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the guppy that I tried to help died anyway...
By schuldi, Section Ask Guppylog Posted on Wed Aug 29, 2007 at 12:33:52 PM PST Tags: (all tags)

Hello ~ I am new to this, so please bare with me since I may ramble on, even though I don't mean to.

I bought some fancy guppies, 5 male for my daughter's 3 gallon tank. I made sure that I read all directions about getting the tank prepped, conditioned, etc.

I bought another male one, I know I probably shouldn't have, at another store. Before putting in with the others, I prepped it and so on.

It seemed that it was being picked on by one of the other male guppies, hiding behind the tank, hanging out around the snails... I have read that males can possibly be aggressive due to size of tank, but then after reading more, I also read that any ill related guppies will possibly be picked on by the others.

SO, I separated the picking guppy into another bowl, just overnight, I was trying to help the little guy "blackie". I actually saw the picky guppy nipping at him and his tail, so being concerned, I wanted to help somehow. What I maybe should have done was separate blackie.

Anyway, I thought maybe if I got some taller plants, then that would distract all of them. After rinsing off the plants, I put them in along with picky, the guppy that I separated overnight.

2 things:

1. Blackie got stuck near the top of the plant and I don't know for how long - I noticed this and helped him back into the water. How long is too long for a fish even though he wasn't completely out of the water?

2. The picky guppy that I separated seemed to have lost some of his beautiful color variations - I read that this could happen with water changes, but now I am feeling horrible about all of this.

... if I didn't separate them, I was worried that blackie was going to get stressed out, continually picked on and die, then I bought a taller plant thinking it was going to help, now the other one lost some color... oh my, just to find out that when I came back downstairs, 40 minutes later, blackie was floating at the top ! I FEEL HORRIBLE, I am so upset. I just feel that if I left well enough alone, it would have all been fine....

Please, any thoughts on this?

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the guppy that I tried to help died anyway... | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: the guppy that I tried to help died anyway... (none / 0) (#5)
by schuldi on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 06:03:57 PM PST

As I had mentioned, I was new to the website, so I apologize that I got the intro and body all messed up and didn't take the time to read the directions.

I know that the tank is small, so I was more concerned about what had happened that I just wanted to post it. Also, before investing into a larger tank with all the necessities, which can run a pretty penny, I wanted to see if I could keep up with this and enjoy it by starting small and share this hobby with my daughter.

To all who responded, THANK YOU SO MUCH ! I really appreciate the time that you have taken as I was very distraught and since it was made quite clear that I posted this incorrectly.

I would buy some females, but I really don't want to breed them.

My water temp is at 75-76 degrees.

I really wish that the pet store would have told me about quantity to get because my intentions were good.

Are there any other small fish that can be put in a 3 gallon tank 5 at a time? Neon tetras maybe?

Thanks again,

Diane

Re: the guppy that I tried to help died anyway... (none / 0) (#6)
by MollieGuppy on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:16:08 PM PST

Hello, Diane
larger tanks wont be a problem if the bug catches. I started with a hex and now own a multitude of tanks.

With 1 male and 3 females you wont even notice they have given birth unless you catch them at the right time, In a tank that small any fry will quickly become fish food and any that don't you can give to other people wanting to start, Or get adventurous and grow them on.

unfortunately most fish stores seem to run on the " if you say it with confidence the customer will believe you" quote.

I'm sorry but my opinion sides with the bigger the tank the better for the beginner. you should be doing a lot of water changed for that many fish in that small of a tank. I really wouldn't be happy with putting any fish in that size except fry.

Of course it can be done, and that's only my opinion

mollieGuppy

[ Parent ]

-1, because (none / 0) (#3)
by Scott Lockwood on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 07:43:45 AM PST

your intro text has nothing to do with your body text. This is called 'Meta' in that, it's about you posting, not about something related to the hobby, or your fish. Meta comments belong in comments, not in the intro or body blocks.

