Hello All,
So I recently got into the aquarium hobby, starting first with a 5 gallon tank with a male betta and have recently started a 10 gallon planted tank with guppies. I have cycled the tank, took about two months, and have started adding fish about a week ago. I started off adding 6 male guppies and let them get used to the tank. The guppies all seemed pretty lively and were eating well, so i decided to add two more male guppies to the tank. its been about a week since the new additions and i have started to lose a few of the guppies. I have had a guppy die every few days, and have lost three total. they seem to be dying off in order from smallest to largest, which leads me to believe the issue may be bullying from the larger guppies. the day before they die, they start swimming near the top of the tank and segregate themselves from the other fish. the five guppies i have left have all been very lively and are eating well. I have checked the water parameters after any fish deaths and have had no ammonia or nitrite, and under 20 ppm for nitrate. I have typically been doing about 30% water change every week. Just thought id put my situation out there to see if anyone had any advice. Is it likely a bullying issue, and if so how should i remedy this, add more places to hide?. Is the water quality bad? should i be doing more frequent water changes?
So I recently got into the aquarium hobby, starting first with a 5 gallon tank with a male betta and have recently started a 10 gallon planted tank with guppies. I have cycled the tank, took about two months, and have started adding fish about a week ago. I started off adding 6 male guppies and let them get used to the tank. The guppies all seemed pretty lively and were eating well, so i decided to add two more male guppies to the tank. its been about a week since the new additions and i have started to lose a few of the guppies. I have had a guppy die every few days, and have lost three total. they seem to be dying off in order from smallest to largest, which leads me to believe the issue may be bullying from the larger guppies. the day before they die, they start swimming near the top of the tank and segregate themselves from the other fish. the five guppies i have left have all been very lively and are eating well. I have checked the water parameters after any fish deaths and have had no ammonia or nitrite, and under 20 ppm for nitrate. I have typically been doing about 30% water change every week. Just thought id put my situation out there to see if anyone had any advice. Is it likely a bullying issue, and if so how should i remedy this, add more places to hide?. Is the water quality bad? should i be doing more frequent water changes?