Why Could My Guppy Have Died?

[allthemaples]

I took great pains to make sure my guppies were OK before I went away for Thanksgiving! I have (had) 3 females and 1 fry.

• 5 gallon tank
• airstone
• running filter
• live greenery
• water tested perfectly
• left light off throughout absence
• gone from Wed thru today (Sunday)

I left them a 1/2 gel tablet feeder, and the water tested out just fine when I got back home. I could not tell if the guppies ate off the tablet. We had no major temperature changes over the days we were gone (quite mild).

My oldest female died sometime when I was away; floating at the top when we returned. Her belly was reddish toward the bottom, and seemed to have a red string coming out of where I think she normally poops. The other three seem just fine, except one of the guppies has a relatively big whitish blob-thing that she seems to be attempting to pass. Even the fry is fine.

What could she have died from ???

Any help appreciated ... I did all the necessary testing (5 component).

 

[This Old Spouse]

First, you didn't need to leave them any food while you were gone. They would have been fine (and possibly better) if you had left them with no food. Did you add anything new to the tank before you left, such as plants or other fish?

 

[allthemaples]

Only "new" thing was that the other two adult fish had been introduced on November 10. They all got along very well.

My husband mentioned to me a few minutes ago that the hardness was up a bit - but everything else was fine (including the ph, nitrates and trites).

I thought you couldn't leave guppies for more than 2 or 3 days without feeding (???)

 

[allthemaples]

Would anyone know what she had, given the symptom I noted when I removed her? Or would this be just a common thing to see with a dead fish? (That was, a redness near where she poops and a red string hanging from that area). Thanks!

Maybe old age?

When she gave birth a couple of weeks ago, she only had one fry.

 

[fluttermoth]

Redness near the vent and strings of poo are all common in dead fish, so they're no help as symptoms of anything, I'm afraid.

Could you post all the numbers from your tests please? How old was the fish?

Aquarium fish can easily go two weeks without being fed; it's much safer to leave them with nothing than risk water quality problems while you're not there to deal with them.

 

[allthemaples]

Redness near the vent and strings of poo are all common in dead fish, so they're no help as symptoms of anything, I'm afraid.

Could you post all the numbers from your tests please? How old was the fish?

Aquarium fish can easily go two weeks without being fed; it's much safer to leave them with nothing than risk water quality problems while you're not there to deal with them.

 

[allthemaples]

I just did the test again - here are the results:

GH: 60
KH: 80
PH: 7
NO2: 0
NO3: 10

I'm sorry that I don't know the fish's age, but she looked pretty full grown. We got her from a pet store in February; she gave birth to many fry in March. 1 male survived (died after recovering from a course of antibiotics weeks ago). She gave birth, again, to one fry about 10 days ago ... that little one is in great shape.

Thank you for telling me about the feeding. I won't do that again!! We never go away anywhere near that length anyway.

 

[the_lock_man]

I did all the necessary testing (5 component).

Unfortunately, you didn't, because there's a major test missing from here.

GH: 60
KH: 80
PH: 7
NO2: 0
NO3: 10

Ammonia, NH3, which is the fish's waste product, and is turned into NO2 by the filter bacteria. It seems that many paper test-strip products don't have an ammonia test, is that what you are using? If so, I would strongly suggest you invest in liquid tests, as the paper ones are often inaccurate. If money is an issue, just get ammonia and nitrite for now.

My guess is that the holiday-feeder has caused an ammonia spike, and that's what killed your fish.

 

[allthemaples]

Oh ... no I don't have an ammonia tester.

But - wouldn't it have killed the other fish, especially the fry?

 

[the_lock_man]

It depends on the actual level in the tank.

Some humans are more prone to illness than others, and it's the same with fish. Individuals have better immune systems than others, some individuals are hardier than others.

Yes, you would ahve thought that a juvenile fish would be less hardy than an adult, but it's not necessarily the case.

You could try having your local fish shop test the water for ammonia, but ask them to give you the actual reading, not just "fine" or "a little high".