Are Guppies Considered "fragile" Fish?

[DiddleBug]

I have had guppies for years now, off and on.  Lately every male guppy I get dies within a few months.  I know how to pick a healthy fish and the females seem to be fine.  My corys are doing great and the water is good (nitrates and ammonia fine).  Ph is 6.5. ish and temp around 78.  I got this nice blue guppy 2 weeks ago and I wanted to bred him.  But now he's getting all slow and sick looking.  All the other fish seem fine and I just changed the water.  I haven't been able to keep a male guppy alive in months!!  What do I do?

 

[bluesword23516]

Males often live less  than females I have discovered.  What is the tanks temperature?  I would also look any diseases on the fish if they are brand new.  Also sometimes they can live short lives because of inbreeding.

 

[BelldandyShanny]

I've had that problem myself, just a heck of a time keeping males alive, I seem to be doing alright for now however.

 

[damanax]

Blue/black guppies seem extremely fragile in my experience. I can't seem to keep any blue or black males alive for any length of time despite the tank conditions being good. I have no issues with yellows or reds in the same tank.

 

[Tongue_Flicker]

Despite their size and appearance, i can say that guppies are hardier than most fish. From my experience, everytime we encountered days (4 days to be exact) of black-out before (meaning no air pump and no filter) the guppies, gouramis, cories and pleco were always the last ones standing.

 

[Chaydell]

What does the rest of your stock look like and do you use a quarantine tank? Is it possible that your stock is stressing the new males out?

 

[fish48]

 Guppies will often be healthier and live longer when kept in lower temperatures.  temperature of 76f or lower

 

[DiddleBug]

The temp is 77-78.  Much colder and they just sit around in the corners.    I have 8 cory fry in there right now, 2 live plants (and some plastic), and i moved in 2 female guppies last night to see if they'd help him perk up.  Sadly, i just looked in and he is at the top at a lightly vertical position.   I think he's about to die.  

I did have him in with 3 virgin females briefly 2 weeks ago-right after I got him-so I can only hope in 2 weeks I'll have some of his fry.  I never saw him do "it" and he seemed a bit clueless, but you never know!  

 

[Ch4rlie]

I have been reading quite a few threads about guppies (amongst other species) being less hardy than in previous years.
 
Generally speaking, i think an established or mature tank and good maintenance will help keep these guppies for a longer term although not guaranteed really.
 
And beginning to see that probably due to imbreeding and overbreeding due to their popularity to try and keep up with demand etc, this has unfortunately affected the genetics of guppies in certain areas of countries, not ALL guppies are less hardy to be honest.
 
Here is an interesting thread about a debate of imbreeding of guppies from an earlier thread from this forum.
 
http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/419551-inbreeding-of-guppiesother-animals/

 

[fish48]

DiddleBug maybe you bought a old/sick Guppy unknowingly, many people seem to keep them at high temperatures. as I’ve said earlier lower temperatures are far better it is a bit unusual for guppies to sit around in the corners at the lower temperatures maybe you didn’t acclimatize them slowly. guppies can be kept and will happily breed as low as 68f without any issues they do very well when kept between 70f-74f guppies are not too fussy about water quality a weekly water change of 40 to 50% suits then fine. To keep Guppies at their very best they  should be fed a good quality flake food and a good variety of live foods .  

 

[DiddleBug]

Well, the male is still alive.  He still swims a pointed up a bit and "curves" as he swims a bit like he can't control it.  He's been trying to eat and i saw him get 2 meals today so far.  Do you think he'll get better?  

 

[fish48]

 many male fancy guppy's tails grow to big and heavy and with age making very difficult to swim often swimming with head pointed up