Any hope for my White Cloud? :(

[BoiseNoise]

One of my White Clouds is having serious problems, and I think it may be dying. Since last night, it has been head-standing and basically spinning in that position. Its body looks normal, although it may have a swollen anus. This fish has always been fairly pot-bellied, since it is greedy & speedy and tends to get overfed during the same time that the others are just getting their necessary portions.

I have had this White Cloud quite awhile . . . four years? . . . and it may simply have lived out its time. However, I'm wondering if I could have given it an infection by feeding it a tiny gnat, which I did the other day when I happened to catch one. I put it into the aquarium, and naturally this fish was the first to snap it up.

I'd be glad to try suggested remedies if anyone has one to offer, although I fear its chances of survival are rather slim.

 

[kevinfleming21]

sounds like constipation, or swim bladder issue. I would just put some stress coat in the tank and try to wait it out, you may want to try holding the fish upright and GENTLY pressing out the belly to try to expel any air that may be trapped, but I have never done that method before....just heard of it being done.

 

[BoiseNoise]

Thanks!

 

[BoiseNoise]

I thought at first she was improving a little, but today she is noticeably paler and has red, inflamed-looking gills. Out of desperation, I actually did determine to try gently pressing her belly to see if it would help expel the air, but it proved 'way too difficult to try to get a steady grip on the poor fish.

 

[knifegill]

You've already checked for ammonia and nitrites?

 

[BoiseNoise]

Yup. The White Clouds aren't usually the first to show signs of stress when there is a water quality issue, anyway, and the other fish all seem to be fine. Just losing this particular one.

 

[BoiseNoise]

I think I finally figured out what was going on. I think the fancy guppy has been nipping at the White Cloud's tail. It wasn't obvious until the tail got in such bad condition that I could pick up on it. I'm pretty sure the fancy guppy is to blame, both because he is the tank's newest occupant, and because I have seen him chasing the other small fish around rather aggressively. Didn't realize that a fancy guppy would be so nippy.