opieapplejack
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Hello.
I have a 45 gallon tank. I first added 4 fancy guppies, 2 male and 2 female, and 2 dalmatian mollies. All was fine with most of the fish, except the male guppies had died within the week. I then replaced the males with 4 more males, and added two small bottom-feeding catfish. Eventually, all 4 male guppies died. I replaced them with 4 more male guppies, which then all died after a short amount of time (under 3 weeks). Eventually, I had killed 12 male guppies. I also added two sword-tails to the tank, which brings us to the current state of fish in the tank.
Bottom line is, at various times through this process I have had my tank water tested (and been cleared of any major wrongs leading to the dead fish). I have literally only killed male guppies, as the two original female guppies have survived and appear very healthy (one even gave birth).
I know I'm leaving out many variables here, but is there anything specific one would need to watch out for specific for only MALE guppies? I'm completely baffled.
To describe the deaths in detail, the dying male will have his tail go from a normal fanned out fin to a more streamlined shape. The tail eventually looks much like the body in that it is the same general shape. The fish will become a bit bowed in the body, making a SLIGHT upside-down U, just enough to look irregular. The fish will then use much more of the entire body to get around (as opposed to just using the fin, probably since the fin is not fanned out), and will become much less actively, usually ending up not feeding. Then, I find him at the bottom of the tank, brought to that big tank in the sky.
Not every male guppy has gone in this specific manner, but many of them have, and all of them have died. I have not had any other deaths in the tanks from any species, and know that I have both males and females of other species co-existing.
Again, is there anything specific to male guppies I should be watching out for? Are my other fish just hardcore feminists out for guppy blood? I want to house the pretty male guppies, but I really don't want to kill any more of them!
I have a 45 gallon tank. I first added 4 fancy guppies, 2 male and 2 female, and 2 dalmatian mollies. All was fine with most of the fish, except the male guppies had died within the week. I then replaced the males with 4 more males, and added two small bottom-feeding catfish. Eventually, all 4 male guppies died. I replaced them with 4 more male guppies, which then all died after a short amount of time (under 3 weeks). Eventually, I had killed 12 male guppies. I also added two sword-tails to the tank, which brings us to the current state of fish in the tank.
Bottom line is, at various times through this process I have had my tank water tested (and been cleared of any major wrongs leading to the dead fish). I have literally only killed male guppies, as the two original female guppies have survived and appear very healthy (one even gave birth).
I know I'm leaving out many variables here, but is there anything specific one would need to watch out for specific for only MALE guppies? I'm completely baffled.
To describe the deaths in detail, the dying male will have his tail go from a normal fanned out fin to a more streamlined shape. The tail eventually looks much like the body in that it is the same general shape. The fish will become a bit bowed in the body, making a SLIGHT upside-down U, just enough to look irregular. The fish will then use much more of the entire body to get around (as opposed to just using the fin, probably since the fin is not fanned out), and will become much less actively, usually ending up not feeding. Then, I find him at the bottom of the tank, brought to that big tank in the sky.
Not every male guppy has gone in this specific manner, but many of them have, and all of them have died. I have not had any other deaths in the tanks from any species, and know that I have both males and females of other species co-existing.
Again, is there anything specific to male guppies I should be watching out for? Are my other fish just hardcore feminists out for guppy blood? I want to house the pretty male guppies, but I really don't want to kill any more of them!