EtherealGirl

I guess it was just a matter of time...the downside of aquaria... but it seems one of the two fancy male guppies we just added Saturday night is not doing well. I think I know what you're all going to tell me, but I have to ask anyway.

{FYI: It is a 10g tank that just completed its cycle last week. All tests last night we good: NH, NO2 both 0; pH at about 7.4; NO3 at about 10ppm. I have not yet added "Live Bearer Brackish Aquarium Salt", per Jay's suggestion, to the tank. I ordered it but won't see it for a day or two.}

Situation:
He is hiding inside the "coral reef shell" that acts like a little cave. The little of his face I can see, he looks like he's panting: the area under his mouth (his throat?) is fluttering constantly. I just fed them and he didn't come out. [Update: I just went and put a little more food closer to his hidey-hole, and he finally came out. However, he did not eat and he appeared to be jerking, like loss of motor control???] {Newer Update: He's come out into the tank (yay!) but he's still panting and I can now see that his mouth is opening & closing rapidly.}

Since I have no hospital tank, I can't separate him. Any guesses as to what it might be? What I can / should do...besides wait and see what happens?

This part stinks... he was already becoming our new favorite, and my daughter named him after her Math teacher, who she really admires.

Jay

That really sounds like osmotic shock. That can occur when a fish is transitioned too quickly from one set of water parameters (lfs) to another (your tank). The fishes system just cannot tolerate the change, usual symptoms are respiration problems, motor function problems, sometimes death.

There is not much you can do, quarintining it will not help. I would prepare myself for the fact he may not make it.

Jay

EtherealGirl

Well...glad to hear it probably isn't contagious, but "boo-hoo"! Is there any chance he might survive, or is it pretty much usually fatal? If, by some chance he survives for another day or two, when the salt solution arrives, might that help him?
And, also important to know: If it's from osmotic shock / insufficient transitioning, how do I avoid that in the future?

Jay

Whether he makes it or not depends on the damage to its system.

I know for a fact that some big box stores counsel customers to float the bag for a while to equalize the temperature and then add the fish. WRONG!!

Here is what I do. I use a 2 quart Tupperware container. I empty the fish and store water in the container. I then add about a 1/4 cup of tank water every half hour until the container is full. I empty the container down to 1/2 and repeat adding tank water 1/4 cup until the container is full again. Then I pour fish and water into my tank. This allows the fish to gradually adjust to any changes without shocking it.

There are more elaborate methods, but this one has always worked for me.

Jay

Judge

I agree with using proper methods for acclimating our friends. Only thing i do differently from Jay is I never pour the water into my tank, I net them and release. Just a quirk of mine after seeing what some of the water looks like at some LFS.

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200g SW
3 Blue Green Chromis, FoxFace, ,Lawnmower Blenny,2 Perc Clown, Serpent Star.
90g FW Leopard,Cobalt Blue,Pidgeon Blood Discus,Rummy Nose,Rasboras