MaddieLynn

My last of 3 male guppies just died . I'm wanting to add new fish to my tank, but I have a dilema:

I don't know if what killed my guppies was ammonia poisoning or a disease. If it was just ammonia poisining, then I need to add one or 2 new fish and do a 50% water change daily. But if it was a disease and I don't clean everything, I risk spreading it to my new fish. But if I clean everything and it turns out to just be ammonia poisoning, then I'll have to start the whole cycle over again! Ammonia poisoning is a possibility since I've only had my tank for 3 weeks, but I've been doing a 50% water change every day for the past few days, and my guppy only got worse. How do I know what caused them to die? And how do I decide what to do?

Also, does anyone have any ideas for what kind of fish I should get? My tank is a 10 gallon with a filter and heater. I'm thinking either a male betta, a few female bettas, or more guppies, but are tehre other good fish that I'm not thinking of? Also, how many female guppies could I put in a 10 gallon tank?

Shawnie

im sorry for your losses ...I would say its the ammonia as in 3 weeks, without safestart or some other established media or source, its not cycled....do you have a test kit? if not, id not add a single fish until you know your readings for ammonia and nitrites and nitrates..at this point if the tank is empty, add fish food 2 times a day to keep whatever bacteria going that might have grown in the 3 weeks

CHoffman

I agree with Shawnie...It's very likely that your fish died from Ammonia poising. Even though you started doing daily water changes the past few days the damage had already been done. A liquid test kit is the best investment you can make if you are a fish keeper. I wouldn't add any fish until you know what your reading are. Since there are not any fish in there now you could always do what Shawnie suggested with the fish food. That will put off enough ammonia to keep your tank cycling.

Lucy

I'm really sorry about your last guppy.
I agree with the above posters. Please cycle your tank before getting new fish. We'll all be happy to help you through the process. I know you don't want to go through the heartache of losing fish again.

After it's cycled, a male Betta would do great in your tank. I wouldn't suggest more than 1 female in such a small tank. They're just as feisty as the males and someone could get hurt or killed.
5 guppies......without the Betta would go nicely in a 10g.

Here's some reading you can do to learn how to properly cycle a tank with out fish:
Ammonia Instructions for Fish Less Cycle

Nitrogen Cycle

Good luck.