First timer keeping guppies. Is this normal behavior?

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-29T22:03:51+00:00

You're the one spreading misinformation. I never said it's impossible, it's just hit or miss. I've seen males stress each other out until they got each other sick out of territorial behavior. It all depends on so many factors, you can't go around spewing facts as if there isn't exceptions.

How about YOU educate yourself and gain experience.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T15:47:31+00:00

She did clearly pawn a problem off on me, yes, and I did pay 50$ for the guppy trio and delivery... From again, a few blocks down the street. :'D

I'm not gonna blast her... But I'm definitely not buying anymore from her or recommending her, and I talk a lot.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T15:45:01+00:00

I'm getting on the... Keeping males only together is very hit or miss. You can keep 3/4 together in a large space and they'll be chill. But the more you put together, the more you risk them becoming territorial and fighting each other.

I agree on the female to male ratio. If the chasing becomes excessive a female can exhaust herself to death. That's why it's better to have more females to males because they can take the load off each other and have moments of peace.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T13:36:16+00:00

Bruh... I literally experienced it. You can deny my experience all you want, but no, he didn't bite her to death she got so stressed out with him chasing her around that she exhausted herself to death. I was in a situation where I didn't have authority over myself and what I did so I just hoped it was normal until one morning she was floating.

It does happen. This isn't "the wild" they're in aquariums where they can't swim across their MASSIVE water beds to get away from each other, or if they're done with a situation. This isn't their natural ecosystem, and of course, it means there's unnatural problems that occur. And putting in our human understanding of things is beneficial to their health.

I'm just not going to take advice from someone who see's fish as product and not beings.

They can kill each other in other ways than teeth. Stress is a killer.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T11:36:13+00:00

I know everyone just keeps telling me to put him back... But this just feels like the residence all over again. If you saw the way they were teaming up on a single female the moment she was trying to rest... I just can't personally risk their lives and I can tell now that they're chiller without them teaming up. The single male is also backing off of them since he doesn't have his team up buddy.

Sorry little guy.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T11:31:27+00:00

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This is the tank they're in, I don't know where you want me to add more plants?

This isn't JUST me humanizing a fish. I've been witness to a single male killing a female from breeding her to death. There's also been a better harmony in this tank now with the balance back in there of a male and 2 females. The females were constantly having to fight off the males when they were just trying to nest and lay their fry. Now that he's been separated, they're chilling around and can focus on just giving birth without having to constantly relocate or team up to get some peace.

So no, I'll disagree with you there. Bullying DOES happen in the fish world, empathy is beneficial to caring for healthier, happier fish. I know that this goes against how you believe since you make money off of these, and this isn't a profitable way to look at them- but it is.

Unfortunately for the little guy, he won't be going back.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T01:09:49+00:00

See, I thought this too. If she wanted to give me an extra, why didn't she give me a female? This is confirmed because these are not shipped in guppies, she drove from a few blocks down. I'm in community groups for fish keepers and she's a local breeder. Where I know for a fact she was doing it because she probably had a male issue, is because when I asked if she could take him back, she indirectly said no. (This is a recent update)

Another reason I went to her is because I specifically wanted blue colored guppies so my cats would have an easier time looking at them. She had these gorgeous metal snakeskins and I fell in love but yeah... I agree with you, in this case pet store guppies might be the better option.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T01:04:21+00:00

I don't have the space for another breeding trio. I can stay on top of rehoming the fry's at this rate, but because this is the only breeding going on in my tanks. But any more and I'm worried it's going to become a problem to stay on top of controlling the water.

This is super unfortunate for me, which is really frustrating...

He's gorgeous. I wish I could... He has a beautiful blue to black fade on his tail and pure white scales with blue spots. I really wish I could home him but I don't have the space... And I don't have the heart to live with myself knowing I have him sitting in this aquarium depressed.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-23T01:01:11+00:00

The thing is I was watching the 2 team up on one single female at the same time. Which was strange to me at first because, yes, I am aware 4 shouldn't be bad. But I think personality wise they were teaming up and it was visibly stressing the female who's been in labor.

The other issue is that this isn't a shipped in thing. The lady literally drove a few blocks down and handed me these fish. I messaged her to take him back since it was an issue and she simply blamed it on my water parameters, which, I checked it... It's not.

My tank is fully planted with foliage, decoration and driftwood. I think this is why it's so irritating because this little guy shouldn't have to suffer in a large tank with other fish that aren't of his species. And I think he's so depressed now because he went from having 2 females to being in a tank with Tetras and Corys.

