Guppy Throwing Up And Neon Tetra Has Red Gill Area

[Fishmomof4]

Hello, I have a new tank. With one male guppy and 3 neon tetra's. It was cloudy yesterday and the day before and I figured it was cycling from research I read. I do not have an ammonia kit. I only have ph test strips so I can not give u water levels. I will buy asap tomorrow when stores open.  Anyway, I came home tonight and found Gilbur the guppy hanging around at the top of the tank up next to the glass not swimming around but very slowly floating right next to glass touching almost all the way around and just quivering his tailfin. He then started to vomit or spit out food and also pooing.  He looked as if he was trying to re eat the food or vomit he expelled from his mouth.  I touched him Thi king I would startle him into swimming maybe he was sleeping I thought. But no such luck he just sat there. Color looks fine I think. Only had him a week and he's under a black light at night a lot so I don't know really. I researched and thought he has swim bladder and ran som water in a vase and got same temp as tank and put him in it. He freaked out and swam around like crazy jumping. So I put him back in tank and he's swimming fine now.  But my neon tetra's has red gills. One very red the other two just starting to show it. So I'm thinking ammonia poisoning. How long do I have to save them? Will they be ok once I get test kit and start fixing water? Could this be from tank cycling last 2 days? Is it possible if was from cycling and ammonia is fine now that they will get better?  Should I replace most of water without testing it first?  
 
Thank you,
Tonia

 

[cambojnr]

You need to do a huge temprature matched water change probs 80%, and how big is your tank? And be doing water changes everyday now for the next few months unless you take the fish back to top he store and follow this sites fish less cycle guide and then you will be able to add fish in around a month.

 

[the_lock_man]

It does sound as though your fish are suffering from ammonia poisoning.
 
The problem is that since we don't know an ammonia level, we can't properly advise. In the meantime, we need to ensure that the water is as ammonia free as possible. Change as much of the water as you possibly can, just leave the fish enough to be swimming upright in. Try to match the temp of the new water as close as possible to that of the water you are removing. Also make sure you use water conditioner, aka dechlorinator.
 
Please invest in a decent quality liquid test kit, the paper strips aren't really accurate enough for the situation you find yourself in. When you have reasonably accurate readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, please post them on this thread, and we can advise further the steps you need to take.
 
By the way, I removed your other thread on this subject. It's always best to have one thread on one subject, otherwise everyone gets confused as to who said what and where, especially you, and the last thing you need is more confusion.
 
Above all, don't panic, we can help you through this.

 

[fm1978]

I've also read somewhere that black lights aren't really all that great either. They can add to the stress already caused.
 
Can someone confirm?

 

[GuppyGirl20]

Definate water problems. You shouldn't have even put the fish in if the water was cloudy in my opinion. Fish in cycling is just so stressful for the fish and you as well. If you take a look around the site there is very helpful information on fish in cyclying that can help you save your fish. A water change is a MUST right now and you'll probably have to do frequent changes for a while until the tank finishes cycling. If you do not think you are up to the task of keeping up with the necessary water change (I understand that life, work/school and all that jazz can get in the way) then your best bet would be to take the fish back tothe store, let your tank cycle, and then get fish again. I didn't fully understand cycling when I first set up my tank and I think it was the cause of some problems I was having. I hope you can save your fish

 

[Fishmomof4]

Definate water problems. You shouldn't have even put the fish in if the water was cloudy in my opinion. Fish in cycling is just so stressful for the fish and you as well. If you take a look around the site there is very helpful information on fish in cyclying that can help you save your fish. A water change is a MUST right now and you'll probably have to do frequent changes for a while until the tank finishes cycling. If you do not think you are up to the task of keeping up with the necessary water change (I understand that life, work/school and all that jazz can get in the way) then your best bet would be to take the fish back tothe store, let your tank cycle, and then get fish again. I didn't fully understand cycling when I first set up my tank and I think it was the cause of some problems I was having. I hope you can save your fish

Fish Crazy, i did not put fish in a cloudy tank, nor would i have. It became cloudy days after putting the fish in. I am doing water changes now. And prior to that the ammonia level was 1.5 and ph was 7.4. Added Prime to help lower the ammonia and nitrite nitrate levels. Does it do any good to check water levels immediately after doing a water change?

