Solo guppy  5/10/08
I'm sorry to have to ask the question and I have looked in the FAQ'S and couldn't find the answer. Out of the blue I noticed one guppy dead plastered to a plastic plant. I've had 2 guppies in a 5 gallon tank for over a year. The water quality is good - no ammonia, nitrites, etc. Although I have stains on glass and filter from water hardness.
Two questions, this guppy showed no odd signs of behavior before dying, what could have been the problem?
<Quite possibly old age. Fancy Guppies are not long lived. Wild fish are basically annuals, though in captivity "hardy" Guppies (e.g., Feeder guppies) can live for 2+ years. But Fancy Guppies were bred with a view to colour and finnage rather than hardiness, and by the time you purchase an adult male, he may be 6 months old already. So assuming water conditions are good, he may just be life expired. That said, a 5 gallon tank is a lot smaller than I'd *ever* recommend for Guppies because they are delicate and the males are quite aggressive.>
How do I clean water hardness stains?
<Easily removed using a bit of elbow grease (as we call it in England) plus a cloth moistened with lemon juice or vinegar.>
Can this remaining guppy be kept alone or should I put another in there?
<He/she be absolutely fine on his own. Females are gregarious and do best in groups, but males are mutually aggressive and don't have much of a schooling instinct, if any, in captivity.>
after QT?
Your quick response is appreciated.
Irene (stumped)
<Sincerely, Neale.>

Re: Solo guppy  5/10/08
Thank you for your quick and detailed answer.. It is very helpful.. One last question, can I use this lemon juice/vinegar to clean while fish is still in the tank?
Irene
<For cleaning the outside the tank, yes, you can use vinegar or lemon juice. Apply carefully though, to avoid getting it into the tank itself. Cheers, Neale.>

First Time Fish Family. Guppies, reading    12/31/07
Hello!
My daughter just received her first-ever Aquarium (a first for all of us I might add) and we want to do the right thing. It's an Eclipse System 6
6-gallon Aquarium. We were advised by our pet-store-of-choice as to what choices would work in our size Aquarium so as of yesterday we now have 3 Tequila Sunrise Guppies . . .
<Mmm, is/was this system cycled?>
I have 2 digital photos showing them (the 2 smaller ones (Kasey & Princess) in 1 photo and the 3rd and largest 1 (Chelsey) in another) but one photo is 922 KB and the other is 877 KB so I won't send them to you since they're larger then you prefer.
<Are fine, though could be made smaller... a few hundred Kbytes is about right>
I've researched several sites today trying to read up on various pieces of information about the fish, one question I'm trying to answer is what Gender our 3 are. It's hard for me to determine how colorful they might be . . . they all 3 look very colorful to me but as I do not have anything otherwise to compare them to I don't know if they are more colorful or less than any other. I will say this, 2 are smaller than the 3rd.
<Mmm, these fish utilize "internal fertilization"... males have modified anal fins... gonopodiums... for genetic intromission... long, tubular... Females have a definitely different "body plan"... See WWM re>
The 2 smaller ones (Kasey & Princess) seem to "stay together with one seeming to "tag" the other and then the larger one (Chelsey) stays by itself, with the one smaller one once in awhile trying to "tag" it as well.
I also witnessed something earlier today that I am curious about . . . about 5 minutes after my daughter & I fed them, Chelsey, the larger of the 3 started swimming up & down, up & down, then side to side, and so on and kept at it at very "intense" rate of speed. I came back to my computer, looked up "chasing" thinking it was chasing it's reflection maybe and something came up on a blog, but what caught my attention in there was the person saying that their Guppies "ate like little pigs" . . . so I thought that maybe Chelsey was trying to tell me they wanted more food so I put just a few more flakes in and they ate that and the rapid swimming behavior did not occur anymore after that. We are still trying to gauge the feeding instructions we were given verbally as well in the pamphlets we received that all say, "Only feed them as much as they can eat in five minutes" . . . of course as warned we do not want to overfeed but yet we also do not want to under-feed them!
<Good>
Any advise as to more info to determine their Gender and to whether Chelsey was trying to tell me they were still hungry? Any other advise based on info I gave you as to other behavior I mentioned that tells you something we need to know?
Thanks for your help! Different things I have thought of and started to research have brought me back to your site and I have saved it as a Favorite in my own folder as well as my daughters for future use!
Thanks,
Damorrow & Madyson
Arlington, Texas, USA
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppies.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

sick fish... guppy... child... no useful data... reading
hello I have a question about my male guppy, at first when we got him about a month ago he was happy healthy and showing everyone he's the boss .Now since yesterday he's been very isolated and away from the others near the heater and floating plants. He's in a 75 gallon tank with 6 other males and 8 females and a little over 60 fry (just born) anyway he doesn't look any different he's just as bright as always. He eats when I put food and doesn't seem to have any disease but it's just weird. I know it seems dumb to make such a big deal but recently allot of females died of Columnaris and I don't want anymore sick fish thanks.
<Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppies.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

ill guppy, poor writing, no useful info.    8/8/07
Hi I need your help and expertise
my guppy has been ill for quiet some time now he was ones a Healy fat fish but then he started going a dull colour he has lost his colour now and is nearly see threw and he is very skinny too Evan though I see him eat he doesn't gain any thing and also his poo is red/ orange and always coming out of his bum what do u think is wrong with him and what treatment do u recommend I don't think he will survive much longer I wish I fond your sight sooner .please help ..sammi..
<Please send your writing through spelling/grammar checker/s before sending... And read here: http://www.wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppydisfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. BobF>

