Salt and Livebearers

[Angry_Platy]

The LFS person told me today that male guppies will not lvie long unless they have salt in their tank. I have had trouble keeping male guppies alive and was wondering if this could be the reason. All my females are perfectly healthy!!

Has anyone kept male guppies alive for a long time without salt?

 

[Raechal]

Unlike mollies, guppies don't NEED salt to thrive. I don't think so anyway. I guess it depends on the fish. If a molly was bred in water with salt and her fry grew up in salted water and you switched them over to freshwater they may have some problems...but I think guppies should do fine without salt. I kept 2 males in a freshwater 10 gallon and they seemed happy. Until they nipped each other to death.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Angry_Platy

That's just another myth. Guppies don't need salt in their water.

And further, if there are corys or other scaleless fish in the same tank, there should definitely not be any salt.

 

[Angry_Platy]

Yeah, I thought the same thing too IW....it seemed strange that my guppy girls and girl fry all survived but the males died.....

Must be all the stress trying to impregnate the female

 

[littlefishie]

Wow, I'm the only one that has.. )

It was only guppies in the tank, but I used to always add just the tiniest pinch of salt when doing a water change. Don't know why, but they've always seemed happier with it.

 

[lilfishie]

iv never used salt for my livebearers

 

[morgan]

Neither have I. I have heard that some salt is good if they are ill. I have all livebearers and a snail and they are all well without salt.

 

[paulthegreat]

No salt in with my Swords but then again I do not know if the Yoyos would be too keen on it so I do not use any.

 

[lilfishie]

i only give them a quick salt bath if they are ill