I'm a Guppy Killer

[nr5a]

Fun subject isn't it. Well I am really interested in Guppies but after they have been in our 10 gal tank they die after a week or so. I have no clue what I do to kill them. I did buy a female that was ready to drop, put her in what I call my Fri tank and she had 20 to 25 babies on the 27th of last month. The so called fri tank is a 5 gal hex tank in our hall. I've been watching them grow and some are starting to show color. I have one whose entire back end is black. I'm almost scared to put them in the big tank when they get bigger, I know they will die. The biggest problem is the tanks stay hot at least 82 degs. When cooler weather gets here I'll fire the heaters up. I have not done anything different with the 5 gal tank. So what is killing the guppies when they go to the big tank????

Weve had the 10 gal tank now about 2 months. All the fish in it are the orginal ones. 2 - corys , 2- long finned dianos, 2-zebra, 2 - platties, 1 - frog, and 1 - crab. But when I put guppies in the tank within a week they die.

Jerry - NR5A

[Lady Hobbs]

More than likely, you never cycled your fish tank. Ammonia built up and killed your fish. Read about cycling in the cyling forum here to get you started.

[robnepper]

Yep. Your temp is fine. I agree with Hobbs, get that tank cycled and then start thinking about other fish. Could be that the fish you are using to cycle the tank are adapting to the ammo levels and the guppies are just getting shocked.

Be prepared to lose some more, if the tank isn't cycled though.

[W_Oz]

We're really saying that a tank that's been established for 2 months with fish hasn't cycled at 82°F but the Fri tank has?

I'm not wholly convinced. Though it would be easy enough to find out. Have your water tested!

On another note, I'm curious if your fry are eating or getting the opportunity to eat once they move into their new home. Granted a week is a little short for them to starve to death, but they're small animals and won't have huge reserves to subsist off of combined with their increased metabolic rate due to the elevated tank temps.

Other issues, your 10 gal looks like it might be overstocked, but that's just me throwing that out there. If you do have Nitrates, but also ammonia and nitrite, you're looking at a tank that's in process of cycling still or your Biological filter being overwhelmed and you'll need to 1) get another filter or 2) look into getting a larger home for your existing fish or both. In which case your guppies are being shocked by the toxin levels in your 10 gal where the other fish are tolerating it, but not necessarily happy about it.

[SkinnyChicken]

More than likely, you never cycled your fish tank. Ammonia built up and killed your fish. Read about cycling in the cyling forum here to get you started.

Wow Hobbs, almost didn't recognise you there with your new look :hmm3grin2orange: - what is he by the way?

[ehjsne]

Its most likely the nitrogen cycle thats killing them. When the fish eat, they poop, which then rots and makes ammonia. Ammonia is then "eaten" by nitrites which is then "eaten" by harmless (to an extent) nitrate. The problem is that the ammonia build up will kill your fish, try fishless cycling or get some other fish to cycle it. I

lost all my first fish to the stress of cycling (i believe thats why they got ick, never dealt with it since! WOOT!). My fish store kept telling me to use the wrong medicine and now I have a large draw just piled with fish medicine. It was horrible. My emerald green cory cat fish lived for about a month after the rest died and then she died.

[nr5a]

Cycling is just removing 25to 50% of the water and replacing it, isn't it?? I plan to recycle about 25% of the water tomorrow. However 3-4 weeks ago I did a 50% cycle.

I put some Aquariam Salt in the tank tonite, read that Guppies like it. Talked to a salesman at Pet Smart tonite, and he told me to bring in a water sample. My wife complains everytime I buy something cause it dies. I'm going to have Guppies, its either me or the Guppies. haha

I'm debaiting on getting a water tester set but I can hear her now. May not be necessary now that they will test the water for me.

Beats me, this fish stuff is new to me.

Jerry - NR5A

[NickFish]

Cycling is just removing 25to 50% of the water and replacing it, isn't it?? I plan to recycle about 25% of the water tomorrow. However 3-4 weeks ago I did a 50% cycle.

Jerry - NR5A

No, that is not a cycle. That is a water change. A cycle is a long biological process that takes weeks or even months to complete. Your tank may be cycled, but you may have added too many fish too fast and caused another mini cycle.
Look here for what cycling is- [Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

Let us know the test results. If any ammonia shows up it is not cycled .