Hello, i bought 2 guppies 2 days ago.Today I noticed one had lost all his colour, then he started falling down,like he was falling asleep.Now I have him in a net in the tank,and he is almost vertical,and hardly moving.I did a water change 3 days ago and my ammonia and nitrite levels are fine.Its a sad day today.
One Of My Guppies Is Dying
- Thread starter mikky77
- Start date
take him back to the shop along with a sample of your water
Well the guppy died,and worse still,the other one I bought at the same time is looking poor.He hasn't eaten for 2 days,and is resting on the bottom of the tank.I took a water sample to an aquatic centre , they said my water was ok apart from a tiny amount of ammonia.So i did a 20% water change.All my other 6 fish are fine,I do hope they stay that way. I cannot see anything physically wrong with the guppy, unlike the other one who lost all his colour.
waterdrop
Enthusiastic "Re-Beginner"
mikky77,
What's happening to your fish can be a major warning sign of poor water parameters despite the LFS comment about small amounts of ammonia - if they don't give you actual test result numbers then you don't know how to judge what they mean.
What type of test kit are you using? If you are using test strips and not a liquid-reagent based test kit then this could explain part of the problem. Your ammonia and nitrite tests each morning and evening need a certain level of accuracy or you will simply not know what you are working with and will not know what type of water change to perform or if it is needed at all.
Also, when you have fish with major symptoms of water poisoning like that, it is more important to make quite large water changes (like 50 or 70%, depending on your tap/source water parameters) rather than something subtle like 20%.
Once you report your test-kit situation here, the members will help you with information about the right kit to obtain or how to interpret the numbers from the kit and how to judge your tap water.
Of course, its possible that you just were sold some sick guppies, but since poor water can not be ruled out I thought I should make the above suggestions.
~~waterdrop~~
What's happening to your fish can be a major warning sign of poor water parameters despite the LFS comment about small amounts of ammonia - if they don't give you actual test result numbers then you don't know how to judge what they mean.
What type of test kit are you using? If you are using test strips and not a liquid-reagent based test kit then this could explain part of the problem. Your ammonia and nitrite tests each morning and evening need a certain level of accuracy or you will simply not know what you are working with and will not know what type of water change to perform or if it is needed at all.
Also, when you have fish with major symptoms of water poisoning like that, it is more important to make quite large water changes (like 50 or 70%, depending on your tap/source water parameters) rather than something subtle like 20%.
Once you report your test-kit situation here, the members will help you with information about the right kit to obtain or how to interpret the numbers from the kit and how to judge your tap water.
Of course, its possible that you just were sold some sick guppies, but since poor water can not be ruled out I thought I should make the above suggestions.
~~waterdrop~~
Dear Waterdrop, thanks for your reply.The 2 test kits I have are API, one is for nitrite ( 5 drops to 5ml for 5 mins ) which always comes out identical to the colour 0pmm.The other is for ammonia ( 8 drops each from 2 bottles for 5 mins ) This also comes out the right colour ( yellow ). The guppy is off the bottom now, hiding behind a plant.Earlier he was virtually vertical, taking refuge in the 3d background.
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
how long has the tank been set up for and how was it cycled?
guppies are notoriously weak, they've been massivley inbred to give the fancy tails, because of the weakened gene pool they are very delicate fish and often die. It's not recommended to keep them in a tank under 6 months old, past the magical 6 months the tank is a bit more stable and generally they have a better chance of survival. But in a newer tank, even if the main levels are fine, they often keel over.
guppies are notoriously weak, they've been massivley inbred to give the fancy tails, because of the weakened gene pool they are very delicate fish and often die. It's not recommended to keep them in a tank under 6 months old, past the magical 6 months the tank is a bit more stable and generally they have a better chance of survival. But in a newer tank, even if the main levels are fine, they often keel over.
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
what sort of tetras? there's a lot of different types and their needs vary.
if you answer the following questions we can try and identify some suitable fish for you
what size is the tank?
how long has it been running?
what are your readings for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?
what fish do you currently have and how many?
if you answer the following questions we can try and identify some suitable fish for you
what size is the tank?
how long has it been running?
what are your readings for pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate?
what fish do you currently have and how many?
Approx 60cm x 30cm x 30cm ( 55 litres)
Only 4-5 weeks
I have only tested for ammonia and nitrite,my kit reads zero. Although had water tested at shop,he said all 4 readings ok,except for a small trace of ammonia.
I have 4 leopard danios and 2 guppies ( all seem happy )
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
do you have a test kit for the other two? with pH there's really no such thing as 'fine' fish have different preferences so we need the actual number
No I do not. I will get test kits for nitrate and ph, and post back tomorrow.One of the danios is looking dodgy,he has been staying near the surface and not moving much ( most unusual )
Miss Wiggle
Practically perfect in every way
ok, look forward to seeing your results.
Ok, I have bought mini master test kit,and the readings are
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
Ph 7.5
unfortunately,I had more bad news,the danio who looked ill yesterday,seemed to be missing his front fin, and was listing to one side.I'm afraid I put him out of his misery.One other thing I didn't mention before,was the guppy who lost all his colour before he died,had part of his fancy tail missing.( not when i bought him ).I'm down to 5 fish now,this is not what i expected.Thanks for any advice.
Ammonia 0
Nitrite 0
Nitrate 20
Ph 7.5
unfortunately,I had more bad news,the danio who looked ill yesterday,seemed to be missing his front fin, and was listing to one side.I'm afraid I put him out of his misery.One other thing I didn't mention before,was the guppy who lost all his colour before he died,had part of his fancy tail missing.( not when i bought him ).I'm down to 5 fish now,this is not what i expected.Thanks for any advice.
TheMerovingian
Fish Fanatic
I have only read some of the posts, but i think that next imte you buy guppies or any other fish, look at the tank they are in and the water. Look to see if the tank is clean or has been cleaned recently. Then i'm told never to buy a fish from a tank if one of the other fish looks poorly.
Your fish may have something the other fish had.
Your fish may have something the other fish had.
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