Normal Behaviour?

[Gillette1985]

I've got a single male guppie in my small tank with 5 neon tetra's. Last few days i've noticed that my guppie just sits there under my heater.

Is this normal? I'm thinking perhaps he's just laying there as its warmer, or is he marking it as his terratory. Would he be getting bored in my tank with the neons, and should i get him a female as a mate?

Please help a newbie!

 

[Twinklecaz]

Hiya


What size is your tank and do you have a water test kit?

 

[Gillette1985]

i've got the 23litre fluval edge tank. no water test kit yet, waiting to get down the shops. im new to all this fish keeping stuff, so its almost like trial and error

 

[Twinklecaz]

Lol yeah it is, I'm still finding that.

It may be that you're water stats aren't too good which is why they Guppy isn't happy (which I'd say he isn't by the sounds of it). Don't worry though, it's easily fixed with water changes, your filter just needs time to build up it's good bacteria. As soon as you haev your test kit come back and post the results and that might give us a clearer picture.

It's possible he's lonley,but if you get him a friend get another male or he'll harass the female and you'll be over-run with fry


just a an after thought - what temp is your water? I don't suppose he could be cold?

 

[Gillette1985]

my heater is the pre-set heater that fluval have made for the edge tank, cant control the temp on it

lots of baby guppies wouldnt be a problem, im sure my gf would love that lol

i think i will keep an eye on him over next few days, and i'll get a water test kit asap

 

[Twinklecaz]

In the meantime a say 50% water change would prob do more good than harm. If it IS an Ammonia or Nitrite problem then it'll help dilute it.

I didn't know that about the Fluval Edge. Ha you learn something new every day!

 

[Gillette1985]

did an approx 20% water change last night, and today all fish seem more active, so im happy think i will try find the guppie some friends over the weekend to make sure hes not lonely

 

[Twinklecaz]

Yeah good idea. Not too many though, maybe 2?

 

[Gilli]

Is yout tank cycled? Did you cycle it for the 6-8 weeks required for the beneficial bacteria to grow? It doesnt sound like it in which case DO NOT ADD ANY MORE FISH!! - you will make the water quality worse and make the fish suffer. Get a liquid test kit asap and in the meantime do at least 30% water changes every day until you know your water stats.

Trial and error doesnt cut it with keeping live animals - you need to read up and fast or your fish will suffer and die!

Read up on this article on here about cycling with or without fish

cycling a tank

 

[Gillette1985]

i was told by the shop i bought the tank from, that i only needed to cycle the tank for a week, as i was using a bacterial enhancer. Bought my fish from a different shop, told them how long the tank had been set up etc, and with what products and they were happy enough to sell me the fish.

 

[Gillette1985]

okay another question???


can you over do it with the water changes?

if i had planned on changing the water once a week, would i benifit at all from doing it twice a week? would being over causious actually do good to the tank?

 

[Ryan_W]

I think it's ok to do small (20% or so) WCs' a couple of times a week to a mature tank. But if all's well, just the once per week I assume...


BUT.....

It sounds like you're in the same boat as me. You've rushed in and your tank hasn't matured.
I've been doing 33% WCs everyday since finding info and guidance on here.

The harmful ammonia (NH3) will be building up and there won't be any nitrites (NO2) to help cut it down as such...

Make sure you use some sort of water dechlorinator to remove all the chlorine out the tap water.

 

[Gillette1985]

ive just done another 20% change, topped up with dechlorinated water, will carry on doing this until i get my test kit, just to make sure

 

[Ryan_W]

If your fish are looking really down, I'd go for 50% WCs daily, at least 'til your testing kit arrives and you can see where you stats stand.

 

[Gillette1985]

the neons are swimming everywhere, chasing each other. My guppie seems quiet active. That is what is confusing me