Re: is my guppy pregnant?   7/17/07
Thank you for you help I also thought of another questions last night just after I sent the first email. How long is the female guppies gestation period? Thanks again for your time
<This is posted... along with other related material. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppyreprofaqs.htm
and the linked files above. BobF>

Guppies are simple   5/10/07
Hi Crew,
This letter is just to tick off all those who write in about their problems with guppies and their fry. My grandson (10) just got 2 males and 2 females from an LFS plus a small tank with a filter.  Within 24 hours he had over 50 new ones and managed to save them and place them in a separate container which is just like a large jar, no water movement and nothing to clean the water other than changing most of it once a week. It is now 4 weeks later and he only lost 3 babies. I can't figure it out but they must be some very hardy fish. Of the original 4 only one male is left. It killed off the others. I am trying to convince him that it is safe to put the babies in the tank because I doubt  they will survive too much longer in that set up he has.
<Well... the popular livebearers are "not what they used to be" back a few decades ago... Do die "mysteriously" nowadays... but still a great joy and growth experience for young folks (and not!) to house, keep... I still can't stop collecting the fabulous one gallon jars available (mostly with pickles for us) that would serve as great small containers... If only the source/tap water were "safer"... Cheers, BobF>

Guppies And Bettas  - 10/14/06
Hi. I have had my Betta [Sushi] for 2 or three months. I have recently moved him into a 10 gallon tank. The tank has mirrored glass walls so when he sees his reflection he gets bigger, I know why but is it healthy?
< After a while he should get used to it and settle down.>
And I have tried to turn on the filter but every time I do his fins get sucked into it. I am scared that his fins will be damaged so I shut off the filter. Do you recommend sponge filters?
< Look online or at you local fish store for a pre-filter sponge. They are usually sold for power heads but many will fit some outside power filters too. They clog pretty quickly so you will have to take them out and clean them weekly. Sponge filters are great. they just don't look so good in a display tank.>
In addition to this I just got three guppies, 2 females and one male and put them in the tank with my Betta. The females don't swim around much, they just sit at the bottom. Is it because my Betta is in there?
< Sitting on the bottom doesn't sound right, they may be ill.>
Also my female guppies are as big as the male, which is pretty small. All the things I've read about female guppies say they should be bigger than the males. And I want to breed my guppies but not sure how. I know if my female, if pregnant, and has her fry in the tank the Betta will eat them. I plan to take out the Betta if one of my females have fry, but will the male eat them.
Thanks for your time Shelby, age 12
< The females should be bigger than the males. Get the water temp. up to 80 F and feed them high quality food and they will grow up in no time. They are livebearers, so when a female is pregnant and ready to give birth she should be removed to her own tank. In the tank you can get a livebearer trap from the LFS. This will allow the fry to swim away from the female and hopefully not get eaten. All the fish will eat guppy fry, so raise them until they are large enough to go back in with the adults.-Chuck>

Need help, and have NO clue what to do! Guppies...  - 04/05/2006
Ok, I'm very new to aquarium keeping. About four days ago I had to separate my Gold Gourami from my two male fancy guppies due to aggression. After they were separated i watched my guppies because one had some fight tears in his  tail fin and I wanted to make sure everything was ok. As I was observing the guppies I noticed my orange guppy, Toby, had a small patch of skin, a bit lighter than his mostly orange body on his, how should i put it... well in the vicinity of his dorsal fin. My first thought was fungus , or maybe even ick. But I waited until the next morning to see if maybe it would go away. It didn't. I have been treating him with an anti parasitic/anti fungal medication, as well as Melafix. This has been for around 2 and a half to 3 days now. The patch has not responded, and again it is a small patch lighter than his bright orange, near his dorsal fin. I also noticed him rub against a banana plant twice in the last couple days.  Other than that he has been eating and swimming like normal. And the patch isn't like a pustule, so I think it might not be ick. Here come the questions: What could the patch be? How and for how long and with what should i treat it? Could this just be a normal skin coloring? and is this serious? Thanks for all that you do, and ya'lls site is AWESOME!!!!!                   Morgaine
<... not enough useful information offered here... re environment, nutrition, history. Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppydisfaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>

Re-answered questions re Poecilia reticulata   2/17/06
Hi, i was wondering if you could tell me how long it takes a guppy to have a full batch of fry? Also, my guppy is having fry at the moment but only two have survived and the rest have been released like eggs. Is there anything wrong?
<Only that you haven't read through WWM before writing. Please see here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppyreprofaqs.htm
and the linked files above. Bob Fenner>
Thank you

http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppyreprofaqs.htm   2/13/06
Hi,
    I have a female guppy who has been specially bred by my best male guppy, but I know that she is pregnant, but she about medium sized and not getting that much bigger, and some times she gets skinnier, but doesn't have any babies.
    When Ever my female guppies have babies I never know when they do what signs can I look for to know when she is going to give birth.
                                                              Louis
<Has likely been giving birth... Please read here: http://wetwebmedia.com/FWSubWebIndex/guppyreprofaqs.htm
Bob Fenner>

