Am I safe to get more fish?

[LucyD]

I bought some guppies and mollies at a pet store two weeks ago. I had been cycling my tanks for several weeks before adding fish, I have had many fish in each tank with no problems, and I cleaned the tanks after I gave my last batch of fish away to a science department that keeps a huge freshwater tank in their hallway for decoration (I was traveling over the holidays and couldn’t find care for my tanks). The fish all seemed great for 5 days other than a little stressed from the move (pale, slightly slow, etc.). My mollies are all still great and alive (in tank #2), but 3/4 guppies all succumbed to some type of fungal infection in tank #1. It started with them becoming isolated, staying at the top of the tank, not eating, and progressively I could see white fuzzy stuff eating away at their scales and face. Then their swimming would become very affected and they would die. One lone guppy pulled through and is doing great but I know he’s lonely and he’s always so responsive when I come up to the tank like he’s starving for interaction. I’m driving into town this weekend and wondering if it’s safe to bring home some buddies for the lonely little dude? I really don’t want to waste money/fishes lives though if you all think it’s a bad idea/risk. Lemme know!

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Hi there to know how to help you I have to ask if your tank was cycled and if you've tested your water?

 

[LucyD]

Yes the tank was cycled, not tested

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Do you have a test kit? Usually water quality is the first place we look when things go wrong. You said you'd been cycling your tank before adding fish which is great, but did you test to make sure the cycle was complete? Ammonia and nitrite need to read 0 before it's safe to add livestock we can help you through the process, just need to know where you are in the cycle

 

[Essjay]

Just to check, can I ask how you cycled the tank? Did you add ammonia until both ammonia and nitrite dropped to zero? We've had questions before where the person thought that letting the tank run was cycling, or changing water was cycling.

 

[Lcc86]

I wouldn't add any new fish for at least a few weeks until you're sure your guppy doesn't become ill as you wouldn't want any new fish to catch whatever may have affected the ones you lost. Keep up with water changes in the meantime to dilute out any nasties.

 

[anewbie]

I wouldn't add any new fish for at least a few weeks until you're sure your guppy doesn't become ill as you wouldn't want any new fish to catch whatever may have affected the ones you lost. Keep up with water changes in the meantime to dilute out any nasties.

The nastyness could very well be due to ammonia poisoning as the fish weaken fungus would grow; this would be a sign of lack of cycling (beneficial bacteria which forms to eat the fish waste and make it less harmful). You can neutralize the ammonia with products like sachem prime but it can take several weeks for the bacteria to form in sufficient quantity.

Your pet shop might be willing to test the water for ammonia and nitrite.

Also it would be good to know if you have soft or hardwater. mollies are going to want a fairly high gh - guppies are also hardwater fishes but can live in water softer than mollies.