white threads getting sucked up when I did a thorough gravel vacuum last night. By the way - things aren't looking so bad for my little guppies now. A very nice wholesaler went against policy and broke a carton for me. It's going to cost $25 for one bottle this way, but I'm going to receive it on Friday. Phew. I also found an online seller - www.horsesuppliesdirect.com.au/prod964.htm however minimum order is $30 and there's nothing else on the website that I'd want to buy - at least it's here for other members future reference though. (I also posted this link against the camallanus thread, not trying to spam the board or anything!)
|
|
|
Post by Bumblebee on Jan 11, 2006 16:53:33 GMT 10
Is swimming to the top of the tank begging for food and eating heap a symptom of this worm cos Ive seperated my females and they have started doing this I just figured it was cos they are pregnant and were extra hungry. should I treat them anyway? will treating them if they dont have worms harm them? God now im all paranoid They go quite skinny and wek, lay on the bottom and look quite emaciated. Yours sound more like healthy hungry guppies! ;D
|
|
|
Post by momo on Jan 13, 2006 7:58:08 GMT 10
yay! the Symes Pig n Poultry wormer arrived this morning! *happy dance* will keep you posted on how they react to this stuff, and will use the amount recommended in that link to another forum - 10ml per 7 litres. I have an AR380 tank (manufacturer http://www.aquaone.com.au) the website advises this tank is 34 Litres. So that's approximately 48.6ml of this Symes stuff, which I hope won't hurt if I round up to 50ml, as I don't have any totally accurate liquid measuring thingers apart from a little cap off my water ager bottle (never been used) that has indicaters on the side. Fingers crossed, hang in their little guppies.
|
|
|
Post by sammigold on Jan 13, 2006 10:12:29 GMT 10
if your worried you could always round it down to 45ml... but I think you should be ok... Good luck... hope things go well!!!
|
|