Guppys Keep Dying - Newbie In Need!

[Bubble Bunny]

I had 6 guppys in a 60l tank. In the last month one by one are getting bloated and then after a week or so are dying. I now have 3 left, the most recent one I found dead in the tank this morning. 2 of the others are starting to look bigger than before, although the 3rd seems exactly how I bought him. I am new to fishkeeping so dont know if I have done anything wrong. I waited for the water levels to settle before adding fish and have not changed anything I do since starting. The neon tetras added at the same time as the guppies are absolutely fine and schooling about.

PLEASE help me, I feel cruel as they keep dying and I dont want the others to go the same way.

Tank size: 60l
pH: 6.4
ammonia: 0
nitrite: 0
nitrate: 10
kH: unknown from memory, can update tonight
gH: unknown from memory, can update tonight
tank temp: 26.5 C

Fish Symptoms (include full description including lesion, color, location, fish behavior): Bloated stomachs, no change in eating behavior or colour. The latest fish to die was on the bottom a lot, although the earlier two stayed nearer the top where they all like to be

Volume and Frequency of water changes: 25% every 2 days

Chemical Additives or Media in your tank: Nutrifin Cycle (5ml) and Nitrifin water conditioner with each water change

Tank inhabitants: 3 guppies, 8 neon tetras

Recent additions to your tank (living or decoration): None, all decorations added when tank started and fisd added after approx 1 month in a group.

Exposure to chemicals: None that are not part of maintenance.

I also hoover the gravel when changing the water and maintain my filter as recommended in the instruction booklet for it.

 

[WILDER]

Are the guppys scales sticking out.
What does it look like when the fish go to the toilet.
What do you feed the fish.
Are the guppys resting to one side on gravel or plants.
Can the fish maintain there balance in the water.

 

[Bubble Bunny]

Are the guppys scales sticking out.
What does it look like when the fish go to the toilet.
What do you feed the fish.
Are the guppys resting to one side on gravel or plants.
Can the fish maintain there balance in the water.

The scales are normal and their poo looks normal - just like the tetras - although I havent seen them go many times (I will watch the others tonight and wait to see)
I feed them Aquarian tropical flake food and have popped in a cube of bloodworms on occasions too.
The guppys are not resting on anything and stay balanced in the water, their tails are a weeny bit lower than their heads but they've always been like this. The last one to die was hovering just above the gravel tomorrow like it did when it slept at night, but not resting on anything.

Does any of this help?

Thanks!

 

[WILDER]

Need a better diet of more frozen foods like daphnia, and brime strimp.
Introduce some green veg into there diet like cabbage, peas, broc, spinach.

Over feeding bloodworms can make fish bloat up.
Constipation can bloat fish up too. To many dried foods can lead to constipation.

Pea are good for constipation.
Cook frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell. Mush into small peices and add to the tank.

If it looks like the fish tail weighing it down in the water it's a sign of swim bladder.
http/www.flippersandfins.net/SwimbladderDisease.htm

 

[Bubble Bunny]

Need a better diet of more frozen foods like daphnia, and brime strimp.
Introduce some green veg into there diet like cabbage, peas, broc, spinach.

Over feeding bloodworms can make fish bloat up.
Constipation can bloat fish up too. To many dried foods can lead to constipation.

Pea are good for constipation.
Cook frozen peas for a few minutes, let cool down and pop out of shell. Mush into small peices and add to the tank.

If it looks like the fish tail weighing it down in the water it's a sign of swim bladder.
[URL="http/www.flippersandfins.net/SwimbladderDisease.htm"]http/www.flippersandfins.net/SwimbladderDisease.htm[/URL]

I only feed them half a cube and once a month. Is this still too much?
I will get some brine shrimp tonight, do they come in the cubes like the blood worms? Also should I be thawing them prior to putting frozen food in the tank? The man in the lfs said it didn't matter but i'm not sure..