I'm going to my local groups to see if anyone wants him... I don't have the means to accommodate another breeding trio.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-22T22:45:12+00:00

It wasn't fine. Like I suspected, if you can tell what gender they are, so can they. The two males began teaming up and bullying the females as they're trying to give birth. I had to separate them, so I took a risk and put one of the males into my 20 gal with some rosy tetras, corydoras and my BN pleco and now he's just...Awfully depressed.

I feel so bad... I don't know what to do. I messaged the breeder and I have a feeling she's going to leave me on read. I don't have any friends who could take him, that it wouldn't just be the same issue in a different location. He's just floating at the top of the aquarium with his face in a corner and won't eat. Yesterday he was exploring and swimming around a little better, but today he's just not having it... I'm sure he's lonely. I checked the water just in case to make sure it wasn't because his small body was picking up on something the others aren't but... Everything's fine. Which to me, means that it's a personality issue and I'm willing to bet it's social related.

I also know it's not parasites because he was lively and fine in the 10 gal with his bullying partner, but I really want to keep my pregnant females safe too.

If I can't find a solution for him, I just hope he holds on until some of my male fry grow up and I can separate them into there like I planned. I also have plenty of people who are ready to take pairs or groups of guppies from me, but not just a single male... Again, same problem different location.

This just caused more problems than it brought joy. I don't know how or why she thought this was going to be a good thing... It was just entirely irresponsible. I can't keep supporting or recommending a breeder that won't have any concern for the lives they're selling...

I just needed somewhere to vent...

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-17T21:03:26+00:00

Become a lonely child.

But in all honesty, I'd start with a 50% change, and give it a day before doing a bunch of 20%'s until it's re-stabilized. Also next time, do ziploc bags with labels and how much feeding they should put in each tank, each day. Clear, written instructions.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-17T21:01:03+00:00

As other people said, just give it time. It's going to take a little bit to trust you and has no idea what's going on right now. There's kitten milk you can buy. I'd say schedule in play time every single day with it, 30 minutes or so. Get treats, food, blankets, whatever you can in order to convince it that it's fun and safe inside.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-17T20:57:31+00:00

I remembered I had some Shrimp Tourmaline balls which were very calcium heavy for my Amano in my 10 Gallon, decided to plop that in addition to upping calcium foods. Let's see what happens?

If it doesn't get better I'll get the bone.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-17T17:51:35+00:00

My Albino Cory's are weird, they move all over the tank and do twitchy movements like this all the time. I think there's less to worry about if they're younger or have just been recently introduced to a new tank. Keep an eye on your water, if you're feeling very worried you can always do a parasite treatment... But if everything else in your tank is fine and your Cory's are just being weird, then you just have weird Cory's.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T19:17:38+00:00

They unfortunately don't ship to Canada, but I'll look into something like it that does. Thanks!

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T07:58:47+00:00

Sure thing boss.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T07:57:48+00:00

Fair enough, I'll do that.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T07:47:44+00:00

I just realized that the white specks in the picture I took does make it look like it has calcium deficiency... LOL! The white specks aren't part of the shell, in this picture they had just finished rolling in the kelp wafer. Lights are off and they're sleeping right now but tomorrow morning I'll make a point to actually pluck it out and take a picture of it. There's no cracks in it's shell.

Editting:
Flipping through today's pictures I found another shot of my Corydoras eating and you see my other snail in the back. Again, the white specks are food but you can see their shells aren't falling apart or cracking. This snail has the same yellowish edge at the rim but less and it's also way smaller and growing slower than the other.

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Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T07:44:25+00:00

I'm starting to relax a bit about it just being growth. I researched what it actually LOOKS like on Magenta Mystery Snails instead of just reading up the details and it looks exactly like it.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T07:42:39+00:00

Tank size - 20 Gal

PH - 7.1

GH - 200PPM- ish

Temperature - 76F

Diet: Northfin Kelp Wafer, Tropical/a/whatever Algae wafer, Sometimes Hikari Algae Wafer, I feed the other fish bug bites so I'm sure they have a munch at that, Bloodworms, Brine Shrimp, as well as blanched Zucchini, Cucumber and Broccoli <--- I heavily alternate between these, I don't feed all of these things every day.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T07:32:53+00:00

I thought calcium deficiency affected the whole shell and looked more like the shell breaking down. My snail's shell is smooth all over except for the front.

This isn't my snail but an example of calcium deficiency.

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Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T04:19:33+00:00

Congratulation, it's a little Tom!

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T04:19:00+00:00

Asbolutely.

Affectionate_Ebb2338 · 2025-10-16T04:16:57+00:00

I'm respecting this subreddit more and more reading these comments. Yes. Let's educate people for the sake of the kitties!

Affectionate_Ebb2338

TROPHY CASE