I'm New At Fishkeeping. I Just Need Some Advice On My New Guppies&

[BaylorPerez]

that would work as well, and there should be different size pellets for any fish

 

[Jeremy180]

So, about the food issue... I've fasted them all day today, only fed em once yesterday, and fasted them the day before that. Should I feed em tomorrow morning? BTW, tomorrow is vacuum day

For a fish in cycle you want your fish to only have enough to keep them from starving to minimize ammonia production, so this feeding schedule should be alright.
However, in reply to the bolded text I would like to note that the earlier advice for 50% DAILY water changes was not a typo.
The usual recommended weekly water changes are for a properly cycled tank, in which the only waste to build up is nitrate.
With a fish- in cycle, you are also dealing with amnmonia and nitrite, both of which are over 5,000 times as toxic as nitrate.
This is why we strongly recommend fishless cycling, if at all possible.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Oh yes, I forgot, I will test today with my new test stuff... then do the 50% water change.

Also, I fed them this morning. The bigger one, Gordon, didn't puff up like yesterday. I think fasting them has helped!

 

[Jeremy180]

Glad to know that gordon is feeling better. 

Incidentally, this is lower priority than the water changes, but what type of flake food are they getting?
I've found that standard tropical food tends to cause constipation in guppies, having a bit less fiber than they, being somewhat more herbivorous than the average tropical fish, need.
I'd recommend looking for a spirulina based flake food, this can be a bit harder to find than regular flakes, bu isn't too expensive in general.
 
In the meantime, de-hulled pesticide free sweet peas (you can eat whatever is left unused in the package) tend to work well for relieving constipation in fish.
For only two guppies, I'd say a quarter pea each should make a good-sized meal.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

I am using what I THINK I remember is Tetra Tropical Fish Flakes, not the color enhancing stuff... that reminds me, I do need to get some peas from the store today... do you think that I should feed them that every day?

 

[Jeremy180]

I'd go for "as needed" with the peas, just be sure they are labeled "pesticide free"
Even trace amounts of pesticide considered harmless to humans can be anything but for fish.
While you are at the grocery store, you can check the pet section for the spirulina flakes.
One of my local grocers (Winn Dixie) Carries them, so you may get lucky there and save yourself a trip to the fish store.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Found some at our local Wal-Mart. I'll check them to see if they're pesticide free...

 

[HarpyFishLover]

So they aren't pesticide free... what do you suggest?

 

[BaylorPerez]

Would cooking them abit get rid of the pesticide on/in it?

 

[fluttermoth]

Would cooking them abit get rid of the pesticide on/in it?

No, not for certain; cooking would also destroy some of the vitamins.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Ok, just vacuumed and tested my water. Ammonia is at .25 ppm. Do I need to worry, and, if that is too high, what do I do?

I'm getting worried. Since I just added about 3 gallons of water, is this normal if you have just conditioned it?

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Guys, seriously, I'm worried.

 

[Jeremy180]

Hi, sorry I'm late.
API's ammo-lock ionizes ammonia, thus converting it to a less toxic form.
Unionized ammonia is harmful at levels as low as .05ppm, and the article I'm using for reference states that it's
"about 100 times as toxic as Ionized ammonia" .05 x100 = 5ppm
To be on the safe side, after using ammo-lock, I would use water changes to keep the ammonia from getting over 2 ppm.
When you do the water changes, don't forget to dose ammo-lock again, but only for whatever volume of water you've replaced.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Alright, thanks so much! I hope my fish are ok...

 

[HarpyFishLover]

Just tested the water again. Looks the same as yesterday, .25 ppm. Is it important that I get the ammonia-reducing chemicals today, or can it wait until tomorrow?

EDIT- After letting chemicals set a little longer, it is actually less than it was yesterday. I would say probably around .23 or so.