Guppy Constipation I Think...

[fleelee]

OK here is the status: I have 3 guppy fish in a 3 gallon tank for about 4 weeks now. I have been feeding them at night like a pinch of food. One of my guppy fish I noticed today was just laying on the bottom of the tank just breathing. It wouldn't even move if i tap the tank. I though when it did move its tail would be angled downward. So as I read on the INTERNET my fish might be constipated and i should remove it from the others and either starve it or put it in a tablespoon of Epsom salt. So i did put it a tub of my tanks water and put in some Epsom salt. Is this constipation or is this something else? And how long do i need to leave him alone for until i can put him back in with the others... And news just coming in as I'm typing this one of my other guppy is like swimming at the bottom and looks like its shaking moving really fast with its tail. It isn't swimming fast but looks like its freaking out. What do i do!!

Thanks for reading.... please help even if you have a little tip.

Jeff

 

[Xavier]

OK here is the status: I have 3 guppy fish in a 3 gallon tank for about 4 weeks now. I have been feeding them at night like a pinch of food. One of my guppy fish I noticed today was just laying on the bottom of the tank just breathing. It wouldn't even move if i tap the tank. I though when it did move its tail would be angled downward. So as I read on the INTERNET my fish might be constipated and i should remove it from the others and either starve it or put it in a tablespoon of Epsom salt. So i did put it a tub of my tanks water and put in some Epsom salt. Is this constipation or is this something else? And how long do i need to leave him alone for until i can put him back in with the others... And news just coming in as I'm typing this one of my other guppy is like swimming at the bottom and looks like its shaking moving really fast with its tail. It isn't swimming fast but looks like its freaking out. What do i do!!

Thanks for reading.... please help even if you have a little tip.

Jeff

don't think it's constipation...what are the water parameters?

 

[fleelee]

the tank is 12.5"x9.5"x 6" which is 3 gallons it has filtration

 

[K.J.]

He means the level of the water (ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH) I take it you don't have the kit ,which means you aren't cycled. You have a small tank and you are uncycled. You definately have signs of ammonia poisioning. The best thing you can do right now is do LARGE bi dailly water changes and hope they come through.

Article on the nitrogen cycle. If at all possible, return them to the pet shop or wherever you got them and do a fishless cycle. Though honestly, you should get a 10+ gallon, as the only thing you can really get in a 3 gallon is a betta, regardless of what the "pet shop" tries to sell you.

 

[Xavier]

couldn't have said it better myself KJ. best of luck to you man. don't worry, we all make mistakes. when i was younger i found out that goldfish where coldwater fish so i threw over 50 ice cubes in the tank.

 

[fleelee]

couldn't have said it better myself KJ. best of luck to you man. don't worry, we all make mistakes. when i was younger i found out that goldfish where coldwater fish so i threw over 50 ice cubes in the tank.

lol poor fish... yah the pet store told me 1 gallon per a inch of fish. and i do have some bacteria suppliment and some detoxifer. I didn't know of any "kit" But these fish are so small and dont poop alot lol. also should io replace the filter?

 

[K.J.]

Well generally, that is a appropriate. However, there are some variations of that, like it doesn't really apply to fish over 2 inches - don't keep those in a 2 gallon tank. Is it possible you can get a big tub or something, or at least something bigger to put them in to dilute the ammonia?

 

[fleelee]

Well generally, that is a appropriate. However, there are some variations of that, like it doesn't really apply to fish over 2 inches - don't keep those in a 2 gallon tank. Is it possible you can get a big tub or something, or at least something bigger to put them in to dilute the ammonia?

no not with out them going down the drain...wait what about a tote like 1 of those thing you store christmas stuff in?

 

[fleelee]

this is where i got my information from .http/aquariumhobbyist.com/guppies/disease.html.. according to this it might not be ammonia...on which i also have water conditioner! I have changed the filter because it has been 4 weeks. i dont know!

 

[Xavier]

i'm sorry man but w/o knowing the ph, nitrate , nitrite, ammonia levels i really don't know what to say. you need to get those things settled ASAP. i'll tell you what they should be for a guppy even though you might not get it yet

pH: ~7.5
nitrite: 0
ammonia: 0
nitrate: less than 50 will do

 

[Spooky76]

Buy a water test kit from your pet shop. a chemical ones, which tests Ammonia, Nitrate, Nitrite and PH.

If you change your filter media be very careful. If you already have high ammonia and you remove the filter and replace, you could make it even worse. You bacteria is in your filter. What type of filter is it ? If there is only a single pad or 2 I wouldnt change them all, a good rinse in old fish water should clean them up.

Your water conditioner is only removing chlorine and chloromine I presume. That really is only for conditioning your tap water..

 

[fleelee]

• pad is single size z
• Detoxifier is Biosafe ta water detoxifier..."biosafe is the first step to make tap water safe for fish. It detoxifies ammonia and eliminates chlorine and chloramine"
• Bacteria supplement-topfin

o yah and today i did a full water change

 

[fleelee]

the other 2 fish are doing beteer now but the 1 fish still lays on the bottom