Male Guppies

[MRands]

I have a well established tank (11-12 years) at home, and can successfully keep different types of fish. At the moment, I have the following

Tetras (cardinal and neon and rummy nose)
Corydoras - two
Sucking loach - one.

All live very happily together but every time I try to add male guppies, they last approximately one week, then the tails shrivel, the bodies arch and within 2 weeks, they are all dead.

I have had water tested and confirmed by retailer that all is OK in my tank, but just cannot keep these beautiful fish. I have told the retailer what fish I have in my tank, and they have advised me (on several occasions) that guppies should be fine with my current fish.

What am I doing wrong. Does anyone else have these problems. How come, they all seem so healthy in the fish shop?

Sorry to be so basic, but I am not a professional, just a novice really.

 

[Durbkat]

How big is the tank and how many of each tetra do you have? The ratio of guppys your supposed to have is 1 male for every 3 female guppys but they will reproduce but none of the fry will probably survive since most likly the other fish will eat them. The sucking loach will have to be returned to the pet store because they don't eat algae and when they get bigger they will become very aggressive and will suck on the other fish and suck out the eyeballs of the other fish and they get pretty big to.

 

[WILDER]

I gave up on guppys along time ago, there is just no go in them, and are very prone to alot of desease, bacterial finrot is a big problem with guppies.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi MDCR

Welcome to the forum!

I am going to move your thread to the Livebearer section. We have members who know quite a bit about keeping guppies and I think they will be more likely to find it there.

 

[Weaver]

Im not sure what is wrong.
If the guppys are dying each time you buy them then perhaps there is something wrong with the water.Guppys can usually stand a good range of ph and temperature--more so than cardinal tetra.Next time you are in the shop ask what ph and temperature they are kept at in the store and see if there are any major differences.Also if you dont have a test kit of your own ask the shop to carry out a full range of tests on your water to see if anything is amiss or vastly different.
The symptoms you describe dont sound like ph shock however.
The other obvious candidate for doing damage is the sucking loach who may be attacking the guppys.They would be much slower and easier to attack than the rummynose or cardinals and are usually a really bad community fish which you would be better getting rid of
Sorry I cant be of more help.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

How many gallons is your tank and what is your average tank cleaning regime and how often do you do it?
Are you aiming for an all-male group of guppys or a mixed gender one?
When you buy your guppys, can you see any deseased fish in the tanks they come from with symtoms like wasting/lack or weight, bloating, shredded fins or ones with chunks out of them, discoloration to any of the fish like slimey grey/white coating, spots or growths, inflamed/red anus's, sticking out scales or behavioral issues like not swimming with the other guppys or being very agressive etc etc- these are all things you should look out for when you buy fish .

 

[MRands]

Thanks to everyone that has replied. It's been really helpful reading your comments. From reading the comments about my "sucking loach", I think I must have made a boob. I did explain I was a novice - I thought he was a suching loach but he certainly is not like some of you have described. He is about 2 years old now, 5-6 inches long, definitely eats algae and appears to get on really well with the other fish. He is definitely some sort of "loach" guess I may have got the name wrong! - Oops.

The tank is a 26 gallon tank and the fish I have purchased have all been purchased from a reputable supplier and the fish in their tank all seem healthy. The PH of my water was tested at the fish supplier and deemed to be OK.

I am now inclined to agree with "Wilder" who said that she gave up with male guppies a long time ago. They are beautiful fish but this is about the fifth time I have tried but cannot seem to keep them!

Can anyone suggest some other "colourful" fish that I can add to the tank that will be happy with the fish that I currently have.

Thanks again to everyone that replied.

Great site ....

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. Is it possible that it is the guppy's themselves that are bullying each other? I find guppy's quite easy to keep but more recently have found that if there is more than one male, and no females, that they can bully each other.

 

[Weaver]

If you want something colourful you could always go for platys-1 male and 2 female.You may however end up overrun with fry
Personally Id go for a pair of dwarf gourami or honey gourami.Try and avoid getting 2 males as they may fight.There is a good pinned article in the gourami section with photos and basic care advice
BTW I would try and find out what type of loach that is just to make sure it isnt a Chinese Algae Eater.If it is please dont put any sort of gourami or platy in with it.

 

[MRands]

Hi. Is it possible that it is the guppy's themselves that are bullying each other? I find guppy's quite easy to keep but more recently have found that if there is more than one male, and no females, that they can bully each other.

Thanks for that - this may be possible, as out of six guppies, I have one surviving! Maybe he is the bully!

If you want something colourful you could always go for platys-1 male and 2 female.You may however end up overrun with fry
Personally Id go for a pair of dwarf gourami or honey gourami.Try and avoid getting 2 males as they may fight.There is a good pinned article in the gourami section with photos and basic care advice
BTW I would try and find out what type of loach that is just to make sure it isnt a Chinese Algae Eater.If it is please dont put any sort of gourami or platy in with it.

Hi, have had platys in the past - and yes the tank was overun by little babies. Very cute and great to start with but too many to deal with. Took loads to my local fish store. Gave up with platys after that.

Will ask in the fish store what kind of loach it is. Gourami sound good - will they be OK with the others in my tank (assuming it's not a chinese algae eater!)

 

[thefishykid]

I HAVE KEPT GUPPIES FOR OVER A YEAR I HAVE THEM IN THEIR OWN TANK 25G I ALSO BREED THEM MY LFS TAKES ALL THE FRY AT ABOUT 3 MONTHS OLD HE GIVES ME GOOD CREDIT ON THEM AS THEY SELL FAST ONE THING I HAVE HEARD FROM MANY KEEPERS IS THAT FROM EASY KEPT TO THE HARDEST SOME FISH JUST DONT TAKE YOU CAN BE KEEPING THE HARDEST OF FISH BUT CANT DO ANYTHING WITH THE EASYER ONES AND VISEVERSA ITS MABYE JUST ONE OF THE FISH YOU CANT KEEP I HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH NEON TETRAS SO I DONT KNOW REALY WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOUR TANK I KEEP 4 MALES 16 FEMALES AS THIS STOPS THE MALES FIGHTING AND STOPS THE MALES CHASING THE SAME FEMALES PLENTY TO GO ROUND

 

[Weaver]

Dwarf gourami will be fine with those fish.They keep small and are usually very peaceful.There are a few colour variations.A pair of males may squabble and a breeding pair may get a bit territorial but they will get along with most fish.I think the ideal combination is 1m/2f.I have a pair and have had no problems whatsoever