Worried about my guppies

[FalconStorm]

Okay, I have three guppies and three fry. They are currently being treated for ich, but their treatment is almost done. Two of my guppies, the male and a female, have me worried. Their bellies look bigger than the other female, almost swollen. They wiggle their bodies constantly when they're staying in one place and they move their lips and gills like they're gasping. I'm wondering if the oxygen in the water is low, or if it might have anything to do with the ich treatment. They've been eating just fine, though...actually, they're little pigs.

Do I need to get an airstone in there? The filter I have in the tank does not ripple the surface much so I'm really leaning toward low oxygen levels, but I'd like some opinions from people that have done more with fish.

Oh yeah...the tank was cycled before I started ich treatment. Can I even get accurate test readings from it with the ich treatment in there?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

What are you feeding them at the moment? they could be constipated.
With the filter i'd raise it so that its a bit above the water so it creates ripples/bubbles in the tank; how big a tank are they in?
I wouldn't have thought the med will interfere with the readings, i would test the water now anyway just to see.

 

[FalconStorm]

Actually, constipation sounds right as there has been some very large poo in the water. I don't know what to do for it, though. I've been feeding them flake food with the occasional live or frozen, but mostly flake. I know that with betta's, feeding them peas helps with constipation. Would that work for guppies.

They are in a 5 gal tank. Yeah, I know that's a lot of guppies for a 5 gal. I am currently shopping around for a 20-30 gal to move them to. I can't really move the filter, but I've got plants in there, which is why I wasn't sure if it might be oxygen problems. Of course, the temp is higher for the ich treatment too. maybe a combination of some airstone and constipation treatment?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I would feed them some peas as it works just as well for guppys as it does bettas, algae wafers/tablets also work too. Anything you can do to add more oxygen will be good too
I would try and get them that bigger tank as soon as posible as they'll be in much better health for it.
If the fish have got over the worst part of the ich i would start turning the temp down gradually; 24degrees is the best temp for guppys .

 

[FalconStorm]

I presume that is 24 degrees celsius. What is that in farenheiht? I'm in the U.S. Hmm...I suppose I could find out for myself, huh?

So, how do I do the peas? Should I just get some canned peas? Fresh? Frozen? Should I cut them up? I've never fed peas before.

 

[Annastasia]

It'd be 75 degrees F.

I take a fresh pea, pop it out of it's shell, and then cut it up in VERY tiny pieces. It's always worked pretty well!

 

[FalconStorm]

Hmm...I hope we have some fresh peas at the supermarket...

These are just regular English peas, right?

 

[Polardbear]

You can also use frozen peas. I microwave for 30 - 45 seconds then cool them in cold water. Pop them out of their outer skins and mush them up and then drop them in the tank.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

As far as i know, they are just normal peas although i've always used algae wafers to treat constipation, but peas apparently are a bit more effective.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I feed my livebearers lightly boiled frozen peas every week (well, I've only had the current lot about 3 weeks), and it is their absolutely favouritest food! Not only good for digestion, but I also think it keeps them more active since they have to work that little bit harder to eat it. Less boring than just skimming flakes off the surface. I pop the peas out of the skin and cut them up or crush them lightly- guppies can bite so it doesn't matter tremendously how you do it. 2-3 peas seems about right for my 3 guppies and 3 platys.

 

[FalconStorm]

I think I may start feeding them and my bettas peas once a week. I feed a high protein flake food and live or frozen food for treats, so it probably wouldn't hurt a bit to feed them once a week on peas.

Do any of you know if peas might be good for neons, cory's and otos too?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Yep, they'll be good for all those fish because they all need to have a certain amount of veg in their diet to stay healthy as they are not plain meat eaters