How can I stop my guppies from dying?

Question

I cleaned out my fish tank the other day. (I only have guppies.) They started dying before I even changed the water - I had only drained some of it out.

I thought it might have been my 20month old - he was up there playing in the water that morning. But they are still dying, and that was two days ago.

I've put the water conditioner and chlorine remover in there. All the fish keep swimming around the top of the tank. What have I done wrong and what should I do? (It is my first time changing the water since I got the tank from my sister - I'm a newbie.)

The tank does have a filter, so I don't know why the fish aren't getting enough oxygen in the water.

Chlorine neutraliser (not remover)... it takes the chlorine out of the tap water.

No, I didn't take all the water out, I left 20%, and I used a gravel sucker thing - but I DID clean ALL the gravel... not just the front. That must be the problem. Thanks guys.

Answer 1

Oxygen may not be the problem. Are the fish gasping at the surface? High ammonia and nitrites in the water can also produce this reaction.

If your tank is new, it may not be cycled yet, or you might be trying to clean the tank too well - there needs to be a population of bacteria that will convert the toxic ammonia (produced by the fish and any excess food) to nitrite (also toxic) then to nitrate. You can find if ths is the cause of the deaths by testing the water yourself, or taking a sample (in a clean container) to your local pet store - most will test the water for you. Cycling takes from a few weeks to a few months, but you can prolong this by trying to clean too well (you're removing too much of the bacteria). You should only clean the gravel well on the surface, right in front of the glass, and about 1/4 - 1/3 of the rest well. This leaves the bacteria relatively undisturbed in the rest of the tank, so it can repopulate the area just cleaned.

Guppies also like to have some salt in their water - about 1 tablespoon for every 5 gallons of water. This also helps prevent ammonia and nitrite poisoning by not allowing the compounds to enter a fish's bloodstream. At that amount, it won't affect plants or any other fish you might add in the future.

See the links below for more info on cycling your tank:

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
http://www.fishlore.com/Beginners.htm

Answer 2

When you make a water change, the new water has to be EXACTLY the same temperature as what's in the tank. Off by more than 1-2 degrees and the fish will go into shock and die from the sudden temperature change.
How much water did you change? Please don't say all of it or half, or that's your problem... you removed the bacteria that break down the waste. You should only do 25% or less every two weeks.

Answer 3

You need to research cycling your tank,also you should never completely empty it out get a gravel siphon and use it to remove about 20% of the water once a week after your tank is cycled until then you will need lo do larger more frequent water changes.

Answer 4

make certain the tank is wisely set up. There might desire to be no predators interior the tank and there might desire to be plenty and particularly some plant conceal, rather on the backside of the tank. you may desire to not want a breeding internet to reproduce guppies in case you place it up maximum suitable. demise earlier beginning is in simple terms not commonplace, something is incorrect, yet plenty greater suggestions is mandatory to form it out.

Answer 5

Look:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070425172251AAtEx1O&r=w

Answer 6

Keep the fish far from the TV. Believe it or not, fish can hear the depressing news and have opted out of this crazy world.
.

Answer 7

when you change the fishes water you have to let it sit at room temurature not sure if you knew that..chlorine with fish is that safe?

Answer 8

There is no way. They will die eventually no matter what you feed them or do to the water. My advice is... have some fun with em. Put a couple thimbles of booze in there n watch 'em go!!!

Answer 9

Sometimes the ornaments can kill your fish if they are contaminated.

Answer 10

maybe u should just stop getting guppies and parines<-think i speeled that wrong