I will try peas tonight just your normal frozen peas from the supermarket? I think it could be constipation. I think I probably am feeding to much dry food, although only a small amount each day, but because the guppys are at the top they may be eating too much? Is there a way to stop them from eating it all before the tetras get to it?

I tried to feed a bit of cucumber once but it kept floating to the top and they weren't interested in it. Is it the wrong thing to try with them or was it because it was floating? Any tips on how to keep it weighed down?

Sorry for all the questions but I'm a complete beginner at all of this..

Thanks for the advice

 

[WILDER]

Don't overfeed it the worse thing you can do.
I thaw the frozen foods out first before I add it to the tank.
I just place them in a little container.

You can buy frozen packs of food at the lfs with four different foods in a pack Blood worms, brime strimp, daphnia, etc.
Daphnia good as it helps the fish digest its food.

Yes just normal frozen peas like birds eye.

I attached the cucumba to a plant weight and hold the cucumba on with a elastic band.
You need to blanch the cucumba in boiling water for a few minutes.
Some lfs sell veg clips to hold food down for the fish.

 

[Bubble Bunny]

Excellent,

Thanks for the help.. the peas went down a treat last night.. I will keep an eye out for the mixed frozen foods. The other 3 guppies are looking OK at the moment, fingers crossed I'll be able to keep these guys ok!!

 

[WILDER]

Ok.
Good Luck.

 

[Bubble Bunny]

Ok I've lost another 2 guppies.. I only have one left.. I've been feeding the peas and brine shrimp and a bit of dried food but getting it damp before its in the tank as I think this helps it to not expand and cause problems after the fish eat it?

Anyway.. it hasn't worked.. The neons look healthy and shine beautifully and are feeding well. There are no problems with them. The last guppy is looking a bit bloated but it has gone down steadily and I hope he'll be OK. I'm worried about him being alone though as he stays at the top and the neons at the bottom. Will he be alright? I'm reluctant to add more fish.

Can anyone explain why they're all dying as I changed their diet and it just hasnt helped. I'm beginning to lose hope on keeping fish afterall..

 

[LauraFrog]

Guppies are one of the tragedies of the fish hobby in my opinion... we've taken a beautiful fish full of vigour and hardiness, and inbred it to the point where there is just no toughness left in them. They're pretty difficult to keep, honestly...

Are the guppies you've got male or female, and do you have any photos? There has to be something causing this. Female guppies can swell up enormous before they give birth, and look very bloated, but this doesn't explain why they are dying. Usually the internal parasites that livebearers are very prone to cause wasting (so I'd sort of be expecting to see them getting really thin, not really fat), but bloating is a possible symptom. Worming them might help - can you get praziquantel or levamisole? Those are the two meds that will kill internal parasites.

 

[Bubble Bunny]

I have heard that they are not the best fish for a beginner because of inbreeding, but I'm really trying!! The LFS sold them as female I think, although I honestly cannot remember. I will take a photo of the last guppy tonight, and I think I have photos of the others also before they died so I'll post them after work so you can see.

I originally thought they were pregnant but then they started dying so its confused me now. The others died so suddenly that I half expect to go home at lunch at the poor little thing will be dead.

Can I get the worming stuff from Pets at home?

I have also noticed last night it was shimmying - thats what my book on fish called it anyway - sort of rubbing itself against the stone and the filter in the tank, although it was not doing it this morning. I assume this is related to some sort of discomfort although am not sure on how to treat it.

 

[Bubble Bunny]

The last guppy has died, it was dead when I got home from work as I guessed it probably would be. Thanks for everyone who tried to help though! I learnt a lot even though it was bad news in the end.

Feeling incredibly disheartened I will now try to keep the neons OK and will never get another guppy.

 

[WILDER]

What's your location.

 

[Bubble Bunny]

Bedfordshire

 

[arobinson1984]

How old is your tank?
How did you cycle it?
What sort of water test kit are you using?

Also I'd recommend more frequent water changes than 25% every 2 weeks, it would be better to do 25% every week. Also nutrafin cycle is useless, dont waste your money

Andy