Guppy Coloring  - 1/30/2006
Hi there. I have been trying to research why guppies may not be as bright as they once were. I feed them the same food and all the water levels are where they should be, as well as temp. Could there be a reason why they aren't quite as bright?
Sharon
<Yes... most importantly "water quality"... The breeders I have known are fanatics re doing very regular water changes (to dilute "wastes" as well as other chemicals that have negative feed-back loops on the growth and color of their guppies (and other aquatic life). Do you change water at least once a week? I would be treating, storing and changing a good quarter of the water out as often as you can develop a routine/discipline for. Of course food/nutrition plays a role here... but you state you have not changed this parameter. Bob Fenner>

Female fancy guppy question   1/14/06
Hi,
<Hello>
I hope that you can answer my question or lead me to the proper place to get the information I need.  We have a 46 gallon tank, after we set up the tank
and had it ready for fish (the pet store tested the water quality as did we), we decided that we only wanted fancy guppies.  We purchased 10 males and 10 females,
<A bad ratio... too many males... and too many fish to put in a new tank at once>
which the store said was a good combination to start with. We were told that they were strictly kept separated until we purchased them and mixed them in our tank.
<...?>
We noticed that a couple of our females were losing their color, first in their tale fin and then in their bodies.  We
had them die 24 hours after being placed in the tank.
<Something about the tank, water quality...>
The next day we had another die.  All three were found dead about 20-25 minutes after a feeding.
About 12 hours later, my hubby came home and he was holding the kids to
watch the fish and realized that we had fry swimming around.  We could count 7.
<Stress induced repro...>
  We put a breeder box in the tank to separate out the fry because that was the only thing we had available.  We were able to catch 5, one was eaten
and one got crushed in the gravel trying to get away from the net.  Then we noticed that there are at least 3 more females that are visibly pregnant.
<Common condition>
We have no idea which one had these fry and if it was a now deceased one. Today, I have noticed that the females which are now greatly outnumbered are
being chased constantly around the tank.  I also noticed that 4 of the remaining 6 females have either lost all color or are starting to lose their
color.  The one that is the largest in her pregnancy is still looking good. The water is testing fine for everything.
<Ammonia, nitrite?>
I just don't know what to do at this point.  One of the males has lightened in color, I believe, and has
gotten 2 dark spots on his belly.  I am new to this whole fish thing.  We
have had platys since Christmas, Swordtails a few days later, bamboo shrimp and neon tetras in a 30 gallon tank...
<Ahh! Good>
they seem to be doing fine.  We had guppies in that tank that were a replacement for some swordtails that
couldn't handle the stress of being moved and the only thing they could do was replace them with guppies which all died very quickly for us to find out
that the entire shipment was sick - but we were able to treat the tank like the store said and saved everything else in there.  That is why we have a
second tank for just guppies because the kids love them so much.  We also got this batch of guppies from a different store because of guppy quality
issues at the store where we were getting everything else.  In addition to losing color two of them are staying really close to the heater and not
really swimming, one I believe is pregnant but I can't really tell.  The water temp is 76 which is where the store had it for them.  
I just can't believe that I bought a whole batch of pregnant fish!!  That is absolutely not what a beginner needs!
Thanks in advance for your time and knowledge!
Kimberly
<It may well be that these guppies you bought were also "a bad batch"... the imported (majority) ones these years are often bunk... hormone treated, very easily lost. In the event the tank is just not completely cycled, I encourage you to add stability, by taking a good volume (like a quarter) of the water from the 30 and placing it in the newer 46. I would get/use your own test kits for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH, and learn what these tests indicate. Bob Fenner>

Guppies and Corys  9/25/05
I am setting up a new freshwater tank (36 gal) and am interested in keeping guppies and Cory cats. I've noticed on this site that a lot of people seem to have this combination. I am actually moving the guppies from a smaller tank due to reproduction. Will the guppy fry be safe in the same tank with the Cory cats or would they turn into a meal? I do have breeding grass for them to hide in which has helped them survive with the adult guppies.
<Should do fine together, if a guppy fry is on the bottom of the tank and slow enough to get eaten by a Cory then there was probably something wrong with it anyway.  Corys aren't much for hunting fish and keep to themselves, as long as you provide some hiding places for the fry they should be fine.  Gage>