 

[GuppyGirl20]

 

Definate water problems. You shouldn't have even put the fish in if the water was cloudy in my opinion. Fish in cycling is just so stressful for the fish and you as well. If you take a look around the site there is very helpful information on fish in cyclying that can help you save your fish. A water change is a MUST right now and you'll probably have to do frequent changes for a while until the tank finishes cycling. If you do not think you are up to the task of keeping up with the necessary water change (I understand that life, work/school and all that jazz can get in the way) then your best bet would be to take the fish back tothe store, let your tank cycle, and then get fish again. I didn't fully understand cycling when I first set up my tank and I think it was the cause of some problems I was having. I hope you can save your fish

Fish Crazy, i did not put fish in a cloudy tank, nor would i have. It became cloudy days after putting the fish in. I am doing water changes now. And prior to that the ammonia level was 1.5 and ph was 7.4. Added Prime to help lower the ammonia and nitrite nitrate levels. Does it do any good to check water levels immediately after doing a water change?
 

I think you should probably let the water settle a bit before testing but I'm actually not sure. Maybe someone else can come along and answer that

 

[Fishmomof4]

It does sound as though your fish are suffering from ammonia poisoning.
 
The problem is that since we don't know an ammonia level, we can't properly advise. In the meantime, we need to ensure that the water is as ammonia free as possible. Change as much of the water as you possibly can, just leave the fish enough to be swimming upright in. Try to match the temp of the new water as close as possible to that of the water you are removing. Also make sure you use water conditioner, aka dechlorinator.
 
Please invest in a decent quality liquid test kit, the paper strips aren't really accurate enough for the situation you find yourself in. When you have reasonably accurate readings for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, please post them on this thread, and we can advise further the steps you need to take.

 
By the way, I removed your other thread on this subject. It's always best to have one thread on one subject, otherwise everyone gets confused as to who said what and where, especially you, and the last thing you need is more confusion.
 
Above all, don't panic, we can help you through this.

Ok, so i have been doing water changes. Lost 2 guys, and was about to lose 2 more tonight when got home. Rushed to get ph correct and in the meantime set up a 3 gallon cylender tank with a bubbler got to right temp and dechlorinator/ conditioner. And moved them and are doing well. Taking them back to store tomorrow. But my question now, is do i continue on cycling this tank or dump and start over fresh?

 

[Fishmomof4]

Ok, so I have 2 left one guppy and one neon tetra.  I set upa new 3 gal tank because it was a better choice for horrible cconditions they were in.  And they are doing much better.  Only a quick fix, I know.  But they w ere dying right in front of my eyes. Gasping for air.  So now I have them in a tank with no filter and fish store won't take back because they are sick with gill disease bc of ammonia poisoning.  So, my levels in 10 gallon old tank are ph 7.2 and ammonia 1.6.  For some stupid reason my test kit doesn't check for nitrates nitrites.  Only the strips did at the store and I was told not to use strips. So now how do I test for nitrites & nitrates? And what the Heck do I do now?  
The 3 gallon new tank that only has a bubbler stone is putting air in the tank but levels are ammonia 0.40 and ph is 7.3. I just added ph correct tablets but I don't know what to do with the 10 gallon old tank as far as cycling. Since fish died in it can it still be cycled? Or should I start over with a new set up and no fish to do a fishless cycle? Or continue on with it the way it is and do the cycling for fishless tank?  I don't quite understand how a fishless tank will ever cycle without having the good bacteria introduced to the tank. Where does it come from? Can I buy a type of water that will make this easier to do? Ex. Spring water etc??? 
Also, what do i do now with the 3 gallon tank they're in? My tap water has 1.0 of ammonia in it and ph is off the charts.  How much water change do I need to do daily for the 3 gallon tank? Am I going to be able to keep them in the 3 gallon until the 10 gallon is ready? And hat do I need to do to do that?  I will do whatever I need to do. I am vested now and not gonna give up on them now. Can I add good bacteria somehow? I saw some at the pet store but the girl told me I don't need it. But I'm not having much faith in her right now.