Guppie acting really strange

migdem

I have a guppie that i got it about 2 days ago and 1st day was ok but now she does not want to eat and no activity at all. I saw that someone from my tank nipped her tail and thought to put her in the breeder so that no one will try to nip her. I still left her in the main tank though. What could be the problem. I do not think that she is due because her belly is not so big. Also she is always on the top of the tank.

Any help please?

Little-Fizz

Hi, can you post the size of tank? tank mates? water parameters? How long has your tank been cycled for?

Is your guppy loosing colour? Have clouded eyes? It could be that you got an already sick fish from the store. Thats definitely not unheard of. The transportation of the fish would be enough to stress it out and cause it to become ill... Put her in the breeder tank or get a little net to hang in the main tank. The last thing she needs right now it other fish harassing her.

migdem

Tank size is of 49litres, tank mates are 6x guppies, 3x platies and 3x swordtails. Water parameters are 28 degrees celcius and last time i checked ph was 8.0.

The tank has been cycled for 1 week.

not loosing colour and not clouded eyes. Well right now she is in the breeder still in the main tank with same water that i put her the first time.

Thanks

Little-Fizz

Hmmm sounds like your tanks kinda crowded... To many swordtails.

I need water parameters as in Ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. You need a water testing kit to find these out, if you don't have one, get one! I recommend an API liquid test kit.

Your tank has been cycled for a week? As in... You set it up a week ago or it has been fully cycled as in no ammonia or nitrites appearing?

What do you mean with the same water you put her in the first time?

migdem

Ok. About the parameters i only have PH, GH and Nitrate. Do you want me to take tests now or shall i do a 25% water change and then do the tests?

Also the tank started last Saturday 28th June, put the fish in on Tuesday 1st July.

Little-Fizz

It's not your pH, gh, or nitrates thats the problem.
You really need to get a test kit for ammonia and nitrites.

Ok heres the problem, your tank is not cycled. So your tank has a lot of toxic ammonia in it right now. You have already added the fish so theres nothing you can do about it now. Cycling a tank with fish is a method thats often used. But not with that many fish.

This is pretty much exactly what I did when I started. You need to start doing 20-25% water changes daily from now on.

Don't expect many of the fish you have in your tank now to survive.

This is how it will work though, once you get the tests for ammonia and nitrites you will be able to monitor the cycling process. For the first little bit you'll see a lot of ammonia, and then the ammonia breaks down to nitrites, these nitrites are still toxic for your fish, but the beneficial bacteria growing in your filter will feed off these nitrites.

When your tank is fully cycled you will want your water parameters to read

Ammonia 0ppm
Nitrites 0ppm
Nitrates 5-40ppm

Nitrates are good when they are kept within those limits, and once you start showing nitrates you'll know your tank is either cycled or close too.

The only thing you can do for your fish now is keep your water very clean, and hope for the best.

migdem

Ok so if i make the 20% water change every day do I stress the fish or make them ill or even kill them?

now ok i did the test for nitrite sorry i told you nitrate before.
the result from tetratest is 0.3mg/l

so what does this mean?

Flashygrrl

A water change daily will reduce the levels in the tank and make it easier to survive but will prolong the cycle a bit. Daily testing is an absolute must right now, if you see ammonia above .25 you must immediately do a water change. Go into the Starting and Maintaining section and, find the Important Links Sticky and look for the cycling topics.

This is what we call "New Tank Syndrome", where a new tank is set up and immediately fully stocked. Most of the time it's new fishkeepers that have either been mis-educated or told nothing at all. Good luck....

migdem

ok thank you for your help

Little-Fizz

I'm surprised your showing nitrites, it's not a high level or anything but it means the whole process has started.

And daily water changes can prolong the cycling process, but thats what I did and it didn't take longer then normal plus some of my fish survived and lived in the most comfort possible during the cycle.

Doing the water changes shouldn't stress your fish anymore then they already are, but if you see that it does then don't do daily but every other day or something.