Are My Guppies O.k?

[DannyBlackbourn]

Right before I start I have high Nitrite Levels and am currently in the process of doing numerous water changes to try and lower it from 2.0ppm.

However I was searching the net to try and figure out if I did have one male and one female Guppy...
( I was given them by my cousin who didn't want them anymore...)

I am worried that one of them has something wrong with it... it seems fine and shows no sign of illness but its tail seems a little too broken down compared to other Guppies I have looked at... is this fin rot?

Also could you help me confirm what sex they are.

I believe this Guppy is a male... but as you can see its fin is rather broken down... this is how I received it and I don't know much about Guppies... Please help!

This Guppy seems to be healthy. and is the more active one from the two... I think this is female...

Any help would be appreciated...

 

[lilacamy931]

hmmm.. I am really not sure in these matters. Have you seen any nipping or chasing of any sorts?

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

No there doesn't seem to be any nipping when I'm around... I tend to just watch them swim around when i'm home ...

They tend to swim next to each other the majority of the time...

It hasn't got any worse since I have had the two fish (think its 5 days now...)
So if anything maybe it could be an injury from the fish in my cousins tank?

 

[tropic_john]

No there doesn't seem to be any nipping when I'm around... I tend to just watch them swim around when i'm home ...

They tend to swim next to each other the majority of the time...

It hasn't got any worse since I have had the two fish (think its 5 days now...)
So if anything maybe it could be an injury from the fish in my cousins tank?

The tail will grow back, but to help prevent diseases etc.. use melafix as it helps fin growth & prevent infection.

 

[lilacamy931]

it may well be an injury the best cure from what I have heard for ripped, tattered fins is good clean water. Just keep on top of things and try to get those stubborn nitrites down!

p.s. melafix can not hurt, it is on my next shopping list!

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Right I will fight with my water pump and bucket to bring those stupid Nitrites down! haha

Am I right about the genders of the fish?

Also I have just noticed that the one I believe is female, has a darker stomach since I left earlier...? Is she pregnant? haha

EDIT: melafix will be on my next shopping list also then

 

[lilacamy931]

the one with the bad fin looks a male thats all I can tell you! The females when pregnant have what is called a gravid spot. If you want to find out more head to the Livebearer Section of the forums, there are some really good diagrams and pictures to compare. I think a lot of females can be bought pregnant and they have live fry often!

 

[helterskelter]

Best thing is do a 30% water change and add some melifix.
and do several more water changes over the next 2 weeks of around 30%.

Your correct in sexing them. the first is a male and the second is a female

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Thank you,

Just had a quick browse through the Livebearers section and found about Guppy pregnancy.

And I can proudly say that she looks pretty much pregnant to me...

Now what do I do lol

EDIT: Only thing is that she is very lively... but she has all the indications she is pregnant.

Also @ Helterskelter. I am currently trying to get my Nitrite levels down so I am performing regular 50% water changes anyway.

I will grab the Melfix hopefully tomorrow.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

Here is the clearest side view picture I could get of my female Guppy...

Here is another picture which suggests her being Pregnant...

 

[helterskelter]

if it's that bad you can also also add active carbon for a couple of days, this will remove toxins from the water.

but water changes should help unless you tap water is high too.

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

My tap parameters are fine...

My Nitrite is coming in at 2.0ppm in the tank.

So hopefully with enough water changes I will bring that down to 0ppm quite soon!

 

[helterskelter]

Your never get nitrites to 0ppm unless you use chemical filtration like carbon or have tonne's of plants

 

[DannyBlackbourn]

So when will it become safe to add more fish?

I was under the impression I needed to get the Nitrite levels down to 0ppm

 

[helterskelter]

soz my fault thought u said nitrAtes.

NitrItes yes these will need to get down to 0ppm
this will happen as the filtration matures and the bacteria copes then the bio-load on the system.