Calab

I have a 10 gallon tank. Substrate is gravel. Filter is a Whisper 5-15. 50 watt heater. Water temp is 75'F. This tank was recently torn down and rinsed, due to an undergravel filter "poisoning" the water. The filter material is the original, as are many of the decorations, so there should be a supply of bacteria to help control the ammonia and nitrites.

The tank seems to be going through a mini cycle.

Ammonia: 0.25ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: 5ppm

Currently this tank has six guppies and they have been in the tank for at least a week. Several of the guppies are undersized, but seem healthy otherwise. These guppies were originally in my 33 gallon tank.

One of the guppies has a clamped tail and dorsal fin. He's been like this for a while.It's one of the reasons I decided to move them to the 10 gallon. His fins seem fine as he doesn't clamp them. He does have problems swimming around, but I assume that it's due to his tail, and the fact that he's probably tired from trying to get around, and not eating as well as he could. I am dropping pellets into the tank near him and he does eat.

The other fish are perfectly happy, swimming around and chasing each other, good appetites, etc.

Any idea what could be causing the clamped tail?

Lucy

Sorry your guppy isn't well.
He's probably not feeling well because of the ammonia. It would be a good idea to do some daily water changes and use Prime as your water conditioner until you get your cycle back.
Prime will detox the ammonia for 24hrs between changes but still make it available to the bacteria.

AlyeskaGirl

I agree with Lucy.

You have a pH of 8? The higher the PH, ammonium is turned into toxic ammonia. Your ammonia is only at .25 but with your high PH of 8 your fish are bein poisoned right now. You need to do a 50% water change using Prime or Stress Coat Plus. Good luck!