Guppy health question

[odwyer1980]

Over the last few days one of my guppy's has been hiding behind the filter, for most of the day. Usually he's full of life and swims around with the other 4. Any reason for him randomly hiding himself away? One of the others sits at the bottom of the aquarium as well. It's a real obvious change in their behaviour.

Any ideas?

 

[Kamdavid]

You’re sure it’s a male , right ? Do you have pictures ?

 

[corylover5]

What size tank is it?
What are your water parameters?
What other fish do you have and how many?
How long has the tank been set up?

 

[odwyer1980]

You’re sure it’s a male , right ? Do you have pictures ?

What size tank is it?
What are your water parameters?
What other fish do you have and how many?
How long has the tank been set up?

Thanks for the replies. Sadly, shortly after writing this the worst happened. He was lifeless behind the filter.

It's a 64l tank. The Lovefish one. I have (had) 4 male guppies, 15 tetra and 4 cory catfish. I only cleaned it last week and home tested it about a month ago. I've had it about 3 months. Like I mentioned, 2 of the Guppy's behaviour changed over the last few days. The other one seems fine now, but you can tell they're missing their mate. The 4 Guppy's used to swim around 'as one'.

Any ideas what could have caused it?

 

[Kamdavid]

Take your water parameters and let us know what they are.

 

[odwyer1980]

A second guppy has died since, so I've done a 50% water change. I've tested it for Nitrates and Ammonia as well. None of them seemed out of the ordinary.

 

[Colin_T]

It's either poor water quality or a disease. However, we need a close up picture of the fish to check them for diseases.

Wipe the inside of the glass down with a clean fish sponge.

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks. Wash filter media/ materials in a bucket of tank water and re-use the media. Tip the dirty water on the garden/ lawn.

You can add 2 heaped tablespoons of rock salt, sea salt, or swimming pool salt for every 20 litres (5 gallons) of tank water. Keep the salt in the tank for 2 weeks.
When you do the daily water changes, add salt to the new water before adding it to the tank so the salinity (salt level) in the tank remains stable.

Monitor the remaining fish and post pictures and video of them if they act unusual.

 

[odwyer1980]

Ill do that. Thanks. Most helpful.

 

[odwyer1980]

It's either poor water quality or a disease. However, we need a close up picture of the fish to check them for diseases.

Wipe the inside of the glass down with a clean fish sponge.

Do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week.
Make sure any new water is free of chlorine/ chloramine before it's added to the tank.

Clean the filter if it hasn't been done in the last 2 weeks. Wash filter media/ materials in a bucket of tank water and re-use the media. Tip the dirty water on the garden/ lawn.

You can add 2 heaped tablespoons of rock salt, sea salt, or swimming pool salt for every 20 litres (5 gallons) of tank water. Keep the salt in the tank for 2 weeks.
When you do the daily water changes, add salt to the new water before adding it to the tank so the salinity (salt level) in the tank remains stable.

Monitor the remaining fish and post pictures and video of them if they act unusual.

One question about changing the water for 7 days. How would we go about putting 'tap safe' in? Would it have to be done daily?

 

[Colin_T]

What is tap safe?

 

[Essjay]

It's a dechlorinator. Either this

Interpet - Bioactive Tapsafe - 125ml

Bioactive Tapsafe – 125ml | Remove toxins and chlorine from tap water for happier, healthier fish while adding vital good bacteria to balance water quality.

www.interpet.co.uk

or this

Love Fish Tap Safe 100ml | Pets At Home

ProductShortDescription is available to buy online at Pets at Home, the UK's largest pet shop with fast delivery and low prices

www.petsathome.com

You add it to the new water at every water change.