Why are my guppies attacking each other?

Question

I'm having a really rough time keeping guppies. I've had them before, and they've been fine. But I recently got some, and they've been killing each other, pretty much. In a tank of one male and two females (5 gallon tank) the male attacked and killed a female, and now the female who's left (about 1.5 times the male's size) is attacking HIM and I think he's going to die now too!! I don't know what is going on. The water seems fine, it's been changed at least twice in the past two weeks. Like, a thorough change. Why are my fish killing each other?!!

I'm having a really rough time keeping guppies. I've had them before, and they've been fine. But I recently got some, and they've been killing each other, pretty much. In a tank of one male and two females (5 gallon tank) the male attacked and killed a female, and now the female who's left (about 1.5 times the male's size) is attacking HIM and I think he's going to die now too!! I don't know what is going on. The water seems fine, it's been changed at least twice in the past two weeks. Like, a thorough change. Why are my fish killing each other?!!

PS - Yes, I feed them. A few times a day, a few flakes or til they don't seem interested in the food.

Answer 1

do you feed them...........and why do you change the water so often??? that kills the environment and when you do change water only replace 1/4 to 1/3. you dont need to do any more than what is needed to vacumn bottom. the probable answer is big fish eat small fish.....next time buy the same size

Answer 2

General rule of thumb for guppies is 3 females per male. Tank maintenance needs to be done once every 4-6 weeks. Change only 1/4 tank water. Gravel vac only 1/2 the gravel and don't stir it up because that stirs up the nitrites and cleaning all the gravel and changing all the gravel disturbs everything. Feed fish once a day only what can be consumed in 3-5 minutes. No food should be on the bottom of the tank. No matter what the food container says. Live bearers like the PH above 7.2. Temperature should be 78-80 degrees. Use 1/2 tsp. aquarium salt per gallon of water and don't put in any more until you make a water change because the salt does not evaporate. Stress coat/Star trite add beneficial bacteria to the water after a water change. All fish like live plants to hide in. Anacharis and horn wort are good oxygenators and plants are excellent for removing nitrites from the water.

Answer 3

I would reccomend not mixing the sexes. They fight over the other.. I have 3 guppies, all male, they never fight. Guppies are community, schooling fish. They are total non-aggressive by nature. A 5 gallon tank is small, especially if you have any other fish in there with them ?? .. There is no reason to change the water so many times .. nor so MUCH of the water. They might be going crazy and after each other because of their living conditions. Talk with someone from PetCo or PetSmart about setting up your tank correctly. Good luck ! :)

Answer 4

You do not need to do that many water changes that frequently. In fact I would leave your gravel alone, and not vacuum it but maybe once ever 45/60 days (not even every 30 days with a tank that small and the bioload being minimal).

Guppies can get frisky with each other - I've seen them go after Goldfish before when mixed together.

Here is a great link of info for you on Guppies. Good luck!
http://www.aquariacentral.com/species/db.cgi?db=fresh&uid=default&ID=0557&view_records=1

Answer 5

Most likely you have too many males and that makes them fight for female dominance.


http://www.aifam.com?43gCN6WbCG

Answer 6

Are they male and female?????if they ar they're not attacking but...that u understand.

Answer 7

some fish are more Territorial than others.

Answer 8

its natural for them to fight. separate them unless you want to see some dead fish soon. they are so brutal they fight until the enemy DIES! CHIHUAHUA!