Guppies, Water Quality, Cycling - (III?) - 09/11/2005
As a follow-up to my below message,
<I do realize it's a follow-up, but I can't quite discern from your previous correspondence who was helping you....  so ya get me (Sabrina) today!  I hope to be of service.>
I got a water test kit today. It's made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc and is a Freshwater Master Test Kit. Everything seems good (well, acceptable) except one item that really sticks out. Here are the specs:
pH  6.6
<Probably low for guppies, but do-able.  Is the pH from your tap this low, as well?  I'm not a proponent of augmenting your pH when avoidable, but I'd really like to see this a bit higher.>
NH3/4 (Ammonia) 0.25
NO2 (NITRITE) 0.25
<Any ammonia or nitrite above zero should be considered toxic....  Please bring these down with water changes.>
NO3 (NITRATE) 40
<Pretty high, indeed....  Again, water changes....>
Also, water temp is about 79-80 degrees.
<Not too terribly high, this is okay.>
The pH is a little low, but I don't think it's way out there. The NH3 and NO2 specs are pretty good.
<As above, bring these to zero.>
But the NO3 seems high. Could this have been caused by a algae tablet I put in for my Plecostomus a couple hours before the test?
<Unlikely.  Nitrate accumulates over time from dissolved organics (fish waste, dead plants, etc.) and of course can be influenced by stocking too many fish and not having the biological filtration capacity to handle them.>
In hindsight, I know - I should have done the test first. I put the tablet in because it seemed the Pleco was doing such a great job on the tank it may have been underfed the last couple weeks.
<Ah, no worries.>
After I put the tablet in, I noticed algae starting to build up on the glass again. The Pleco seems OK with the tablet, but the Guppies seem to really like it.
<There's no accounting for tastes!  Have you SMELLED those things??  Yuck!>
OK, the questions:
<Okay.>
1. Due to the algae build-up on the glass that I didn't see (you have to get really close to see the small algae spots), was the algae tablet a mistake?
<Nah.  He'll get to it.  Furthermore, please consider foods like blanched zucchini or cucumber for the Plec, as this is a better nutritional option.>
2. Is the tablet OK for the Guppies?
<Sure.  They like their veggies.>
3. Is the NO3 level something that I should be concerned with? (will it
drop on its own?)
<It won't drop on its own, but you can (should) lower it with water changes.  Try to maintain it below 20ppm, if possible.>
Note that I change the water about 10% every 3 or 4 days. That seems normal (works out to 20% per week). Should I be changing more?
<Mm, in this initial/cycling stage, yes, probably.  Anything to get those levels down.>
Also, I have no live plants, but have 5 adults, 5 near adults (almost a month old) and 16 fry that are almost 2 weeks old.
<I don't see tank size listed in your previous correspondences; please just try to ensure that the tank is not overstocked.>
(oh, and the 2" Pleco as the maintenance engineer for algae control - he was only about 1.25" when I got him a few weeks ago)
<He will reach a couple feet given proper space, care, time....  You might consider trading him for an Ancistrus "Bushynose" Plec, which also eats algae, and stays a more manageable 4-5 inches.>
4. I understand Guppies would rather have a higher than neutral pH rather than lower. If the pH is too low, what is the best way to raise it? Is 6.6 too low? I know it's not that great a figure.
<Check the pH out of your tap....  if it is higher, try to determine what in the tank is dropping it.  Driftwood, overly gunky filter pads, an un-vacuumed substrate, undergravel filter....  Otherwise, consider using a buffer or adding a small filter sock of aragonite sand in your filter.>
5. Do you think these numbers had anything to do with the adult female I lost (reference previous message quoted below)? They don't seem that bad all things considered.
<Entirely possible the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate contributed.  The gill irritation may have been evidence of this, as well.>
Any comments on how you would deal with these figures would be appreciated (if you feel it's necessary to deal with them). Would just more frequent water changes do the trick?
<Or larger water changes.  Probably better to do larger changes right now to get those readings down.>
I don't want to change the water too often (is that even possible?)
<Mm, not really.>
6/7/8. As I understand it, the cycle is NH3 --> NO2 --> NO3. Then what?
<Then either a water change to dilute NO3, or plants consume NO3, or denitrification (very difficult to achieve in typical freshwater tanks) breaks it down into nitrogen and oxygen.>
Is the NO3 the last step before the fish turn the NO3 back to NH3?
<The fish don't use NO3.  They're too busy turning fish food into NH3 (grin).>
If that is the case, wouldn't abundant NO3 be a good thing?
<'s not the case.>
9. Is it NH3 that makes the water cloudy?
<No....  usually algae or bacteria cause this.>
Mine is slightly cloudy, but nothing like the first startup about 7 weeks ago or so.
<Probably just bacteria feeding on excess nutrients in the water.  Larger water changes are in your future!>
Sorry for all the questions, but I'm sure I'm not the first nor will I be the last with them. :-)
<True on both counts, my friend!>
BTW, I'm one of those "don't really care for chemicals unless absolutely necessary" types (even for myself).
<I as well.>
But, I will go with whatever advice you give.
<Hey, that's a lot of pressure!  Definitely feel free to shop around and form your own opinions after you've accumulated information.>
Would adding salt help? If so, how much? If not, when would you add salt if ever. I've read that some people like that solution since it's OK for the Guppies. I know - salt is a chemical. But, it doesn't seem as bad as some of the other solutions (pun intended).
<I don't use salt most times.  Guppies tend to do well ("enjoy?" Dunno) with it, but I don't use it in my guppy tanks.  You could.  Might be worthwhile.>
Well, back to trying to absorb all the info on your great site!
<Good luck!  Three years after stumbling upon WWM myself, and I STILL haven't found the end....!>
Oh, one more question. Should I test all the factors every week? Should I test some more than others? (sorry - that was two questions)
<Test until your water quality is optimal, then as often as you deem necessary to monitor levels until you get a feel for how much/often you need to change water to keep up.>
As always, thank you again!
<Any time, my friend!>
Joe M.
<Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>

