what temp do you guys keep your f/w tropical fish ie guppies?

Question

I need help... my favorite guppy is looking lackadaisical, its keeps lying on the bottom surface and not swimming.

I've already changed 20 p/cent water today, and yesterday and still there's a sign of ammonia - about a tinge of ammonia in it. I just don't know what to do!

but if i don't do a partial change my guppies will die..

I positioned my tank in a dark spot where the lights are off by 6pm...so when I switched the light on and checked on them, they are lying on the ground...

Answer 1

Guppies are pretty flexible when it comes to their temperatures. They're usually thought of as tropicals, but they can live in room temperature water as long as it doesn't drop much below 70.

If you're testing the water for ammonia, you need to keep the level below 0.5 - that's the point where it starts to stress your fish. And sitting on the bottom/lethargy is a possible sign of ammonia poisoning. But I think you mention another possibility here as well. You said they were on the bottom when you turned your lights on. For a fish that's active during the day like a guppy, it's natural for them to "rest" on the bottom when the lights are out. It's best if they have some light (and this doesn't need to be the tank light or sunlight, just a window or light somewhere in the room so they can see). If they still sit on the bottom then, you may need to do additional water changes.

Be sure you aren't overfeeding your fish as well - excess food is another source oof ammonia. The fish only needs what it can eat in 2-3 minutes twice a day. And be sure to use a gravel vacuum when you clean his tank - if there is waste or extra food down in the rocks, this will add ammonia as it decomposes.

Answer 2

Fish do stay pretty much motionless during the night and hide cause in the wild this in when predators attack most. If its just 1 of your fish it might be preggers and ready to pop. The tank my guppies are in is at 78c. Get that water prob fixed as this sounds the main cause. Do about a 20 - 30% water change every day or 2 and treat the new water. How long has your tank been set up it could still be having new tank syndrome. If it been up and running awhile just keep up the weekly water changes and get a gravel vac and give it a good clean. only vac half the tank at 1 time so you dont remove all off the good bacteria. Good luck.

Answer 3

Keep my tanks at around 78oF to 80oF. Sounds like you have new tank syndrome and changing water way too much. You have to let your tank cycle and allow the "good" bacteria a chance to grab hold so you can get a good nitrogen cycle going. When this cycle gets going, ammonia will go. Cut back on your water changes or do a less amount at a time.

Answer 4

Tropicals can be kept at 74 to 82 degrees. I keep my angels at about 79-80. They seem to be happy and I don't have any problems with sickly ones, just alge growth.
On your ammonia problem I would suggest you get some stress reducer and see what difference that makes.

Hope this helps. Good Luck with your lil guppy.

Answer 5

First examine the fish, if you see any whitespots (even the tiniest ones) they probably have ich. the and he is trying to scratch it off onto the gravel but it just makes it worss the best ways to cure ich is to do a 50-60% water cleaning, buy ich medchine, buy another small tank to keep ingured or sick fish in so they dont spread germs.

Answer 6

have you checked it for any signs of illness i know when i get sick fish they tend to go to he bottom of the tank.
are there any colour changes to the fish any fins or tail eaten away,any growths or erosion's around the mouth
it could be a bacterial infection,are the rest of your fish healthy.
if you have a local aquatic shop near you take your fish in and they should be able to diagnose the problem