View Full Version : Odd Guppy Behavior
Alec2cool
03-15-2010, 2:29 PM
My brother's girlfriend gave me her guppy because she didnt want it anymore. I noticed when i first put him in my tank that his gills look ridiculously huge and he breathes really fast. all he does now is hide among my floating plants and seems to have trouble staying balanced. ive seen him drop from the plants and then struggle to get himself back up there. im not sure whats wrong. Please help, he's very pretty and i dont want him to die!
Michwol42795
03-15-2010, 2:30 PM
What are your params??
Alec2cool
03-15-2010, 3:54 PM
Params? im quite new to the whole fish-keeping deal so i dont know a whole lot of slang
excuzzzeme
03-15-2010, 4:29 PM
1. First thing, change half the water that he is in and watch for improvement over the next few hours.
You said "floating plants", are they real? Yes, there are artificial floaters.
2. You need to do a water test and if you don't have one get one or you're likely to lose more fish in the future. If you cannot afford a water test kit, take a sample to your fish store in a clean GLASS jar and have them test it. You will need less than a cupful. If you cannot afford a quality liquid kit, then at minimum get the test strips to carry you over for a couple of weeks. Test strips are not known for a high degree of accuracy and in the long run cost more than a liquid kit does.
3. What size tank and any other fish in it?
4. Read the newcomer section on tank cycling. It addresses water parameters, i.e your ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.
5. Are you on city water and if so have you used a dechlorinator? "Prime" is good at neutralizing chlorine, chloramine, and ammonia.
Piranha86
03-15-2010, 4:34 PM
Take a sample (1-2 cups) of your water to a local PetSmart. They will test it for you. Params are parameters. This involves the amount of ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, and other things, as well as the pH and hardness of the aquarium. Make sure this checks up with guppy parameters. the first 3 are best the lowest, especially ammonia and nitrate, and pH should be 7-8. It should be somewhat hard water. Try adding 1tsp of salt per 5g of water. That seems to help guppies...
Alec2cool
03-15-2010, 6:51 PM
I have a 37g tank with 3 black skirts, 2 balloon mollys, 1 redtail shark, 1 golden dojo loach, a large tadpole (temporary) and a guppy. The water is ok. I have 200gallon per hour filter and all my plants are artifical. Now i know my brother's girlfriend almost never cleans her tank and thats why i was glad to take her fish. She told me he did the same thing in her tank since she got it from the petstore in january and thats why she didnt like it. Ive added aquarium salt also because ive been told that helps fish breathe.
excuzzzeme
03-15-2010, 7:17 PM
Salt isnt good for most fish that don't have scales nor does it help fish to breathe.
What it is good for is to increase slimecoat production and helps to mitigate parasites. Salt with guppies is no big deal as they have a very high tolerance for it.
The fact that you have a 200gph filter makes me question the water as it is barely adequate for your tank but at least you have a light bio-load. Filters do little good against ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate. They do harbor some beneficial bacteria but not as much as your substrate, decor and other hard surfaces do.
If you don't know your water parameters, you need to find out before anyone can help further. Saying it is OK is like saying "water is wet". It doesn't help us in helping you. This is a hard part to get people to understand water parameters are vitally important in keeping fish healthy.
P.S. Guppies don't need Ph 7-8. They can actually do well in a much broader range but knowing it helps to understand your water.
Alec2cool
03-15-2010, 7:39 PM
Ok, i think tomorrow ill put my water in a cup and take it to the petstore. Also the box says the filter is for a 50g and i have a 37g. Its a Marineland Biowheel Pengion 200.
Alec2cool
03-16-2010, 4:09 PM
I went to petsmart and tested my water. They told me that everything is safe, i also explained the guppy problem to one of the employees. She told me that animals can be born with breathing problems were they will breathe very rapidly. Is this true?
Michwol42795
03-16-2010, 4:24 PM
I went to petsmart and tested my water. They told me that everything is safe, i also explained the guppy problem to one of the employees. She told me that animals can be born with breathing problems were they will breathe very rapidly. Is this true?
Well, yah that can happen but I think there's more to it in your case. Is it improving?
Alec2cool
03-16-2010, 4:51 PM
Seems to be getting worse. He doesnt hide around the floating plants anymore. He just lays at the bottom and opens and closes his gills like a madman
Alec2cool
03-16-2010, 7:54 PM
Anyone have any ideas what i could do to make him better? Ive already done water changes. Ive gotten my water checked at PetSmart and its fine. None of my fish bother the guppy. He just lays at the bottom breathing rapidly. Ive had him for about 4days now.
Piranha86
03-21-2010, 6:04 PM
I went to petsmart and tested my water. They told me that everything is safe, i also explained the guppy problem to one of the employees. She told me that animals can be born with breathing problems were they will breathe very rapidly. Is this true?
No offense to anybody or anything, but *some* not all, petsmart employees are... incompetent to put it bluntly. I know several that are great. Anyway, there are a few things that could have happened. One, it could have been born with the 'disorder'. Fancy guppies often have a few fish in the group that are disabled, if that's what you want to call it. These are generally shipped to pet stores. Second thing, it could be the victim of abuse from other fish.
Alec2cool
03-21-2010, 8:06 PM
Thank you but he did die a couple days ago. I doubt fish were abusing him, everyone seemed to ignore him in my brother's girlfriend's tank and the same for my tank. I dont know if he was a victim of abuse at the petstore. I replaced him with another guppy who swims happily with my balloon mollies
Kenji1989
11-10-2010, 9:40 PM
Hi I have 5 guppies and they seem to like to hang out together is that normal? And is it normal for a guppy to hover near surface?
Kenji1989
11-10-2010, 9:41 PM
if anyone can help plz do
Betta Bob
11-10-2010, 10:23 PM
Yes, my Guppies love to hang out together, and it is also normal that they inhabit the upper level of the tank. If they are all huddled up at the top gasping then this would obviously not be normal, and would probably be related to the water quality in the tank.
I think she gave you a fish she saw had problems to get rid of it, rest in piece little dude. be careful putting strange fish from other tanks into yours you don’t know what diseases they may have, quarantine fish separately for 2 weeks if you not sure.
Kenji1989
11-10-2010, 10:59 PM
no they just like to stay up there not gasping at all
Ashes2ashes
11-10-2010, 11:07 PM
no they just like to stay up there not gasping at all
I think people are confusing your question with the original post for this thread which was actually from quite a while back. It is normal for guppies to hang together and to occassionaly hang at the top too depending on the reason. If they are not gasping for air and do not appear stressed, and your water parameters are normal then I would say it was pretty normal behavior. Next time you might want to try posting your question in a new thread in the fw forum so the people know you are starting a new topic instead of adding to an old thread. :)
Kenji1989
11-10-2010, 11:10 PM
ok sorry I will next time I have a question
Ashes2ashes
11-10-2010, 11:13 PM
No need to be sorry. Just letting you know how you might get better help. ;)
Kenji1989
11-12-2010, 11:50 AM
Hi is it normal behavior for a male guppy to have his tail fin curved?
Kenji1989
11-12-2010, 1:05 PM
and he is moving his tail without moving forward?
Kenji1989
11-12-2010, 1:33 PM
nm he died :(