Guppies, Water Quality, Cycling - (IV?) - 09/13/2005
Replies threaded in...
<<Ahh, okay....  it's going to get a bit tough for you/us/our readers to go through, but we'll try these double-carrot-thingies for my current replies>>
WWM FAQ Crew wrote:
> Guppies, Water Quality, Cycling - (III?) - 09/11/2005
> As a follow-up to my below message,
> <I do realize it's a follow-up, but I can't quite discern from your previous correspondence who was helping you....  so ya get me (Sabrina) today!  I hope to be of service.>
Bob answered my first post. I'm awaiting an answer on post #2. This is #4. I take it you don't see all the quoted text?
<<Nope, it didn't come through intact, apparently.  I'll blame this on our Webmail system (grin)>>
The previous topic (post #1 and #2) was "Guppy food question & a few other Guppy questions"
<<Okay>>
> I got a water test kit today. It's made by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals, Inc and is a Freshwater Master Test Kit. Everything seems good (well, acceptable) except one item that really sticks out. Here are the specs:
> pH  6.6
> <Probably low for guppies, but do-able.  Is the pH from your tap this low, as well?  I'm not a proponent of augmenting your pH when avoidable, but I'd really like to see this a bit higher.>
My tap water specs are as follows: (all ppm except pH)
pH      NH3/4 (Ammonia) NO2 (NITRITE)   NO3 (NITRATE)   
7.1 0.10 (almost 0) 0.00 2.00
So I think that's pretty good. Before I got your reply, I did a 50% water change which lowered the NO3 to 20, but that still seems too high. I'm not sure what is causing this. The gravel was also cleaned (which I do every time I change the water).
<<Yes, agreed.  I begin to think that your tank has some "stockpile" of organic waste somewhere....  I'd like to see that ammonia hit zero, as well.>>
> NH3/4 (Ammonia) 0.25
> NO2 (NITRITE) 0.25
> <Any ammonia or nitrite above zero should be considered toxic....  Please bring these down with water changes.>
As I mentioned above, this is already started.
<<Quite good.>>
> NO3 (NITRATE) 40
> <Pretty high, indeed....  Again, water changes....>
Will do.
<<Cool.>>
> Also, water temp is about 79-80 degrees.
> <Not too terribly high, this is okay.>
I had it a little higher for the fry.
<<Yes, no worries on the temp at all.>>
> The pH is a little low, but I don't think it's way out there. The NH3 and NO2 specs are pretty good.
> <As above, bring these to zero.>
Will do. These test kits never really say what things should be. I just thought low was good.
<<Yeah, I do wish test kits could be a little more clear/obvious on this point.>>
> But the NO3 seems high. Could this have been caused by a algae tablet I put in for my Plecostomus a couple hours before the test?
> <Unlikely.  Nitrate accumulates over time from dissolved organics (fish waste, dead plants, etc.) and of course can be influenced by stocking too many fish and not having the biological filtration capacity to handle them.>
Until the latest fry, there were 10 guppies - 6 adult and 4 fry (or was it 5 fry...).  I was going to save this until later in the post, but I just got a great deal on a 30 Gallon tank complete with an oak stand (base and top) that looks like a piece of furniture much more than most wood stands I've seen. It was $89 complete!
<<Ooh, rock on!!>>
The tank was made in April, 05, so it's not very old. The stand looks about the same vintage.
<<Sounds wonderful.>>
I filled it last night with tap water and started the filter (also used but better than my current one). It's made for up to 60 gallons, I think so it should handle the 30 fine. It has a dual outlet. It's a Whisper model 60.
<<This is fine.>>
Anyway, I've started it and will wait until it gets cloudy then clears up which should indicate that the bio cycle is up to speed (or close).
<<Mm, usually the cloudiness (and clearing thereof) is just a bacterial bloom....  Test results will tell you the real tale.  Try to get some "filter goo" and/or gunky, used gravel from your current tank to add to this new tank.  That'll help the cycle immensely.>>
Then, I'll transfer the adults to the 30 Gallon and leave the fry in the 20 gallon tank (although I'll likely upgrade the filter on that one, too - 16 is a lot of fry).
<<Sounds great.>>
> In hindsight, I know - I should have done the test first. I put the tablet in because it seemed the Pleco was doing such a great job on the tank it may have been underfed the last couple weeks.
> <Ah, no worries.>
> After I put the tablet in, I noticed algae starting to build up on the glass again. The Pleco seems OK with the tablet, but the Guppies seem to really like it.
> <There's no accounting for tastes!  Have you SMELLED those things??  Yuck!>
Honestly? No. :-) I don't think I want to from your question.
<<Heh!  Completely understandable!>>
> OK, the questions:
> <Okay.>
> 1. Due to the algae build-up on the glass that I didn't see (you have to get really close to see the small algae spots), was the algae tablet a mistake?
> <Nah.  He'll get to it.  Furthermore, please consider foods like blanched zucchini or cucumber for the Plec, as this is a better nutritional option.>
For the Pleco or the Guppies, too?
<<Sure.  Err, yes?  Uh, that is to say, the guppies will probably appreciate the veggies you feed the Plec.>>
As for the algae, I tried to wipe some off while the water was low. I can't wipe it off with my finger. It must be some kind of super algae! I did get some off with a scraper.
