Guppy Trouble

Lucy1

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Hi - it's been a while since I posted on here, after falling into the trap of not cycling the tank first, and introducing 4 guppies to my tank, I've been doing a rather tiring fish in cycle for the last few weeks.

Unfortunately 3 of the guppies died, as the toxic levels in the tank were changing while I was at work, and despite me changing the water morning and night, I wasn't able to save them.

I have however, got one survivour, and what a character he is! He's been in the tank on his own about 3 weeks, and I've grown to learn his behaviour. On Sunday, I got another guppy, as I thought I'd introduce new fish to the tank one at a time so the tank balance wasn't altered all that much.

The good news is the tank is still coping fine. The bad news is - the guppies are fighting! Well, the new one isn't, its more a case of bullying.

It just seems to chase the new one around the tank and doesn't give it a moments rest. As for feeding time, well everytime it gets remotely near a piece of food, the other one headbutts it away!

I think that the other one has got used to being on his own and has got territorial, which was why I almost put 2 new fish in so there wasn't the bullying issue I have now. I just didn't want to put 2 in, and upset the balance of the tank.

Am I best getting another guppy to break up the bully and his victim, or leave them to fight it out?

When I checked them this morning, it seemed to have calmed down a bit so maybe they're starting to make friends?

Any advice welcome! :good:
 
are they male or female?

can you run a water test today and let us know the results just to rule out any problems with the water. :good:
 
They're male - which probably explains the scrapping!

I've done a water test. Results are as follows...

Ammonia - 0
Nitrite - 0
Nitrate - 0
P.H - 6.4 (this was previously registering 7.2 but the last few days its been going down slightly which I'm not sure why?)

Does that explain the problem? The fish have seemed to have settled down tonight though and they're swimming together more rather than one chasing the other frantically around th tank!
 
i'd say nothing to worry about as they hav settled down now, male guppies will scap a little bit, thats why you're best to keep them in a group to dissipate agression between them although your right to build up slowly to reduce the chances of a mini cycle. it's also stresful for fish to move into a new home and their natural response is often to attack.
 

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