Help With Guppies!

I am brand new to fishkeeping. Had 5 guppies since Sunday. Have been a bit concerned about one and just went over to the tank to check him out and saw that my bright yellow male has a bright red streak (blood maybe???) running down his back to just where the large fin begins. What could have happened and what do I need to do Please help he is my favorite so far.

Post a picture to help identify what is going on. It could just be the naturual coloration.

tnhowery said:

Post a picture to help identify what is going on. It could just be the naturual coloration.

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Taking the pic now can you wait a second to see what you think?? Thanks so much for your reply

tnhowery said:

Post a picture to help identify what is going on. It could just be the naturual coloration.

Click to expand...

Sorry about the delay... he's a quick one and I got a new dig camera. Simple tasks are taking me about an hour to do with it. Sorry sorry. He was all bright yellow and white before. Thanks, Candi

Have you checked your water stats? There is a form in the pinned section above this that has a list of questions that you should answere in your post so we have more information to go on. If it isn't answered we are going to ask.
Need to know tank size, age, other fish in the tank, anything new added, water changes, chemicals used, and water test results.
I will hang around for a while for you to get back with more info.

Was the tank cycled?

ICEEGRL said:

Have you checked your water stats? There is a form in the pinned section above this that has a list of questions that you should answere in your post so we have more information to go on. If it isn't answered we are going to ask.
Need to know tank size, age, other fish in the tank, anything new added, water changes, chemicals used, and water test results.
I will hang around for a while for you to get back with more info.

Was the tank cycled?

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I'm sorry I saw that but unfortunately don't know enough to give you much more. I have discovered after the fact that there is much more to having fish than I previously knew. I can tell you it's a five gallon acrylic tank. Five male guppies (is what PetCo said although I am beginning to doubt that they are all male). Put water in tank with Chlor Out 4 days before purchasing fish. Bought fish + "mini heater" on Sunday. Added Jungle brand easy startup and maintenance aquarium kit. Added water safe + tablet and checked pH with little dip stick as directed and it showed I needed to add "correct ph" tab which we did. Floated the fish in the store bag to acclimate them to water temp for about a half hour. Feeding them Wardley tropical flakes. Everything seemed just fine until I noticed on of my smaller fish acting a bit odd tonight. Went over to check in on him and discovered the blood looking red streak down Squirt's back. I wished I knew more to tell you, must seem like a complete dummy. Thanks for trying either way.

No way! The fact that you are trying to learn proves you are not dumb!
I, on the other hand, have my doubts about the people at the fish store. They should have told you right. They just want to sell things though.
First... 5 gallons isn't big enough for that many fish. The rule is 1 gallon per inch of fish going by the size it will get when grown. That small tank should really only have 2. The next problem is that guppies need room to swim. They really shouldn't be kept in a tank less than 10 gallons.
Next... just letting a tank run does not cycle it!
You said you checked the ph. Did you get the stuff to test anything else?
You need to test for amonia, nitrites, and nitrates. These are the things that will kill your fish. That is also how you can tell when it is safe to put fish in the water.
You probably have pretty high levels just about now. You really need to return those fish if you can and do some reading.
For now you need to do a water change. If it were me I would do about 40% to get some of the amonia and nitrites down. Also all of that ph stuff really isn't needed most of the time. What was your ph to begin with? Usually if you acclimate them slowly they will adjust fine if it isn't a really big difference.
You should have been told that it is hard to keep a small tank stable. Anything under 10gallons is difficult. The bigger it is the easier.
Also I don't know why you added chemicals again. You did that when you set it up. You shouldn't have to add more unless you are adding more water.
You really need to read the pinned articles above the beginner section and here. There are pinned articles above all the sections that can keep you reading for a long time.
I hope this has helped some. Your problem is in your water. They are getting poisoned.
Don't feel too bad though. Lots of us have done it. Me included. You just have to try to fix it now.
I will be around for a while if you need anything else.
Do the water change and read the article about cycling first. Don't forget to put in the stuff to kill the chlorine and stuff in the new water.

