problems with fry    
Breeding
By Amy
from the Amy department, Section Ask Guppylog
Posted on Tue Aug 31st, 2004 at 20:08:09 PST

Peter made what might be a key observation when he found what seems to be a huge (for a guppy) tapeworm in the body of a guppy which had "exploded". I wonder if some of these internal parasites are so devouring the guppies that their body cavities are partly consumed and so weakened that internal items are able to plunge through the side of the fish or out the anal area. (Hope you all are some time from a meal.)

The growth of internal parasitic worms, whether they be tapeworms, Camallanus, Capillaria, other worms or afflictions like Hexamida makes me wonder if we shouldn't treat all new fish - either in that new tank or later on in quarantine - with a de-wormer! Maybe sometime after that a proprietary treatment of Metronidazol could be used for Hexamida.

Those diseases are among the common things which come in from the fish farms to the wholesalers to the shops. If we asked the shops to do those treatments, the price of the fish would probably double or triple. Unfortunately the conscientious shop which made those treatments and charged accordingly would probably be run out of business by competitors. :(

We do this with some other pets (not to mention children.) When adopted our dog (or when he adopted us) we paid the rescue group a not unreasonable donation of $140 for things they had done for him. That first summer, the $300 plus at the vet was more than I paid for medical care for our family. ;)  The schnoodle has been pretty much in working order since, but I'm sure that the young lady who lobbied for a dog is glad that dad is footing the bill. :)

There are several things which the pet industry, shops and more experienced hobbyists need to tell newbies more about. (Some, especially some publications and hobby groups, do a lot better than used to be the case.)

Maybe nobody should be allowed to leave the store. fish club or someone's house with out first having set up a tank. Then they should be told about the nitrogen cycle, careful feeding, the need for regular partial water changes - with seasoned water, quarantining new purchases, AND maybe the need for preventative - prophylactic for GG - treatments for worms and other parasites!

You probably don't want to go hunting for one of a type of medications call anthelmintics SG161. (But do take a look at the GL Quicklinks.) Most commercial de-wormers have an anthelmintic in them and will do the job. You may want to consider treating your tank with a de-wormer so that if other fishes of yours have the same internal (and therefore mystery) afflictions, they have a chance to live normal lives.

I would do the same for your wounded guppy. I fear though that she might not make it. I think it would be terrific if those eggs were somehow discarded or successfully developed, but I don't know. (This from a person who hoped the Chicago Cubs would make it to the World Series in 2004 too.)

Please let us know what you decide to do and what happens. The rest of us are rooting for you (cheering in Oz) and hope the best for you and your fish. As difficult as these things are to consider, you are also helping a lot of others to grow in the Aquarist's Craft.

I have run some of these incidents by a pretty sophisticated list where no one has responded. I may seek other authorities (next to whom I a newbie in terms of fish health) and see what they say. Time is so precious, I know that any response would not be immediate though.