<<Sounds like normal.  If the tank is glass, at least you need not fear scratching it with your algae scrubber.  A bit of "elbow grease" will help.  Just use caution if its an acrylic tank, as acrylic is so easy to scratch.>>
> 2. Is the tablet OK for the Guppies?
> <Sure.  They like their veggies.>
> 3. Is the NO3 level something that I should be concerned with? (will it
> drop on its own?)
> <It won't drop on its own, but you can (should) lower it with water changes.  Try to maintain it below 20ppm, if possible.>
> Note that I change the water about 10% every 3 or 4 days. That seems normal (works out to 20% per week). Should I be changing more?
> <Mm, in this initial/cycling stage, yes, probably.  Anything to get those levels down.>
How long (roughly) until the cycle gets stable? (rough estimate)
<<Highly dependant upon your system....  all are different.  And, again, I am starting to think there may be something "wrong" to be causing you so much trouble with nitrate.>>
> Also, I have no live plants, but have 5 adults, 5 near adults (almost a month old) and 16 fry that are almost 2 weeks old.
> <I don't see tank size listed in your previous correspondences; please just try to ensure that the tank is not overstocked.>
20 Gallon, but adults will be in the 30 gallon tank in a few weeks if all goes well.
<<That's quite a few guppies, but you should be able to keep up with these, especially with your maintenance.>>
> (oh, and the 2" Pleco as the maintenance engineer for algae control - he was only about 1.25" when I got him a few weeks ago)
> <He will reach a couple feet given proper space, care, time....  You might consider trading him for an Ancistrus "Bushynose" Plec, which also eats algae, and stays a more manageable 4-5 inches.>
I wish I had known that a few weeks ago. I asked several LFSs about a smaller one that would do the same job. None knew of any. One LFS owner wasn't sure about the Chocolate Pleco, but said it was possible it might stay smaller. I would have certainly gone with the Ancistrus "Bushynose" Pleco. Do they look the same as a young regular Pleco? (so I can more
easily find them in the stores)
<<They're actually a bit more nifty.  They can be found albino or "plain", and have "fronds" on their noses....  hence "Bushynose" or "Bristlenose".  Try a Google search on either of these for images.>>
When I had an active tank 15 or so years ago, I had a variety of fish (guppies, mollies, kissing fish, angelfish, and a Pleco). My Pleco outlasted everything and grew over a foot in the same 20G tank, so I'm familiar with their size issues (and waste issues). Back then I didn't know anything about checking the water conditions. I only came to know that through your site. Without that info, I might have well lost the entire tank. THANK YOU!
<<I can't tell you how glad I am that you have gained this information.  Water quality is perhaps the single most important thing to understand, with regards to fish.  Thank you for these kind words!>>
BTW, I'm not interested in anything but Guppies now. Not showing them or anything - just as pets. I have the Pleco for housekeeping and since they are usually not aggressive.
<<Sounds fun!>>
> 4. I understand Guppies would rather have a higher than neutral pH rather than lower. If the pH is too low, what is the best way to raise it? Is 6.6 too low? I know it's not that great a figure.
> <Check the pH out of your tap....  if it is higher, try to determine what in the tank is dropping it.  Driftwood, overly gunky filter pads, an un-vacuumed substrate, undergravel filter....  Otherwise, consider using a buffer or adding a small filter sock of aragonite sand in your filter.>
It's 7.1 out of the tap, so something must be an issue.
<<Agreed, very much.>>
No driftwood. I do have undergravel filters in everything I've ever had - including the new one. While I'm on the topic, how do you clean those without total removal of everything?
<<AHH!  I fear the undergravel filter plates may very well be the culprit - not only of your pH issue, but of your nitrate issue, as well.  Organic material will build up under the filter plates over time and make a pretty awesome amount of "gunk" which, as it decays, can and does increase nitrate and acidity (drops the pH).  You could *try* feeding an airline hose down your lift tubes and start a siphon, and try to pull some of the "gunk" out that way, but in all honesty, when you have that 30 up and running, I would move everyone over and pull those undergravel plates out.  You will be seriously amazed at what you find.  I can almost promise that.>>
Filter pads are not bad, and were replaced a couple weeks ago. I'm getting ready to change it again soon. My bio filter is the air type that uses air to draw the water through the filter. I thought this was better than the power filters I had in the past that put out a huge volume of water out into the tank. I wanted to keep the currents down. This new filter does that but is a power filter.
<<.... is this like a Duetto filter?  Or....?>>
Unvaccumed substrate? Is that the gravel filter plastic?
<<??  I'm getting lost, here....  Err, I guess I'll rephrase:  Do you use a gravel vacuum (a big, clear tube attached to a siphon hose) to clean the gravel when you do water changes?>>
What is a buffer and what would the sand do?
