Problem With My Guppy

[aimyb]

Yesterday I went out and bought three guppies to add to my new tank - one male, two females. When I brought them back from the store I floated them for 15 mins then let water in for 15 mins, then added them so they were properly acclimatised. Two of my guppies seem fine and like to play in the filter, but one of the girls just floats at the top of the water not doing anything. Sometimes she dives down but she always returns to the top. She doesn't even swim much really. It kinda looks like she's trying to swim sometimes but when I put my net in to see if she can move, she swims away from the net, so I know she's not just stuck in a small current and she's just too weak to swim away.
 
Not sure what's going on and I'm scared of losing her because I've already grown attached. She looks healthy, her colours are fine, no white spots or inflamed gills, and all the fish in her tank at the store were swimming round fine and were colourful and lively. I don't have a quarantine tank and I'm not sure what to do right now. We do get soft water in my area, and the pH is slightly acidic, but I didn't know they preferred hard, slightly alkaline water until after I bought them. What can I do?

 

[fluttermoth]

Could you give us some more information on your tank, please? How big is it, how long has it been set up, what other fish are in there, any other water test results?

In the meantime, do a large water change, making sure the new water is warmed and dechlorinated. Most fish problems are related to water quality, so testing + a big water change should always be your first port of call if things aren't right.

 

[aimyb]

Ammonia is very low, if not nonexistent.
 
Nitrate - 20
Nitrite - 0
pH - 6.5
KH - 40
GH - 60
 
Tank has been set up and running for 2/3 weeks, did a 30% water change this morning, and it's only the three guppies on their own right now. Tank is 15G too.

 

[cooledwhip]

I have the same problem too. I bought a trio, and my female just sits in a corner on the top with her tail down. She almost bends in a 90 degree angle. She is super skiddish and yes, sometimes does dive down. I think she might have downs syndrome or some other mental retardation if that's possible in fish. her eyes are like cross eyed and bulged and it's just weird how she acts. Not sick or anything, but just weird.

 

[HarpyFishLover]

I had a guppy who did the same thing his whole 3-month life (poor thing...)... he always just sat in the current, seemingly sleeping. He viciously bit any who dared to come near. Only a month ago did I notice that he had an arched back... and then a week ago he laid motionless on the bottom. He lived from February to April. It was something genetic.

If yours starts looking lethargic, or seems to have an arched back, then I'm afraid she won't last long... but until you see these symptoms, don't panic. She might just not want to go down!

 

[aimyb]

I'm so sorry about your guppy!
 
Mine doesn't have an arched back, and she isn't nippy with the others, she rather likes being around them. I guess all I can do is keep watching her.

 

[Munroco]

Does it seem that she has to make an effort to swim below the surface? As if she is too buoyant? If so it might be a swim bladder problem

 

[aimyb]

When I change water or put the net in, she dives down and doesn't seem to find it hard, but naturally floats back up to the top pretty easily. Like, she can stay down below but she just doesn't.

 

[ginaekdal]

Is this the 54 litre tank from your other thread? How did you cycle it?
 
With one male and two female guppies you will likely have a lot of fry soon.

 

[aimyb]

Yeah, it is. Did a fishless cycle. Yeah, we figured that, but we'll be prepared.

 

[Munroco]

In the main fish shouldn't float up (or down), most fish will maintain their level in an aquarium and will swim to a reach a different level. Their swim bladder enables them to "hover" at whatever level they choose. I'm trying to ascertain whether your guppy floats to the top of the tank or swims to the top.

 

[aimyb]

She can easily stay in one spot near the bottom of the tank, just hovering there, so I guess she swims to the top, but without much effort

 

[aimyb]

Would a photo or video help?

 

[Munroco]

I think your answer has ruled out swim bladder disease.

 

[aimyb]

Cool! I guess maybe she just likes to stay in one place? I'm thinking it might be a genetic thing if it's a problem, I'll just monitor her