Why do guppies die?

Among the most well-liked options for aquarium enthusiasts are guppies. Observing them is delightful due to their lively behavior and vivid colors. Even with the best care, these little fish can occasionally pass away unexpectedly, leaving their owners distraught and perplexed.

You’re not alone if you’ve ever discovered a dead guppy floating in your tank. It’s an annoying experience that begs many questions. What caused this to occur? Was there a way to stop it? You can take better care of your fish and keep them happy and healthy by being aware of the common causes of guppy deaths.

We’ll look at the most frequent reasons guppy deaths occur in this article, including disease, stress, and poor water quality. You can prevent the heartache of losing your guppies and make their environment safer for them by being aware of what to look out for.

The first reason is water

Aquarium inhabitants often die in large numbers due to unsuitable parameters in dirty water.

• Unprepared water saturated with chlorine is not the best habitat for guppies. Aquarium water must either be purified with a dechlorinator or left to settle for several days before pouring it into the tank.

From a range of chlorine control products, you can select the one that works best for you or, for a more traditional approach, just let the water settle.

• Exhaustion and death of fish is caused by oversaturation of water with ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. This can happen suddenly, and then the only thing the owner can do to help their pets is to clean the aquarium and partially replace the water in it.
• New fish often die if they cannot acclimatize in the aquarium. It is important to provide your pets with the same water quality, temperature, hardness and acidity that were in their previous habitat.

Numerous factors contribute to the pollution of the aquarium’s water. The most prevalent ones are:

• a large amount of uneaten food that settles on the bottom and decomposes;
• improper water change in the aquarium;
• improper use of filters and untimely cleaning.

Beneficial bacteria colonize on filters and aid in the fight against pathogens and infections. You must replace the filter and clean its contents as needed.

Fish that jump out of their aquariums and die on the floor or table are especially obvious indicators that there is not enough oxygen in the tanks. Fear and bad water quality can also cause reactions in pets.

When keeping guppies, there are guidelines that should be adhered to. The aquarium’s temperature should stay between 22 and 26 degrees.

In order to prevent the fish from breathing in their own waste and gradually dying, it is crucial to replace at least 20% of the water in the tank each week.

An infection has been brought into the aquarium

Infections can enter the aquarium through food, water, algae, or new residents. The guppy’s disease’s origin dictates how the illness will present itself.

It is wise to ensure the health of any newly acquired fish. Merely examining the person visually can give you an idea of their level of health. The fish shouldn’t have any damage to its tail, fins, or gills, nor should it appear dejected or lifeless. When the guppy swims sideways or stays motionless, it is bad.

Naturally, one cannot evaluate a person’s viability solely based on their appearance. If the infection’s incubation period hasn’t ended, it’s best to store newly purchased fish in a different container.

Along with new residents, the aquarium may become infected with a variety of fungi, diseases, and parasites. This ultimately causes old-timers to become ill and pass away. The most typical ones are:

• rubella, which is characterized by the appearance of red spots and ulcers, swelling of the skin under the scales, inflammation and rapid death of the fish;
• white spots on the back of the fish, glued, drooping fins and flabby skin that loses color;
• rotting in the gills, in which the fish stops eating, tries to inhale air at the surface, but to no avail, while both the color of the gills and the color of the pet as a whole can change;
• red scab is a disease that is especially noticeable in guppies with veil fins, and manifests itself as a reddish coating on the tail, and later – delamination of the caudal fin;
• females die as a result of postpartum infection, becoming infected with parasites. They lose weight, become weak, and die quickly.

Death due to algae

Fish can also die in large numbers due to infected algae. Helminths quickly establish themselves in the bodies of healthy people if they enter an aquarium with plants. In this instance, the fish’s body develops growths that house unsolicited visitors. Guppies will soon be swimming vertically or on their sides due to the weight of the engorged parasite.