<<A buffer is any material that will (safely) raise and maintain pH....  Aragonite sand is made of calcium carbonate, and is a good option for using as a buffer for this fact.  I do not believe you will have need of it, or any buffer, once you fix the root of your problem (the mulm under your undergravel filter plates).>>
> 5. Do you think these numbers had anything to do with the adult female I lost (reference previous message quoted below)? They don't seem that bad all things considered.
> <Entirely possible the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate contributed.  The gill irritation may have been evidence of this, as well.>
> Any comments on how you would deal with these figures would be appreciated (if you feel it's necessary to deal with them). Would just more frequent water changes do the trick?
> <Or larger water changes.  Probably better to do larger changes right now to get those readings down.>
OK. I was concerned about the chlorine.
<<Just be sure to use a chlorine/chloramine neutralizer when you add new water.>>
I didn't want to make too drastic of a change all at once. How much of a change and how often would you recommend? (what % water change and how often?)
<<With the major different in pH from your tap to your tank, you'll want to make sure you don't alter the pH more than 0.2 per day if possible.>>
> I don't want to change the water too often (is that even possible?)
> <Mm, not really.>
You can't stop the bio cycle once it's started?
<<Well....  If you do something that kills a bundle of your bacteria, you can.  Medications, HUGE changes in water chemistry....>>
> 6/7/8. As I understand it, the cycle is NH3 --> NO2 --> NO3. Then what?
> <Then either a water change to dilute NO3, or plants consume NO3, or denitrification (very difficult to achieve in typical freshwater tanks) breaks it down into nitrogen and oxygen.>
I think the live plants are starting to look good if I continue to have high NO3 levels in the new tank. (if the filter doesn't take care of it)
<<Live plants are great.  Look into java moss, java fern, and Anubias sp.  These are low-light, easy maintenance plants.  Your Plec won't eat them, either.>>
> Is the NO3 the last step before the fish turn the NO3 back to NH3?
> <The fish don't use NO3.  They're too busy turning fish food into NH3 (grin).>
Understood. ;->
> If that is the case, wouldn't abundant NO3 be a good thing?
> <'s not the case.>
> 9. Is it NH3 that makes the water cloudy?
> <No....  usually algae or bacteria cause this.>
Visible algae? (I have very little visible, and what is visible is very small and sparse)
<<Visible, yes, inasmuch as microscopic floating algae can be when massed together.  Usually a pale or greenish cloudy tinge to the water.>>
How could I test for bacteria?
<<Mm, can't, really; but can look at 'em under a microscope.>>
> Mine is slightly cloudy, but nothing like the first startup about 7 weeks ago or so.
> <Probably just bacteria feeding on excess nutrients in the water.  Larger water changes are in your future!>
Yep. So, you can be overly conservative, as witnessed by my tank.
<<Yes.>>
> Sorry for all the questions, but I'm sure I'm not the first nor will I be the last with them. :-)
> <True on both counts, my friend!>
> BTW, I'm one of those "don't really care for chemicals unless absolutely necessary" types (even for myself).
> <I as well.>
> But, I will go with whatever advice you give.
> <Hey, that's a lot of pressure!  Definitely feel free to shop around and form your own opinions after you've accumulated information.>
I will once I learn all this stuff. Until then, I'll be relying on your (collective) advice.
<<Do please make use of all resources available to you....  there is so much information out there....>>
No pressure - I trust you much more than I would trust my own judgment at this stage.
<<Yikes!!  Uh, I mean, thanks!!>>
> Would adding salt help? If so, how much? If not, when would you add salt if ever. I've read that some people like that solution since it's OK for the Guppies. I know - salt is a chemical. But, it doesn't seem as bad as some of the other solutions (pun intended).
> <I don't use salt most times.  Guppies tend to do well ("enjoy?" Dunno) with it, but I don't use it in my guppy tanks.  You could.  Might be worthwhile.>
What exactly would that do? (raise this / lower that - wise)
<<Might increase the buffering capacity of the water a bit.... but.... I really wouldn't do anything until the fish are in a more stable environment (minus the organic sludge under the filter plates).>>
How much would you add per gallon?
<<1-2 tablespoons per ten gallons, and no more.  Keep in mind, salt does not evaporate, so only replace when you do water CHANGES (and only for the amount you change out), not just when you top off for evaporation.>>
> Well, back to trying to absorb all the info on your great site!
> <Good luck!  Three years after stumbling upon WWM myself, and I STILL haven't found the end....!>
OK, but you're way ahead of me!
<<You're getting there - just keep going.>>
> Oh, one more question. Should I test all the factors every week? Should I test some more than others? (sorry - that was two questions)
> <Test until your water quality is optimal, then as often as you deem necessary to monitor levels until you get a feel for how much/often you need to change water to keep up.>
> As always, thank you again!
> <Any time, my friend!>
> Joe M.
> <Wishing you well,  -Sabrina>
Thanks again,
Joe M.
<<Good luck with this and all your endeavors,  -Sabrina>>

