Swordtail's Tail infected?

[Valerie]

I rececently bought a male swordtail from my LFS , it has been 5 days since I bought it. I noticed today that the tail had a white spot in the middle of its tail and then I looked again at it later today and the end of the fish's tail had come off. I have been watching it and it doesn't seem as active as my other fish it just sits at the top of the tank. Is fish infected or have a disease or something? Thanx for helping.

 

[smalltank99]

It is just a guess but the other fishes may be nipping at it and that could possibly cause infection.(Check the neons because they are known tail nippers and also the barbs )

 

[Valerie]

Do you think I should separate him from my other fish till he gets better?

 

[FroggyFox]

Since when do neons nip?

YES if you have somewhere to seperate it I would seperate it to a hospital tank, raise the temp of the water and add some salt to the water. it could be fin rot.

 

[phOOey]

i dont thinkany of ur fish would have bitten it off, i have swordtails with tiger barbs and there fine, could be fin rot, try to seperate him if you can.

 

[Valerie]

It's getting worse now it is spreading to it's pectoral fins (bottom fins). DO you think he is suffering?

 

[Lotus]

You should treat him for fin rot. Any LFS should have a number of medicines for it. Sometimes poor water quality can lead to fin rot, so make sure you're keeping up with the water changes

 

[Valerie]

I have just set up my tank two weeks ago and I have done weekly water changes........ How else could he have gotten it? From the pet shop? I even took him right home after buying him so he wouldn't be stressed. Oh and I put stress coat in the tank........ I dont understand....... he seems to be feeling good though ... I put him in a ten gallon tank by himself for him to get better and he explores it and all........