Guppies

[AquaDreams]

Is it true that if you have guppies that you have to add a little salt to the water? Because I don't and mine seem to be doing just fine...but some people are telling me otherwise. I mean is the salt really nessesary?

 

[jlOisAhoTti]

That sounds pretty false to me, I've had guppies for the passed 10 years and haven't had to add any salt to their aquarium.

 

[Annastasia]

Guppies don't need salt, no. Some people add a bit of aquarium salt, but it's not needed.

 

[YoungFishBreeder]

like as said before guppies can survive in low levels of salt, Some even getting to the conclusion that it prolongs there life. I don't think its part of there natural habitat though..

 

[meekon]

no if anything they should avoid salt

 

[DoubleJ]

No salt for guppies. Mollies are also livebearers and need salt to be in a brackish environment. The people telling you otherwise might be getting them confused

 

[F.O.H]

right, this is what i was told and saw with my own eyes, its upto you if you wish to beleive it.

i was told from a breeder that they add a little salt to all of the tanks ecause in the wild there is always a tiny amount of salt in every water, and the fish love a bit of salt every now and again its like a little child on a sugar rush, they seem to love it there colours become brighter aswell. i have always done it with my bog standard comunity tank and the colours are something else.

if anyone does try this make sure it is proper aquarium salt and youy add the tiniest amount.

again this is a personal oppinion, you dont have to beleive this.

p.s if guppies can live in cold water they can survive a little salt.

 

[Larry_the_lobster]

Yes guppies can survive a little salt but what about when you have some fish in your community aquarium with the guppies that cant tolerate salt? I keep guppies and mollies and I've never had to add salt to *any* of my tanks sure if your having problems go ahead but if everything is fine dont go out rushing to buy salt.

 

[Annastasia]

F.O.H. ~ Oh yes, I'm not doubting some salt can be good for them. I was just stating it's not needed.

I don't know if there is salt in the wild, though. I suppose it depends where you get your Guppies, since they are all over these days.

Edit ~ I'm guessing you are talking about marine salt? I really don't notice much of a thing with aquarium salt, and hardly ever use it.

 

[F.O.H]

sorry if my post seem as if it had a bit of hostility in it, but in any water in the water salt is a natural thing around in any water in the world and if you are good at science if you boil the water(natural water i.e river water) you shall have salt left over. and i do put in a bit of salt to fight infections every now and again yes they dont have to have salt. its just a personal thing i do.

sorry again if i sounded a bit offensive

 

[wiggle]

Is it true that if you have guppies that you have to add a little salt to the water? Because I don't and mine seem to be doing just fine...but some people are telling me otherwise. I mean is the salt really nessesary?

Hi, you will speak to many people and some will say add salt, some will say not to! my dad always used to add a little salt but this was about 30 years ago!! He didn't have to worry about adding anything to water changes etc ... then.
BUT.....i have never added salt to my tank........it's up to you really, sorry, not very helpful was i ! If you have a communaty tank with a fair mixture of fish........i wouldn't worry about any salt.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

right, this is what i was told and saw with my own eyes, its upto you if you wish to beleive it.

i was told from a breeder that they add a little salt to all of the tanks ecause in the wild there is always a tiny amount of salt in every water, and the fish love a bit of salt every now and again its like a little child on a sugar rush, they seem to love it there colours become brighter aswell. i have always done it with my bog standard comunity tank and the colours are something else.

if anyone does try this make sure it is proper aquarium salt and youy add the tiniest amount.

again this is a personal oppinion, you dont have to beleive this.

p.s if guppies can live in cold water they can survive a little salt.

The real reason why people who breed guppys on a large scale put salt into their water is because parasites spread so quickly amoungst guppys when they are kept in very crowded conditions (which so many breeders keep them in- its not good). They also use tons of antibiotics too on the guppys while they are growing to prevent desease outbreaks, its one of the reasons why so many guppys are so weak now days.


Guppys can tolerate small amounts of marine salt, but there is no reason why you should use it when they are perfectly healthy. In the wild they live in a completely freshwater habitat, not a brackish one- guppys bodies are not designed to process lots of salt constantly.
The other problem is that they will grow weaker in the long term, not just from having to process salt all the time, but because their imune systems are not fighting desease on a regular basis, so their imune systems start to weaken.
Unless you have a more or less constant parasite or fungal problems in your guppys or need to treat parasites or fungus on your fish, then there isn't any need for salt usage with guppys.
Also remember that different fish tolerate salt to different degree's- a lot of fish are completely intolerant of salt and you will damage their health or even kill them buy putting salt in their tanks. There are different types of salts too, so make sure you use the right stuff as well when you use it on your fish.

 

[t.ropical_m.istx3]

i've always put a bit of aquarium salt in my tanks...if you get some of it, it'll tell you how much to add per gallon and that's what i do. i'm pretty sure it's not necessary though.

 

[Goofy Guppy]

i have my guppies in freshwater and doing fine but its your decision.