Where are you from?

Icegirl has given you some great advice so I will add a little to this.
I take it the tank is filtered. If so then you will need those test kits to monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels as the filter cycles.
Your fish looks like it has septiceamia which may be down to the newness of the tank as nitrites can cause this. Bacterial infections as well can cause the red bruising and I advise on a small tank to do daily water changes of 50% to see if it clears up. Usually If water related it will clear up quite quickly but if bacterial then you will need meds specific to the condition.

black angel said:

Icegirl has given you some great advice so I will add a little to this.
I take it the tank is filtered. If so then you will need those test kits to monitor the ammonia and nitrite levels as the filter cycles.
Your fish looks like it has septiceamia which may be down to the newness of the tank as nitrites can cause this. Bacterial infections as well can cause the red bruising and I advise on a small tank to do daily water changes of 50% to see if it clears up. Usually If water related it will clear up quite quickly but if bacterial then you will need meds specific to the condition.

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Okay I measured out about 2 + gallons and treated the water. Emptied out about half the tank, and replaced about one half of the new water. Of course I made sure the temperature was consistent with the old water. Now should I wait a bit before putting the other half of new water into the tank or just go ahead with it. All of the fish seemed to have calmed down a bit since I put new water, although I am not sure it that is good or bad. We get paid tomorrow so I will go get the water testing kits etc. I am just hoping they make it that long. Anyone who can offer info about finishing the water change would be appreciated. Candi

one if my male guppys (also yellow co-incidently) developed a red streak a month or so after i got him too, it's still there but it's now obvious it's part of the colouring, guppies are strange little things don't worry too much good luck with the tank

I really don't know how everyone else does water changes. Everyone has their own way of doing things. I have a large bucket that I use just for water changes. I use a gravel vac to suck out the water and clean the gravel at the same time. I put the drain end in the bucket so it goes in there. I don't remove the fish. I pull the amount of water I wish to remove then dump the bucket and rinse it. Then I add my prime(water conditioner) to remove chlorine, chloramine, ammonia, and heavy metals. It also detoxes nitrites and nitrates,and provides slime coat. (good stuff) Then I put my thermometer in the bucket and fill it checking often to make sure that the temp is the same as the tank. I leave a little room to add more water in the bucket incase I need to add some to adjust the temp. I let it set for about 15 minutes. Then I check the temp again. If it is right I add it to the tank and I am through. Always remember to unplug your heater and let it cool before you start draining water so you don't mess it up. Then plug it back in when you are through. I hope that explains it better for you.
There is a pinned article in the beginner section about maintenance and what you have to do regularly to keep your tank in good shape.
When you get your test kit let us know what your results are, and keep up the water changes to help keep the ammonia and nitrites down.
Good luck

If it is part of the colouring then we need another closer side view as these fish do indeed go through colour changes.
Do the water change all at once and use the kettle if the water isnt quite warm enough.

Thanks for all your help everyone. I have been doing the water changes as suggested. I did lose one fish this morning (he was the one I was originally worried about when I discovered my red stripe on my yellow one). But I did get to the LFS today and discovered the owner there has 38 years ! experience and has had his store for 23 years. He was a ton of help! Gave me meds and got some floating plants and different food and the kit. He did not seem concerned so much with the water though, and in fact had 10+ yellow males with the exact same red stripe down their back. So we are doing pretty good right now. He advised to give two doses of this medicine and if everything looks good then we are probably ok. I do have one more question for you all although it cannot be classified as an emergency but is it possible to have two of my four males be dominant. Also, each of them seem to have picked one each of the other two to pick on. Squirt loves to chase and fin nip on Monarch and Wesley on Jack. Always, it's never anyway other than this. Hmmm. Just curious. Thanks for everything you guys.

did you figure what the other 1 died of? whats the meds for? hope all is ok now

If the other fish in his tank have the same markings then maybe it is just the colour of them. Is it 4 males you have? I found they fight and chase each other in smaller groups so maybe get a few more to keep the aggression spread amongst themselves rather than 1 or 2 constantly picked on.