Guppy Being Weird!

[GuppyGirl20]

I have a five gallon tank with three male guppies and a snail in it. I did a water change yesterday and I put a new filter in two days ago but I left the old filter on top of the new one so some of the bacteria could transfer before I throw out the old one. Today my yellow guppy (Snicket) started rolling over to on side at the top of the tank. Then he started swimming sideways. Any ideas of what could be wrong with him? I tried to snap a picture but he also started freaking out and swimming everywhere like crazy (still on his side) so the quality isn't that good but I figured something was better than nothing. Also when he rests at the top of the tank his head dips down and his body makes an upside down u shape.

 

[WILDER]

Just add the old filter sponges to the new filter.
Can you post water stats please. Ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and ph.
 
Do you have to much water current in the tank and its blowing the fish around?
Does the fish look bloated?
What does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.
Can the fish maintain balance in the water?
Is the fish able to get off the top of the tank and bottom?
What do you feed your fish?

 

[GuppyGirl20]

 
Do you have to much water current in the tank and its blowing the fish around?
Does the fish look bloated?
What does it look like when the fish goes to the toilet.
Can the fish maintain balance in the water?
Is the fish able to get off the top of the tank and bottom?
What do you feed your fish?

my filter isn't a sponge. its a cartridge thing. I put the old cartridge onto of the new one to transfer some bacteria. When this one needs changing I am switching to the sponge kind because from what I have ben told they are way better.
 
ph: seems to be topping off around 7.6 (so it's a little high )
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: seems to bee topping off around 30 ppm which is one the higher side but still safe (so says my booklet of the test kit I have)
 
He's not being pushed around. But he floats like he's dead and that's discomforting
He isn't bloated.
His poop is the same color as the other fish so I assume it's normal (a tan/brownish color)
What do you mean by balance?
He can swim around and do deeper into the tank be when he does he's swimming really fast and it looks like he's freaking out.
I feed them Tetracolor plus fish flakes on the weekdays and on weekends I give them freeze dried brine shrimp. 

 

[WILDER]

It sounds like a swim bladder problem.
Introduce some green veg into there diet.
Don't over feed freeze dried foods as they can lead to swim bladder, and constipation.
 
For now try some peas.
You could try isolating him and using a internal bacteria medcation.

Swim Bladder Disorder

 

 

The Swim bladder is a gas-filled sac located inside the fish�s body cavity just above most of the other internal organs. This sac is what gives the fish buoyancy and controls equilibrium. The amount of gas in this sac changes as the fish rises and sinks in the water, enabling it to swim, hover and move in the water. Without the use of the Swim-bladder organ a fish is unable to control it's own movements. 
 


 

Symptoms:

Fish with a swim bladder disorder appear to have an abnormal swimming pattern, usually with their tail end up. They also appear to have difficulty maintaining equilibrium. They may even float upside down or appear to be stuck at the surface of the water, being unable to swim down, or they may lie on the bottom, unable to rise. Fish with a swim bladder disorder will continue to try and feed, showing a normal appetite.
 


 

Cause: 

The most common cause of swim bladder disorders is improper diet. An improper diet can lead to intestinal gas or intestinal blockages. Intestinal blockages can irritate the bowel, giving bacteria or other parasites an entry point where they can then cause damage to the swim bladder. Swim bladder disorders are most common in the larger, deep-bodied varieties of Goldfish. Fish also fed a lot of dried foods, especially pellets, are most susceptible. This condition is frequently observed in the later stages of Malawi Bloat, which is primarily due to an improper diet as well and intestinal irritation.
 


 

Treatment: 

Because this disorder is due principally to an improper diet, a change in their feeding needs to be made. Dried foods with lots of protein should be kept to a minimum. Pellets and other dense foods should be soaked prior to feeding or completely eliminated from their diet. Foods with lots of fiber should be introduced, such as zucchini, squash, spinach, romaine lettuce, peas, and grated carrots. If you suspect that the fish is victim to a bacterial infection, treat the fish with a medicated food.
 

 

[the_lock_man]

 I put a new filter in two days ago but I left the old filter on top of the new one so some of the bacteria could transfer before I throw out the old one.

 
Bacteria are like grumpy old men - just because there's a nice new home next door, they don't particularly want to leave their old home, they prefer to just stay put. Is there actually anything wrong with the old filter?

 

[GuppyGirl20]

Thanks so much Wilder. One of my other fish had a case of swim bladder before which is why I got the brine shrimp to feed them. My yellow is swimming fine just on his side that's why I didn't know if it was swim bladder or not. I'll try one of the foods you suggested.
 
the_lock_man: no one could ever give me solid advice on when to change mine. Since mine is a cartridge type deal (polyfiber pad with carbon in it) I know the carbon in it will eventually be useless. I've heard never change it unless it's falling apart but that was for the sponge like ones. I had my old one in since August so I figured it probably need changing. When I get through with this new one I'm switching to the sponge kind so I can follow everyone's instruction on changing it. 

 

[WILDER]

Black carbon only affective for 2 to 6 days and a waste of ,money using it all the time.
It's good for clearing water and removing medications. That's all its good for.
 
 
Hows is the fish?
Daphnia a good laxative.

 

[GuppyGirl20]

I can't get the poor thing to eat The other two fish would get the pea first. So I've tried separating him in my net and he still won't eat when there's food just for him. i'm really starting to worry because I'm not sure he's really eaten since yesterday. I think he might have gotten a little bit he seems to be a little worse. He seems a little more tipped over to one side now.

 

[GuppyGirl20]

He's dead I woke up and checked on my fish and he's dead.

 

[WILDER]

So Sorry. You tried your best.
Bless Him.
R.I.P.
 
How are the other fish doing?

 

[GuppyGirl20]

The other two are just fine. I'm going to put some more plants and such in my tank before getting a replacement fish for my yellow one. When I got guppies I didn't know they are aggressive towards one another and my tank is really open. So I'm going to get more vegetation before I get another to tone down their aggression.

 

[WILDER]

They can be aggressive towards one another. 
I found male platy to be the worst.

 

[GuppyGirl20]

Okay so I added more plants to my tank and got a replacement on Thursday. Today after I feed them one of my other fish started chilling on his side. He can swim straight to get away from the other fish but when he's by himself he tilts to one side. Idk if he is getting old or something because he's color isn't as bright as when I first got him. I have no idea how old he was when I got him from petco in August but he's the biggest one of my three so I'm assuming that means he's the oldest. I try really hard not to over feed them so I don't think that's a problem. I fed them a pea three days in a row when I was trying to get my yellow fish to eat before he died and this fish has been pooping alot and yesterday he had a really long poop trail (which I've heard means they're constipated but I don't see how that can be when he was pooping normally just before even if it was a little bit more frequently). Because I feed them color enhancing flakes all my fish poops are a rusty color. Any ideas on why he's tilting on his side??? This fish has been with me since I fist established my tank and I have more of a band with him and I don't want him to die.
I haven't done a single thing different of my ph and all that should still be the same as the other days so I just don't understand. 

 

[WILDER]

I would isolate the sick fish and use an internal bacteria medication.
Does he look bloated,, thin, or sunken in belly?
It sounds like the fish is also acting listless and lethargic.
Hows the fish breathing?

 

[WILDER]

Lost any fish to bent spines, looking very thin, or sunken in bellies?