What is this?

[fishyface]

Help please, one of my swordtails has this dark red spot just behind where the gravid spot is. It looks like internal bleeding and she is getting really skinny, what is it and how can I fix it? Thanks

[Caryl]

Are any other fish in the same aquarium showing signs of illness?

Always test the water quality first. If this is fine and it is just the one fish, has she given birth recently? Swordtails, like guppies, tend to be pregnant non-stop and this causes strain on the females. Try and separate her to give her a rest. I would float a container with a bit of plant added in my main tank and clip it to the side with a peg if I wanted to keep it in place. Clear plastic is good but bear in mind, if you use a white, or light coloured container (like a 2L ice cream container) the fish will try and match its surroundings and turn very pale. This water will need changing daily, using water from the main aquarium, to keep it fresh. Add a bit of salt (about 1 level teaspoon per 4 litres).

Apart from the spot and getting skinny, are there any other signs of illness? Does it stay at the top, or bottom, of the tank? Are the fins clamped? Are the fins ragged or split? Some of these could indicate a bacterial infection or parasite but if it is just one fish and the rest are fine, I think it more likely to be damage from birthing.

Do you have any idea how old the fish is? Remember these fish only live 5 years max (often only 3 - 4yrs)

[fishyface]

Thanks for that, she is a young fish that has never been pregnant before. All the other fish seem fine, one did die yesterday but it was the healthiest one in the tank and I think it was a mechanical death. She does seem to have trouble swimming up, so maybe something to do with the swim bladder. I fed bloodworms and did a water change today, I'll see if that helps

[fishyface]

I would put her in my little breeder box, but I have baby fish in there at the moment and I don't want them eaten

[maxxi1]

Water parameters need to be checked.. ammonia.. nitrite and nitrates 

Check ph as well just in case.

It could be a few different diseases its very hard fpr people to determine a disease based on a snap shot of the whole tank environment or without pictures. 

 

[fishyface]

I don't have test kits for dis stuff. Also this is a fish I was going to sell this fish anyway, so if it does, it dies. Still curious to know what it is, if anyone knows. I think it's just that fish coz everything else is fine.