Guppies dying

[corylover5]

My brother has a tank with guppies and last month 1 of them died with no visible cause as to why that happened. I tried telling him to have the water tested but he didn't get it tested. Today, his second guppy died. I went to my LFS yesterday which is about an hour away and that is where I have my water tested so my parents are not letting us go back today to have my brother's water tested. The remaining guppy has no visible symptoms of any disease. I thought guppies were social and need other guppies to live with but he doesn't want to get any more guppies. I was wondering if the remaining guppy would do alright in my 29 gallon tank with some mollies and cories. If he could live there is there any way I could make sure he doesn't have any diseases. I don't want my fish to get sick. I don't have room for a quarantine tank and I don't want his guppy to become stressed without any tank mates.

 

[JxsPxxle]

Is the tank cycled? By the sounds of it you don’t have a testing kit which makes things difficult considering your LFS is so far away! How long has the tank been set up for?

 

[corylover5]

He's had his tank set up for months now. It's almost been a year. We had the water tested during the cycling process so we know it was cycled

 

[JxsPxxle]

Does he keep up with weekly water changes? Does he clean the filter at least once a month?

 

[Crispii]

What's the GH?

 

[corylover5]

He does weekly water changes. I'm not sure what the GH is for his tank. I know it is very bad and I tried talking him out of getting fish for his tank but he has a 3.5 gallon without a filter although he has a sponge attached to the back though it isn't quite a filter. He isn't intentionally trying to be mean to the fish he just doesn't really understand how tank size can have an effect on his fish. I feel bad for the fish which is another reason I want to put him in my 29 gallon so he has more room to swim

 

[JxsPxxle]

Okay there are several issues here. Your tank needs a filter. It’s a place for the beneficial bacteria to live, and a way to keep your water clean. Especially considering the tank is so small, an ammonia spike can and will be fatal to the fish, which was probably the fate of the others. I would suggest a larger tank, probably a 15 gallon tank at least would be good. If this is not possible in the near future you should at least get a filter for it. A tank this small could not handle the bioload of three adult guppy fish. Do daily water changes (50%) until you are able to get a filter for the tank to keep the remaining fish alive.

 

[corylover5]

I tried telling my brother this but my parents won't let him get a bigger tank. He told me he doesn't want any more fish so I could have his guppy.

 

[JxsPxxle]

What is your current tank stocking? And what size is it. I’m referring to the tank the guppy is going to be moved in to.

 

[seangee]

From what you say the guppy will be better in your tank than your brother's. It would be best to quarantine if you are able.

 

[corylover5]

I have a 29 gallon tank lightly planted with a small school of cories, 2 upside down catfish, 5 mollies(including a 2 day old baby), and some mystery snails

 

[Colin_T]

If you post some pictures and a short video of his fish, we can check it for diseases.

 

[corylover5]

Sorry the pics are blurry he's really fast. I couldn't get a video to upload so I took a bunch of pics.

 

[corylover5]

If he is healthy could I just acclimate him to my tank or are there any other measures I should take to help the guppy? Thank you for all your responses

 

[Colin_T]

It's a bit hard to tell from the pictures but his fins are all out and he looks ok for a blurry fish

If you upload the video to YouTube, you can copy & paste the link here and we can go to YouTube to view it.

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If the pH and temperature of your tank is the same as your brother's tank, you can scoop the guppy out and move him straight into your tank. If there is a temperature or pH difference, them acclimatise the fish for 30 minutes or so before adding him.