A couple of days ago, I asked if it was possible that the MALE guppy I got from the fish store could be a female and I got a lot of great responses! Thank You! However, some of the pictures were not clear enough for me to see the difference in the anal fin. But I still dont know what the problem is... He sits at the bottom of the tank (4 days now). He eats when its feeding time but just lays at the bottom of the tank all day. If its a female, how long until she would give birth? If its a male, what the hell is wrong and what could I do? I dont think the fish store I bought it from isnt real informative, if I could email someone a picture of my guppy maybe someone can help me identify the problem.
2006-06-27 14:17:53 · 12 answers · asked by angela_aka_paige 1 in Pets ➔ Fish
Does the guppy have any growths or lesions?
Is your tank cycled? How big is your tank?
The male guppies tend to have bigger, flashier tails than the females. If your guppy is indeed a female, you will notice a dark spot towards where she poops on both sides of her. That is called the "gravid" spot. If your fish is, indeed, a female, expect her to give birth every four weeks from one sexual encounter (guppies can store sperm). From one birthing (called a "drop"), expect to have anywhere between 20 and 50 babies. Not eggs. Guppies are livebearers, which means that they give birth to live fish.
Do you have any testers for your tank? If you do, check the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels, as well as the pH. If you don't, take a sample to your local fish store to be tested.
If you have any other questions, feel free to visit flippersandfins.net. There are lots of fish people there that can help you.
Good luck with your fishy friend!
2006-06-27 16:23:46 · answer #1 · answered by birdistasty 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
We need more info. Most likely, it could be stress. Did you cycle the tank? Cycling is the process of building up beneficial bacteria to process fish waste. Ammonia is converted to nitrite, a less toxic substance, which is then converted to nitrAte, an even less toxic thing. This is removed though water changes or plants.
If you have a test kit, check the water, ammonia and nitrite should always be 0. Nitrate is fine under 40ppm. If you don't buy one, the aquarium pharm master is good.
Do not mess with pH. Any given fish is fine in a huge range, though guppies perfer slightly alkaline, maybe 7.5. A fluctuating pH will simply stress out the fish more.
I highly doubt it is a female, males usually have elaborate colorful fins, while the femlaes are dreary. Even if it was, pregnant guppies don't just "sit" at the bottom of the tank.
Also, what's the tank size? Guppies should at least be in a 10 gal.
Male guppies are friendly and like to be kept in groups, usually one male to 2+ females, otherwise 5+ males to prevent aggresion.
Also, hopefully you have enough filtration, a power filter rated much high than you tank size, you should have 5-10 times turnover per hour. Also, don't exceed 1 in per gallon on small fish under 4 inches. Over that you need much more as the fish mass increases more.
Finally, for now try searching at you fish store for BIO-SPIRA. Only that biological product will work, any others just waste your money. Also, do water changes. Normally you should do 25-50% every week. Now maybe 10-25% DAILY.
Good luck with your guppies, they are fun if not a little common, but enjoyable fish
Oh yeah, and don't forget dechlorinator
2006-06-27 15:00:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your tank is new or unestablished, your Ph level could be too high or too low, or the nitrates, ammonia levels or something else could be off, and making him feel sick. Take a water sample to your pet store and get it analyzed they can point out any problem with your tank and get you anything you need to bring it back. He could just be old, you never know how long a fish is at a pet store before it is bought. Get the tank checked out first. Also look at your fish closely to make sure there are no scaly white spots, or velvety like stuff, it could be an illness, take your fish to the pet shop too, in a bag with plenty of water for the trip there and back. Hope he/she is OK.
2006-06-27 14:32:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He maybe reading the fine print often found at the bottom of fish tanks. place a small radio with calm music being played close to his tank..not the musical tune from Jaws either..
It may be just what the doctor ordered.
2006-06-27 14:27:49 · answer #4 · answered by Angus. 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
do u only have one guppy? if so he could be depressed from not having other fish to be with, from what i know of guppies they are more of a school type of fish, they need to be able to enteract with other fish of the same species. if u need more information email me at gaddygurl02@yahoo.com and i can get u some better information on the fish.
2006-06-27 14:24:32 · answer #5 · answered by gaddygurldec 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He ain't dead, he ain't floating. Maybe he got confused and at a rock, thinking it was candy, when it come out the other end he should float again.
Honestly though, he might be sick. My brother's fish would isolate themselves when they were sick.
2006-06-27 16:31:47 · answer #6 · answered by Cheryl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He died and he forgot to float up
2006-06-27 15:26:45 · answer #7 · answered by Justin C 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds dead to me.
2006-06-27 14:23:51 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He is depressed. . . . change his diet.
2006-06-27 14:21:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think he may be dead...
2006-06-27 16:54:18 · answer #10 · answered by frecklemaggie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