Help On Guppies

[BDRauen]

Ok I started a new 3 gallon freshwater tank a little over a month ago, it has a filter and a heater. wster temp is usually between 74 and 78. I had 2 male guppies, a Mickey, and a female balloon Molly. The Mickey died within 2 days so I went out and bought another male guppy and another female balloon Molly cause I thought she was lonely. I had no problems for a month and then one of my male guppies died. Then about a week and a half later both mollies were dead one morning. I had done partial water changes a few times and had just done a complete clean, filter, gravel and all about a week before my male guppy died. I got the water tested And ammonia was high. I then did a 75% water change and my last 2 male guppies were fine. After about 3 days I took a sample of water to the pet shop again because I wanted to get another male guppy or two. The Ammonia was gone and everything else was in the safe zone. So I bought 2 more male guppies. They were fine the first night and all 4 guppies got along and hung out together. They all ate fine. Then this morning one of the new male guppies was dead and the other new one on the bottom barely moving, but the guppies I already had were fine and wanting to eat. I fed them and the one on the bottom came to the top but tail first like he could not keep his tail down. He could not eat and got himself down to bottom again and is almost dead. But my other guppies the ones I had are fine. I guess I will just keep the 2 but I do not know why the new ones died and I really wanted another one or 2 male guppies because I was told I could have up to 4 in that tank. I have read so many different things and am not sure what to do? Thanks

 

[FishHelper101]

Wow, almost 7 deaths are really tough, i'm sorry to hear that.

1. Are they all together in the tank at the pet store?
2. Have you asked the staff to run some tests to make sure the water is not contaminated?
3. Is your tank cycled?
4. Did you allow the pet store's water to flow with yours after releasing the fish?

Answer these and maybe I can help you. I had a similar tank disaster involving silly mistakes but we all learn.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

A 3 gallon tank is far far too small for the number of fish you are putting in there. You need at least a 10 gallon if you are going to have hope of keeping them healthy as ammonia will always build up quickly in such a small tank.

 

[BDRauen]

The 2 new males were not together at the pet store. No I did not ask the staff about contamination. Yes I let the water from the pet store run together with my water. And yes my tank is cycled. I think? I have had my tank for over a month. Thanks.

Right now I only have 2 male guppies in the tank? I was told I could have up to 4, and that is what the pet store recommended for a 3 gallon tank. Why do they sell small tanks if you can not put fish in them?

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Fish shops are terrible for bad advice and their goal is to make a profit. When you find a fish shop that gives good advice it is like a diamond amongst the rocks.

Most people will tell you that small tanks are only good for things like snails or shrimps... I have no idea why they manufacture them and market them for fish! I have one of that size that I occasionally use as a quarantine tank for 1 fish or I rear my fry in it for their first month of life rather than separated in a breeder net.... it has also previously been my shrimp thank.

You might get away with having two male guppies in that size tank, but still I'd recommend a 10 gallon for their better long term health.

You might want to visit this section for more information for beginners.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/forum/26-your-new-freshwater-tank/

 

[BDRauen]

Thank you, I appreciate the help I bought this tank because my sons choir was doing a dinner auction and we had to decorate a table. He decided he wanted a fish tank for the center piece and I had fish a long time ago but never tropical fish. I grew attached to these little guys and actually really enjoy them. I have many other animals and someday may buy a bigger tank but for now I will just keep the 3 gallon one. It seems that tropical fish are not that easy to care for and I do not want to keep killing them. I hope my last 2 guppies live. The pet shop gives refunds if your fish die within 14 days so I do not understand why they would give bad advice if they have to pay for it anyway. I guess I will just keep asking questions on here. Thanks again.

 

[PrairieSunflower]

Bad advice from the local fish shop seems to be the number one reason people new to having fish come to the board for help. It is frustrating.

Tropical fish really aren't that hard to keep, at least not more so than cold water fish. I think a lot of us here who kept fish as children then came back to it as adults see a difference between the quality of fish sold these days and possibly water quality from our taps as well. I returned to fish keeping with the idea of keeping goldfish... was a disaster from start to finish, so I moved to tropical fish and had a lot more luck.

Have you bought a liquid test kit yet? If not, it is well worth its value in helping you maintain good water quality for your fish.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Even if you could buy a liquid test for ammonia you'd be ahead of the game, although the whole kit would be better. It appears to me that your filter is not cycled, meaning there is no colony of bacteria in the filter media doing its job of eliminating the ammonia created by your fish. Really the only way to keep your fish alive until your filter has cycled is to do at least 50% water changes daily, replacing with temperature-matched dechlorinated water. The best dechlorinator out there is Seachem Prime, which also neutralizes other bad stuff in your tap water.

 

[BDRauen]

No I haven't and test strips are super expensive. Almost more than the tank I have. There are different liquid tests which one should I get?

The filter came with a stone filter and I just changed the filter too. I think the ammonia problem was from me over feeding at first because my fish were all fine for a month.

 

[This Old Spouse]

What do you mean, changed the filter?? If you took out all the media that was inside you've just destroyed any bacteria essential for cycling it. What do you mean by a stone filter?
 
The liquid test kits that I'm aware of are API, Nutrafin and Salifert. There was an informal poll here recently and it appears most folks use the API. Your biggest concerns are ammonia, nitrate and nitrite.

 

[BDRauen]

It said to change the filter once a month and the filter was like brown. They are airstones not filters sorry

 

[This Old Spouse]

The "brown" in the filter contained all that good bacteria. The companies tell you to change the filter so they can make money selling you more. What you should do is just gently rinse the filter media in used tank water that you've taken out to do a water change, then keep using it until it literally falls apart. What kind of filter is it? I imagine it has a floss bag that you're supposed to fill with carbon (don't).
 
Do you still have what you tossed in the garbage?

 

[BDRauen]

The tank I have is the hawk eye 360 , 3 gallon tank. . It's round and it has a center cylinder that has the tube and airstone. No my trash was already emptied. Maybe you could look up a picture of it to see. This male guppy I bought yesterday is just like holding on to life barely and I feel bad for him. The other 2 I have seem fine. I have had those 2 since the the beginning of my tank a month and a half ago. I went back and read all the tank instructions just to make sure i did everything right. again i had four fisg that were fine fir a month. and I have been watching you tube videos and googling answers I do not want my other 2 to get sick.

 

[This Old Spouse]

Well, you're basically starting from scratch now, so you should read this about fish-in cycling. You'll need to keep your water incredibly clean until the filter cycles again to keep your fish alive.

 

[BDRauen]

Ok I went and got my water tested again and it is fine. I bought easy balance and a bacteria supplement. The fish finally died poor thing. And my other 2 are doing fine swimming and playing like normal. I am just gonna stick with these 2 and hope all is well now. Thanks for all your help