Lost 2 Guppies Yeterday 1 Today And 2...

[Byron]

4) He beleives in his many years of breeding that guppies actually prefer "dirty" water and infrequent water changes.
He went as far as to say they may actually prefer higher nitrates and he has had some tanks in the past that the water became tinted yellow from how dirty the water is.
 

 
I can hardly believe anyone saying this.  Fish are not going to be healthier because they are forced to live in polluted water.  
And nitrates, like ammonia and nitrite, is poisonous to fish, there is no argument against this.  Some fish can "manage" better than others, but there is quite a difference between a fish "managing" and a fish "thriving."  The weakening of guppies as a result of generations of inbreeding is becoming well documented.
 
It occurs to me that his advice not to mix his fish with others to avoid disease is not because his fish are stronger or better, quite the opposite.  It is more likely to avoid his weaker fish being infected when the healthier other fish are able to fight things off better.  I have read studies that show high nitrates will reduce the effectiveness of a fish's immune system among other things, as just one example.
 
Byron.

 

[cl3537]

 

4) He beleives in his many years of breeding that guppies actually prefer "dirty" water and infrequent water changes.
He went as far as to say they may actually prefer higher nitrates and he has had some tanks in the past that the water became tinted yellow from how dirty the water is.
 

 
I can hardly believe anyone saying this.  Fish are not going to be healthier because they are forced to live in polluted water.  
And nitrates, like ammonia and nitrite, is poisonous to fish, there is no argument against this.  Some fish can "manage" better than others, but there is quite a difference between a fish "managing" and a fish "thriving."  The weakening of guppies as a result of generations of inbreeding is becoming well documented.
 
It occurs to me that his advice not to mix his fish with others to avoid disease is not because his fish are stronger or better, quite the opposite.  It is more likely to avoid his weaker fish being infected when the healthier other fish are able to fight things off better.  I have read studies that show high nitrates will reduce the effectiveness of a fish's immune system among other things, as just one example.
 
Byron.
 

Anyway I've learned several painful lessons about this experience having now lost 7 out of 8 fish I bought from the breeder and all of the prettiest and most valuable ones.
I also got a gH and kH API kit and mine are 6 and 8 (or 107ppm CaCO3 and 143ppm total hardness) this out of the tap and in my aquarium. Breeders gh is 11 or about 200ppm according to him as he adds Calcium Carbonate and Sodium Bicarbonate to get gh=11 and ph=8.
 
Lessons:
 
1) Don't mix imported LFS store fish with wild caught or breeder stock.
2) Wait 60 days before adding new fish to a show tank to make sure that any baceria or parasites that the existing fish may be carrying but immune to don't affect new additions.
3) Buy from a trusted source (hard to do) and know their water parameters and conditions.
 
I am quite deflated right now, I dosed PraziPro 12 hours before my last pregnant female died and now waiting  3 -5 days to see any results, my original 3 Guppys are looking better (probably just from the temperature increase from 25.5 to 27 Celsius) than ever and the last fish from the breeder still has a clamped Dorsal and his Caudaul is smaller too but otherwise is eating and is quite active all throughout the tank.
 
Interestingly my original three are often clustered around each other and it seems like they stick together more now as there are fewer fish to keep them company.
I suspect the last of 8 from the breeder the half black was the youngest and strongest and has been able to resist whatever bacteria or parasites killed the other fish.
 
I noticed a white sheen underneath the belly and mouth of two of the dead fish, could this be velvet?

 

[Byron]

No, not Velvet; Velvet is similar to ich except the spots are extremely tiny and yellowish, and the fish will look like it has been sprinkled with fine buff-coloured pepper.  I'm not guessing as to what else, but it is not Velvet.

 

[cl3537]

 

4) He beleives in his many years of breeding that guppies actually prefer "dirty" water and infrequent water changes.
He went as far as to say they may actually prefer higher nitrates and he has had some tanks in the past that the water became tinted yellow from how dirty the water is.
 

The weakening of guppies as a result of generations of inbreeding is becoming well documented.

 
Amen and that is how they obtain the "pure" bred colors of the show moscows I bought. The only "mixed" breed fish is the only one that survived.
I think without suitable outcrossing and other precautions the effects of inbreeding are quite deleterious. Even with an experienced guppy show breeder these fish may have compromised immune systems.
 
 

 

[fish48]

 

 

4) He beleives in his many years of breeding that guppies actually prefer "dirty" water and infrequent water changes.
He went as far as to say they may actually prefer higher nitrates and he has had some tanks in the past that the water became tinted yellow from how dirty the water is.
 

 
 
The weakening of guppies as a result of generations of inbreeding is becoming well documented.

 
Amen and that is how they obtain the "pure" bred colors of the show moscows I bought. The only "mixed" breed fish is the only one that survived.
I think without suitable outcrossing and other precautions the effects of inbreeding are quite deleterious. Even with an experienced guppy show breeder these fish may have compromised immune systems.
 
 


 


yes  that's how they obtain pure colors by inbreeding them. there are many myths about inbreeding guppy's  they are the most popular and easiest of fish to keep. a change of environment can have a great affect on the fish as you have found out. sadly it seems your guppy's could not adapt to cleaner conditions.