Another threat comes from blue-green algae. The so-called parasites quickly proliferate and fill the aquarium by eating up the nutrients that guppies require.

Lastly, algae pose a risk for mechanical harm. The fish’s injury causes it to swim vertically, which causes very little discomfort. Fish that suffer damage from algae eventually become less playful, lose weight, and the males become apathetic. Such wounds are healable, but only if the water does not cause a secondary infection.

Numerous factors can contribute to a guppie’s death, most commonly inadequate care, incorrect tank conditions, or low water quality. Frequent problems include extremes in water temperature, excessive ammonia or nitrite concentrations, crowding, and insufficient nourishment. Their immune systems may be weakened by handling or hostile tank mates, which increases their susceptibility to illness. By being aware of and taking action against these factors, you can save needless deaths and maintain the health of your guppies.

Infection due to food

Small fish can only live a normal life on safe, high-quality food. Additionally, the food should only be consumed in moderation; otherwise, the fish will perish and the water will quickly become contaminated.

Ammonium vapor is created when food that the pets did not have time to eat breaks down at the bottom of the aquarium.

Low-quality food can enter the tank along with pathogenic bacteria and viruses. This results in enteritis, a bacterial infection of the intestines. The disease is identified by the fins taking on a thread-like appearance. The fish lose weight, turn pale, hide from the light, and refuse to eat.

Novice aquarium keepers frequently mistake enteritis for regular overfeeding. But fish overindulgence can also be detrimental. Guppies have an eating disorder akin to overeating in humans because they are unable to resist eating everything that is put in front of them.

Their overall health deteriorates as a result, and they exhibit bloating, lethargy, and a lack of regular activity. The owner needs to keep a close eye on both the quantity and quality of the food.

Guppies die due to overcrowding of the aquarium

A lack of oxygen in the water and poor water quality are indicated if the owner notices that the fish are constantly swimming close to the surface and gasping for air.

The cause of this is frequently mundane overcrowding. Ammonia and nitrogen compounds build up in the aquarium’s water more quickly the more fish there are in it. Fish require enough room to live a normal life.

Many novices are unaware that the cause of pet deaths is improper neighborhood placement or incorrect settlement. Interestingly, guppies can actually kill other guppies. Numerous factors, such as an unbalanced number of males and females, an unsuitable environment, or incompatibility of characters, can cause some fish to destroy others.

Aggressive, predatory, and fast fish are not suitable for an aquarium with guppies because they pose a threat to the adults and their offspring. How much better do guppies get along with their related viviparous neighbors, like pecilia or swordtails?

When a dead fish is found, its owner needs to take it out of the container right away and give it a close inspection. The body shouldn’t have any obvious damage or structural flaws. If none are discovered and the guppy seems to have died for no apparent reason, the person’s advanced age could have been the cause.

Natural causes of death

Fish that go guppy are happy and playful. They are lively, frequently play, and most definitely do not stand still if they enjoy their surroundings. However, this only applies to juvenile fish because the more mature population is less active.

The fish itself are small, growing to a maximum length of 5 to 7 cm. Small aquarium fish breeds typically have short lifespans. They have a three to five year old maximum. It’s normal for the fish to start dying one by one after their designated time.

Therefore, a guppy’s death shouldn’t always be linked to poisoning, infection, or bad water. It is quite possible that the animals are passing away from old age after having lived their lives. This implies that you can care for fresh fish instead of aged ones, just remember to keep an eye on their health.

Guppies need special attention to their surroundings, food, and general care in order to stay healthy and happy. Knowing the typical causes of guppie deaths will help you take the appropriate action to keep your fish healthy and avoid these problems.

Because water quality is so important, keep your tank clean and at the proper pH and temperature. Check for symptoms of illness or stress on a regular basis, and take care of any issues right away.

In addition, feed a balanced diet and keep the tank from being overcrowded. Your guppies can have long, colorful lives in your aquarium with the right maintenance and a little extra care.

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