Changed water = dying guppies

[thommo101]

Hi all,

My girlfriend recently gave me a tank with 10 guppies, mostly female. I noticed the water was getting a bit dirty today so i thought i would clean it out. I placed the guppies in a smaller container while i cleaned the plastic plant, gravel and tank. I filled it back up with water, let it settle for a short period before putting the fish back in.

However, several have started to bloat up and lose their orientation. Its very sad to watch. Anything that could have caused this?

The tank does not have a pump attached, so maybe its the new water with too much oxygen? Anyone ideas would be usefull so i dont have this happen again

[Shadow]

Where did you get the water from? tap water? if so, did you put anti chlorine & chloramine?

[thommo101]

straight from the tap. Although my girlfriend that this is what she normally uses without any treatments. I think i maybe cleaned the tank too much and there was no good algae etc to remove the chlorine etc from water in time

[benny]

Hmm.. Sounds like a major disaster and looks like you have zilch experience with fish keeping.

1. What did you wash the tank with? Dish washing detergent?

2. What filtration do you have? At least put a sponge or box filter and it needs time to mature

3. Do you have a pump with air stone? If not, use the one from the sponge or box filter to aerate the tank. Fishes needs oxygen.

4. Where is your gravel from? Is it inert aquarium gravel or something from a construction site somewhere?

Might be good if you go to your local library to borrow a illustrated book on basic fish keeping. I'm sure both the guppies and your girlfriend will be happy.

Cheers,

[Jeanxavier]

Did you change 100% of the water? If so, you may want to do only about 50% of water change the next time so as to prevent your fishes from experiencing the stressful process of having to accept the sudden change in totally different water parameters, temperature, conditions etc.

[Cherries Lover]

Hi all,

My girlfriend recently gave me a tank with 10 guppies, mostly female. I noticed the water was getting a bit dirty today so i thought i would clean it out. I placed the guppies in a smaller container while i cleaned the plastic plant, gravel and tank. I filled it back up with water, let it settle for a short period before putting the fish back in.

However, several have started to bloat up and lose their orientation. Its very sad to watch. Anything that could have caused this?

The tank does not have a pump attached, so maybe its the new water with too much oxygen? Anyone ideas would be usefull so i dont have this happen again

Bro,

Aged the water in future few days before you change the water. If not then you will have to use Chlorine instead.

Guppies prefer more on water that is at least abit dirty...

Maybe you can do some reading up on how to rear the fishes if you are really keen to rear them for long... Lots of website available on the internet...

[juggler]

Did you change 100% of the water? If so, you may want to do only about 50% of water change the next time so as to prevent your fishes from experiencing the stressful process of having to accept the sudden change in totally different water parameters, temperature, conditions etc.

That's right. Don't change 100% water.

And if you do wash the filter, give it a rinse only using some tank water you drain out. This will keep some of the beneficial bacteria alive when you put it back. There's beneficial bacteria in the gravel too. So don't wash it too thoroughly; perhaps some siphoning away of the mulm accumulated at the surface.

Right now, I am not sure how sick the guppies are. WIll anti-chlorine help now? Or if you have old tank water, they might do better?

[Quixotic]

If not then you will have to use Chlorine instead.

I think you meant dechlorinator instead of Chlorine.