Hello

We bought 1 male and 3 female guppies on Sunday. They were happy swimming around the Q tank till last night.

(Q tank - 35 l, set at 24/75 degrees, there is a small internal filter (it has sponge, carbon and ceramic in it), a few plants for them to hide in and a decor log (plastic) wihich I have wrapped some java moss over)

When they went in Sunday nitrite / ammonia were 0, pH was 8 and nitrate was at 40 (that is my tap water's level unfortunately!)

The water they came home in their bag from the shop had higher nitrates, no nitrites and the same pH.

Last night when the male was up at the top the ammonia was at 0.25, I did a water change (about 40%) it was at 0 after the change. 0 nitrite as well.

He is still at the top again today, just hovering below the water line. He is not gasping and was swimming around fine until last night.

One of the females had fry yesterday (woot! mad dash to set up a little 10l tank to save the babies - they are all fine about 20 - 25 no abnormal ones) would they have bullied him or is he ill?

I did another water change this morning, just 15% as I was paranoid that the test tube water wasn't exactly yellow.

Ammonia and Nitrite are at 0 still and no change to his behaviour.

Help please, poor little guy looks sad (he is a lot smaller than the females).

Lynn

This is quite common. Did you introduce him into the tank carefully and gave him time to adjust ti the new water propoties. Can you take me through how you introduced him to your new tank.
Also do you have an air pump on the Q tank?

D&D

I would say it was probably the Ammonia taking affect on him, and bad breeding, I have your probslems with male,and sometimes female guppies. Males are harder to keep anyways. How long have your tanks been set up?

There isn't an air pump but I have put the filter outlet out of the water to create a lot of splash, air bubles go down into the tank from that. The other 3 seem fine.

I am off to get an air pump now to see if that helps.

He has moved to the bottom now - he ate food then went down there.

Moving him into the tank we did the rest the bag in the water for 15mins, put a little tank water in, left them for another 20 mins put a little more water in. Left them again for about 20 mins and then slowly filled the bag up - we didn't net them into the Q tank just let them swim out of the bag.

Poor little guy. Is it worth putting some general antibacterial meds in?

Thanks for you help

Lynn