New-bought Guppy Tail And Fin Lost Color

My 36G tank has been set up recently.

Two days ago I bought two new fancy guppies (one male & one female) to my existing tank. Right after being put in the tank they swam all over my tank and got along with other fish well.

Yesterday the male guppy's tail started losing color. This morning (within 24 hours after I discovered the fading color), the male guppy's tail and fin completely lost color and is becoming transparent and shredded. It also stays at the bottom and is not active at all. All the other fish (new female guppy and other existing fish are doing well).

Tank setup before these two new guppies:
1 male guppy
2 female guppies
1 zebra danio
(added two weeks ago after tank cycling)

1 ghost catfish
1 black molly
1 lyretail molly
1 red wag platy
1 long finned gold zebra danio
(those five fish were added two days before the new guppies)

I have air pump, water temperature is around 80-82. Filter is running 24/7.

What might be the reason for this? Is this normal because of the high stress in a new tank? Or is he ill?

Please help!!! Thank you.

 

The color fading yesterday is likely due to stress, but the torn fins are probably from an injury or an attack from another fish.
What are your water parameters?
I’d treat the whole tank with Stresscoat to encourage tissue regrowth and watch him carefully. If he seems to be getting worse, you should probably quarantine him. Also keep an eye out for aggressive behavior, because if he was attacked you may have to separate them. I had a friend with a goldfish that was aggressive to her others, so she separated him for a few days in her quarantine tank and when she added him back in he was totally passive and civil to the other fish!

 

The color fading yesterday is likely due to stress, but the torn fins are probably from an injury or an attack from another fish.
What are your water parameters?
I’d treat the whole tank with Stresscoat to encourage tissue regrowth and watch him carefully. If he seems to be getting worse, you should probably quarantine him. Also keep an eye out for aggressive behavior, because if he was attacked you may have to separate them. I had a friend with a goldfish that was aggressive to her others, so she separated him for a few days in her quarantine tank and when she added him back in he was totally passive and civil to the other fish!

Thank you.

I don't have the water parameters now but will post it later.

I just want to sure the cause of this is not due to illness.

 

Probably not since it happened so fast. Fin rot or another infection would happen gradually, and since this happened overnight it’s most likely an injury.

 

Probably not since it happened so fast. Fin rot or another infection would happen gradually, and since this happened overnight it’s most likely an injury.

Sadly, my male guppy didn't survive. He died within 48 hours since we brought him home and I didn't even have time to save him. I am a beginner and this's first fish died in my tank.

The female guppy is still doing fine, but I do notice one problem. Close to her tail here is a brown/black dark spot (red circle in picture).

My tank parameter is
Ammonia: <0.25
Nitrate: 20
Nitrite: 5.0
Hardness: 150
Chlorine: 0
Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.8

I know my nitrite is high so I changed 1/3 water last night.

Please let me know how to treat this problem. I really don't want a second death happen.

Thank you

 

I'm sorry to hear about your guppy - it's never easy to lose a fish, even if you've only had them for a short time.

My tank parameter is
Ammonia: <0.25
Nitrate: 20
Nitrite: 5.0

It sounds like your tank isn't cycled... how long has it been running?

Also, the temperature (80-82) is a bit high for the stock you have. 75 would be a better temp for the fish you have in the tank.

 

If your Nitrite is 5ppm+ I find it hard to believe your other fish are doing fine . I would do two 50%+ water changes (a few hours apart) to start getting that down and dose with Seachem Prime to neutralize it in the meantime (and continue with water changes every day until your cycle completes). If you don't, I can't imagine any of your fish will survive.

 

I'm sorry to hear about your guppy - it's never easy to lose a fish, even if you've only had them for a short time.


It sounds like your tank isn't cycled... how long has it been running?

Also, the temperature (80-82) is a bit high for the stock you have. 75 would be a better temp for the fish you have in the tank.

I cycled my tank by using water conditioner and bacteria supplement. It was only a few days before I put my first batch in. I know probably I should have waited longer but my first water test report showed every benchmark is good.

My first report is:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
Hardness: 75
Chlorine: 0
Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.2-7.8

Is the high temperature good for reproduction?

 

I cycled my tank by using water conditioner and bacteria supplement. It was only a few days before I put my first batch in. I know probably I should have waited longer but my first water test report showed every benchmark is good.

My first report is:
Ammonia: 0
Nitrate: 0
Nitrite: 0
Hardness: 75
Chlorine: 0
Alkalinity: 120
pH: 7.2-7.8

Is the high temperature good for reproduction?

Cycling a tank can take 10 weeks or more. Your initial tests were 0 because you had no ammonia source (fish) and no bacteria to create nitrites from ammonia. So, you are now doing what is known as a "fish-in" cycle (using fish as an ammonia source) so you definitely need to get on top of water changes, dose Seachem Prime to neutralize the ammonia and nitrites & monitor ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and pH levels as you go through the cycling process.

The bacteria will like the 82 degree water but the fish won't, so I agree with Algonquin that you should slowly reduce the temperature for their comfort.

 

Since the tank isn’t cycled you’ll probably have to start doing daily or every other day water changes, because ammonia and nitrite will aggravate any existing conditions and could cause other problems for them. Ideally it should read 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, and roughly 20 nitrate.

 

I cycled my tank by using water conditioner and bacteria supplement.

Check out some info on this forum on the Nitrogen Cycle - it sounds like it might help clarify things a bit!
Hope that helps!

 

Thank you all for help on nitrogen issue, but can anyone please take a look at my pic and let me know what's going on with the dark spot on my female guppy?

 

I’m really not sure. It could be ammonia/nitrite burns? It doesn’t look like any specific injury or illness I’ve seen before. Has it gotten worse since you posted the pictures?

 

I’m really not sure. It could be ammonia/nitrite burns? It doesn’t look like any specific injury or illness I’ve seen before. Has it gotten worse since you posted the pictures?

No, it doesn't get better or worse since I saw it.

 

Are you sure it’s not just natural coloration? It doesn’t really look like anything bad to me.

 

Are you sure it’s not just natural coloration? It doesn’t really look like anything bad to me.

I hope it's natural, but I don't remember I saw it when I bought from the store.

 

I’d keep an eye on it but if it doesn’t get worse or better, it’s probably just a natural spot.