Guppy fry-clamped tails HELP!

Fishstix3000

Beware the Caerbannog Rabbit!
Nov 23, 2008
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One of my guppies dropped 43ish fry about 4 days ago. Today I noticed that there were a few dead ones at the bottom of the breeding tank I kept them in. I looked closely at the live ones, and about half have their tails clamped to where they loook pointed. Does anyone know what causes this or what to do about it?

I checked water conditions, and everything is at acceptable levels.

Thanks!
 
How big is the tank that they are in, and what kind of tank is it?

That happened to a bunch of my fry a few months ago. Even though the water params checked fine, I think there was something wrong with the water. I did frequent partial water changes for a few days and they recovered.
 
The levels are:

Nitrates: b/w 0-20
Nitrites: 0
GH: >300
Chlorine: 0
KH: >300
pH: b/w 7.2-7.6

The tank is 29 gallons, glass, gravel substrate, some low-tech plants, some deco and fake plants to hide around, hob filter, temp is 80 deg.

What do I need to do?

Thanks!!
 
I've been using Jungle Lab's Quick Dip 6 in 1 test strips. It doesn't test for ammonia, which until that question was asked I have completely been overlooking. Can ammonia spike without nitrates or nitrites also getting high?

Thanks!
 
Test strips aren't as reliable as the liquid test kit such as API, and the ammonia level is definitely extremely important. You can have an ammonia spike with low levels of nitrate/nitrate, it happens to me occasionally. I can always tell if there is an ammonia spike in one of my tanks, the guppies will "flash", by quickly rubbing themselves along the gravel. When I then test the ammonia level it is higher than normal. I've never had a high ammonia reading (I do bi-weekly partial water changes), just up to .25, but it's enough to adversely affect my guppies. My guppies are always the first to show any signs of stress with an ammonia spike.

You should do a partial water change now, and re-test every day until you get the ammonia level down. (if that's what the problem is, which I suspect it is)
 
Your ammonia level is probably to high from the dead ones. The initial deaths could just be natural selection, but their rotting carcus causes ammonia to go up.
 
Ick. I remove the carcasses before they begin rotting.

Thanks! I'll get an ammonia test kit right away. How ridiculous is it that you can think you have everything covered, and then be missing something as significant as the ammonia level? I am an idiot.

Thanks for all the advice! I'll let you know about the ammonia levels once I test them!
 
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