My New Guppies Are Dying And Fast!

[Syphoniera]

Hi, longshlong,
so sorry to hear about the bad advice you were given, and the disaster which ensued, although at least now you have access to excellent advice.
Speaking as a non-expert, I would definitely get live plants, which provide both shelter for the fish and additional surfaces for nitrifying bacteria to grow on, as well as helping to suck up ammonia - as long as they're healthy and growing, of course.
And thank goodness you were smart and caring enough to come here - have a big from the peanut gallery!

 

[LongS]

thanks for the welcome guys, really impressed with the sight and advice given on it. So thanks again.

About the heater; i will definetly get one with the new tank at the end of the month. Then i don't need to worry about the temperature in the tank changing and upsetting the fish.

I will keep this wee guy in the 17 litre tank, while i do a fishless cycle on the bigger one i get. (unless anybody has a better idea?)

Once the water is right i am guessing it is fine to introduce the guppy from the 17 ltr into the new one? Will i need to put any of the old water into the new tank?

Also when the new one is set up, i'm thinking of keeping the 17ltr as an emergency tank for ill fish or quarantine.

Is this a good idea?

One more thing, the lady has offered to give me more guppies now for the 17ltr, and i was advised to take 2-3. This is basically so the one is not too lonely. But before i accept i'm gonna wait on the advice of you guys if thats ok?

Thanks

 

[alyssa1987]

My guess is that the temperature was alot different to the tank the lady you know had them in. As i know somebody who their heater packed in lately and most of their fish died before they realised and they kept that tank in their living room. i think your idea of keeping it as a quarantine/emergency tank is a great idea i would do what u said keep the fish in the 17ltr tank untill your other one is cycled then transfer him but heat it up gradually or else it will shock your last remaining guppy by the temperature difference. dont think u really need to add any of the water from the old tank but keep testing the water in your new tank untill it is cycled. Alyssa

 

[naomilovesherfish]

hi when i set up my tank i had it to mature only for about a week i bought plenty of fish and only lost a few. the water is pretty soft here though so not as hard. i have never used a special kit only thing i do when doing a water change is put a liquid with gets rid of any bacteria or limescale in the water and i add some conditioning salt which livebearers such as guppies benefit from and i have many healthy ones. also i would suggest boil water from a kettle this kills of anything else and top up with plenty of cold water, i do this with a bucket, make sure it is luke warm when adding to your tank, then it will not shock your fish. 2months on and my fish are all well and i have had fry so i am doing something right.

did you manage to float the fry first?? if you just put them in it would have shocked them and put them under a great deal of stress which easily kills them, you can buy a liquid formula called stress coat, which helps to liven them up.

hope your last fry is ok

naomi
xxx