Guppies, WWM, reproduction
Hi!
This is Eunhae again. Thank you for answering my other questions.
I'm sorry I keep bothering you but I had a question I wanted to ask you last time but I forgot to. My question is how long usually does a female guppy stay pregnant till they lay their fry? Thanks.
Eunhae
<This is posted on WWM... see the FW Subweb index or Google search tool... Bob Fenner>

Same Sex Guppies
I've had a tank for about six months. I have a few tetras and a catfish, but would like to add a few more shoaling fish that are hardy and pretty. Guppy's are pretty, but I do not want fry. Would Guppies be happy if they were in a tank with all female or all male. Or do you have another suggestion?
Thanks! Annette
<Depends on the size of the tank and what your water conditions are. But a few male Guppies should be fine together. If you are going to mix sexes it is always best to have more females than males. So don't add a female if you go with a small group of males. In a small tank with peaceful tankmates some Neons would be nice. In a larger tank Danios or Barbs. The choices are endless. Just research first and stock slowly. Be careful not to overstock. Don>

Fancy Lady Guppy- Problems
Recently (Three days ago to be precise) I bought a "Fancy Lady Guppy".  The fish itself is a nice fish to look at and looks good in the tank with the accompanying fish and surroundings. But the problem is, it is displaying aggressive behavior towards the other fish in the tank. I thought that possibly I am/was doing something wrong -example: wrong breeds/species sharing tank space-, when I bought the Guppy it happened(s) to be pregnant and is displaying a form of protective behavior, or whether this breed of fish is just naturally cantankerous.
<Maybe... even just this individual>
The behavior the Guppy is displaying consists of fin/body nipping, chasing the other fish around the tank and " ramming " them, and just generally being mean to all of the other fish in the tank other than my " bottom feeder/Algae Eater " and my three " Zebra Striped Danio's ". What action(s) could I take to curb, or prevent this behavior?
<Putting the female guppy in a "breeding trap" or such for a week... where it can be kept separate but in view/smell of the other livestock may well take the "spit and vinegar" out of it. Bob Fenner>
Thank you for your time, Dan. Cote

Disappearing Guppy Fry
Hello! I hope you can solve this mystery. One female gave birth to 21 babies two weeks and now there are only 6 left. We removed the female right after birth leaving 21 fry. The tank is a 2 gallon starter that is stable. The filter is a disposable sidewall unit that appears not to be able to suck in the fry. We just added a Cory to pick up the white gravel. There were 9 this morning and 3 have disappeared over the course of the day. My grandkids are distraught. Could the fry be trapping themselves in the gravel? Thanks in advance.
<No, guppy fry will not bury themselves in the gravel. At two weeks old they should be free swimming so the Cory would not be bothering them. I would check out that filter very closely. If you find them in there replace it with a sponge filter. Don> 

Sexing Guppy Fry - 04/01/2005
Hi,
<Hello. Sabrina with you, this afternoon.>
I am Destiny, a beginner at guppy breeding, but I have 19 from a month ago and a brand new one from a hatch just a couple of days ago...
<Be ready for more soon! These are wonderful fish.>
How can I tell the sex of my fry?
<Same as with the adults, only to a lesser degree. Males will start to show color, and the anal fin will start to become more pointed. Just exactly WHEN you'll be able to sex them will vary. It depends on how much and what they're fed, as well as water quality. Just keep looking every day, and you'll start to see males developing. It is possible, however, that you ended up with all females - but that's not terribly likely.>
I want to give some away and don't know sex....
<Just have patience, and keep watching every day!>
Thanks
<Any time. Wishing you and your guppies well, -Sabrina>

Guppy Eggs
I have what I thought was a pregnant guppy. 
<You thought she was pregnant or you thought she was a Guppy?> 
She was in the breeding separator and today she dropped about 25 eggs?!?? 
<Really? We need to rewrite quit a few books!> 
Does this mean that we put her into the separator before the male fertilized her? 
<No> 
I let her out of the separator after this and of course the male is all over her and she looks like she could still have more in there - what should I do? Thanks!
<Assuming this is a Guppy, they are not eggs. They could be undeveloped fry that she aborted. Maybe from the stress of capture when you put her in the breeder. It could also be a water quality issue. It's normal for the male to mate with a female that just gave birth. That is why it's best to have several females to a single male to spread out his aggression. If he pesters her too much put him in the breeder or another tank for a few days. Don't worry about separating them if you want fry. She can have several broods from a single mating. Don>

Infected Guppy
I bought four male guppies four days ago, three seem fine but one seemed poorly the next day. He looked like he had very ragged scales on the front of his body.
<Sounds like he may have been roughed up a bit by some other fish or developed some sort of infection from transport.>
Tonight however, he is moving from side to side and the part where the scales looked ragged now, seems red.
<Aha! Definitely sounds bacterial in nature. Try a broad-spectrum antibiotic such as Melafix.>
He seems to be eating so I assumed it was stress which would clear as I use Stress Coat in my tank a lot. I've done a partial water change and added some more Stress Coat.
<Editor's note: the only purpose of Stress Coat is to help replace lost mucus coating/slime coating of fishes.  It is not a "stress reliever".  PLEASE read labels!>
<The water change was a good course of action. I don't see Stress Coat being of any use to healing his infection, though. Personally, I try to minimize adding chemicals to my tanks unless absolutely necessary.>
The levels in my tank are all fine.
<That could mean anything. Saying that the "levels are all fine" does not aid in pinpointing the problem, which often lies in the water quality. Please, next time you ask a question, give us the numbers. :-) >
Do you think he will die?
<I can't say for sure. I think that with regular partial water changes and the addition of a broad-spectrum antibiotic he has a chance, especially if it is caught early.>
Is it contagious to my other fish!!!!!!
<It may very well be contagious, as it is probably a bacterial infection. Keep your water quality up with water changes and medicate, and you should be met with success. Good luck, Mike G> 

Guppy Births
Hi Bob, or to whom it may concern. It's Louis, I wanted to know how long does it take for a female guppy to fully grow the babies in her stomach, and when do I know if she's going to have the fry?
Louis E
<A female Guppy can give birth every four to six weeks. But that time can vary greatly. Watch for the dark spot on her underside to darken as she gets ready to drop. Don>