"I love to visit PetSmart's Tropical Fish Dept. to see what new diseases are around today." -- inkmaker

Re: the guppy that I tried to help died anyway... (none / 1) (#1)
by MollieGuppy on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 05:15:35 AM PST

Hmm, I'm Not sure whether the fish store told you, But putting 6 guppies in a 3 gallon is not good

On the other hand 3 gallon is enough for a reef now :D

But more to the point 6 male guppies together is a Death sentence, The correct ratio being 1:3 or 1:4.

I am pretty sure that Blacky wasn't disease. I'm also quite sure that he was stuck on top of that plant to try and get away from another male.

My Next point of action would be to take 4 of your 5 remaining males to the pet store and get a swap for some females.

Actually I would swap them for a 10-gallon tank (none / 0) (#2)
by unclescott on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 06:06:18 AM PST

and read a little more about conditioning an aquarium in Immediate Help before setting up. :)

See if your LFS (Live Fish Store) has any bacteria in a bag which could be added to an aquarium. It sounds wastefully expensive to get test kits for ammonia, nitrogen and nitrates. But long term, it probably is worth it.

[ Parent ]

Another thing we carry on about a lot is doing (none / 0) (#4)
by unclescott on Thu Apr 12, 2007 at 11:09:44 AM PST

partial water changes. If you have no water sitting now to put in that tank, could could pick up a gallon of drinking water (not distilled, not baby...) next time you are at the grocery? Siphon a gallon off of the tank's bottom - that gets a lot of fecal material out and then, making sure that the gallon is about the same temperature (or a tad warmer) than the tank, gradually add it.

At the moment I have 4 siphons going. Basically hard & soft airlines are running from gallon jugs (cut off at the top to make pouring in and out easier.) That provide a change which is rather gentle in terms of any chemical differences in the water and also it doesn't roil things up.

When that jug's water is used, put a dab of whatever water conditioner was recommended in. Fill it up. Leave it open (always offers exciting possibilities with little tykes around) so that a little free oxygen can get in and free carbon dioxide can get out.

In a day or three or seven, siphon out a gallon of water and replace it. Assuming that the water is safe and warm. a person can not make too many daily partial water changes. :)

Should you got to a 10-gallon aquarium, get 4 water jugs. ;) Start that tank cycling with just two or three guppies.

Temperature was mentioned. Heating tiny tanks is always tricky. If these are fancy guppies, would their temperature be in the 76-78 F. neighborhood? Higher and they can be a little more aggressive. Lower and they are vulnerable to chills and outbreaks of Ich.

Submersible heaters are a little bit more expensive but more durable and efficient. Still I wonder how many of us unplug them before we fiddle with a tank.

The so-called common guppies are hardier. But many times, especially if they were in the feeder guppy tank, they need to be treated with something recommended for internal parasites. Should you keep your 3-gallon tank and get a larger one, the three might be used as a quarantine tank for new fish, their first few weeks in the family. Towards the end of quarantine, treat with Fluke tabs (broken to fir the gallons available) or a comparable anti-parasite med.

There are a couple of small but good books out on guppies and livebearers.

Stan Shubel's Aquarium Care of Fancy Guppies (Hardcover, 2006. TFH Press) in a new entry, listing at $9.95. It seems to be in the big box book stores around here. And they replaced it when I bought a copy. ;)

Guppies, Mollies, Platys and Other Live-Bearers: Purchase, Care, Feeding, Diseases, Behavior and a Special Section on Breeding: Harro Hieronimus
Paperback, 1993 (Barrons Press)

Maybe take a look at http://product.half.ebay.com/Aquarium-Care-of-Fancy-Guppies_W0QQtgZinfoQQprZ54037437

Depending upon how old your daughter is, you may have to edit (summarize) what is on a page. The images are good, as is the info.

And speaking as a long time school teacher, reading with your kids, from an early age, as you undoubtedly know, is one of the best things you can do for them.

[ Parent ]

the guppy that I tried to help died anyway... | 6 comments (6 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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