Guppy clamped fin and discoloration

[outspoken]

Hello beautiful community! This is my first foray into a sick fish situation so I'm hoping for a bit of guidance.

This is a female guppy that was part of my original tank setup. She started exhibiting a strange swimming pattern about 3 days ago and then I realized it was her back fin that wasn't opening up. Yesterday I noticed the back half of her body developed a slight discoloration.

Water Parameters:

• pH: 7.6
• Nitrates: 15
• Hardness: ??
• Nitrite: 0
• Ammonia: 0
• KH/Buffer: ??
• Water Temperature: 80F

[FrozenFins]

usaully this will happen if there is a bacterial infection or if she is stressed. I would add aquarium salt to their tank and see if that helps.

[outspoken]

I just added an assassin snail and a mystery snail. Maybe they brought something with them from their home, or it stressed her out? All the other fish are happy though.

 

I'll get some aquarium salt and see if that helps.

EDIT: going to watch this video before giving it a try - 

 

Edited December 8, 2020 by outspoken
adding helpful video for aquarium salt use

[outspoken]

After reading some more and watching videos I've decided to setup a quarantine tank for her to recover in. I have a few snails and plants in my main tank and do not want to compromise their health.

[outspoken]

Setup a "quarantine tank", I put that in quotes as I'll be swapping this one out as my main in the future. Water parameters match my main tank and I added 3 tablespoons of salt to start. Also added an air line to help get oxygen flowing.

 

[outspoken]

Wow, what a difference a day makes! Overnight she already looks like her old self again.

 

 

[FrozenFins]

I would agree with what you are doing, salt works miracles and can pretty much fix anything that is external.

[outspoken]

47 minutes ago, James Black said:

I would agree with what you are doing, salt works miracles and can pretty much fix anything that is external.

Thanks! Should I wait a certain amount of time before re-introducing her to the main tank?

Also wondering if I should dose the quarantine tank again today (every 24hrs) and how many times. Since she looks back to normal I am guessing no more salt is required?

[FrozenFins]

5 minutes ago, outspoken said:

Thanks! Should I wait a certain amount of time before re-introducing her to the main tank?

Also wondering if I should dose the quarantine tank again today (every 24hrs) and how many times. Since she looks back to normal I am guessing no more salt is required?

If she looks back to her regular self, I would dose one more time. No, clamped fin cannot be spread from fish to fish, so after the last treatmet of salt, you can put her in.

[outspoken]

Well, I did dose one more time then waited overnight. Everything looked fine so I transferred her back to the main tank today. In under 4 hours she went back to having a clamped fin.

So maybe it is stress?

[Dakotascott71]

I have an identical situation. My female gave birth and the next morning had clamped fin and hangs out in the corner. I'm curious to what I can do to help her. Moved back to main tank and right back to clamped fin. 

[outspoken]

If it helps, Fanny (my female guppy in question) eventually  went back to normal for a few days. Then right back again to clamped fin. So maybe she will eventually cope with the stress. Not sure what else to do for her except maybe get a bigger tank and change some things in it.