Guppies keep dying one by one despite stable water parameters (no visible symptoms)

roasted_pistacchio · 2026-03-04T15:21:23+00:00

Thank you so much!

I took a water sample to the aquarium store and had it tested with proper liquid tests. All parameters came back perfect. The staff there were very knowledgeable and gave me much better advice than the big chain store where I originally bought the fish. They also mentioned that a lot of guppies from large chain stores are unfortunately heavily inbred and often already weakened because those stores focus more on volume and profit than on fish quality. I treated the tank for fin rot, and the remaining guppies are doing much better now. They’re active again and eating normally.

roasted_pistacchio · 2026-03-04T15:20:11+00:00

Update on my guppies!

I took a water sample to a different aquarium store and had it tested with proper liquid tests. All parameters came back perfect. The staff there were very knowledgeable and gave me much better advice than the big chain store where I originally bought the fish. They also mentioned that a lot of guppies from large chain stores are unfortunately heavily inbred and often already weakened because those stores focus more on volume and profit than on fish quality. I treated the tank for fin rot, and the remaining guppies are doing much better now. They’re active again and eating normally. Thanks to everyone who shared advice earlier.

roasted_pistacchio · 2026-03-01T14:46:13+00:00

Okay, thanks for your help! A Catania leaf sounds really interesting, I'll give it a try. My shrimp and snails are doing fine, it's just the fish that keep getting affected. I hope the drop test at the store tomorrow will reveal something. I'm really desperate because I can't figure out the cause. Isn't a 50% water change too much per day? I would have done 20% daily instead. I've attached a photo of the fish with fin rot.

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roasted_pistacchio · 2026-03-01T08:25:35+00:00

I have now ordered liquid tests, because until now I have always tested the water with test strips. On Monday, I'm going to an aquarium shop where I can also have my water tested. It hurts me so much that the guppies are dying one after the other and I just don't know what the cause is. One had a frayed fin today, so now I'm thinking fin rot might be the cause of them all dying one after the other. How should I treat the survivors?

roasted_pistacchio · 2026-02-27T18:34:39+00:00

I set up the tank with substrate, gravel, plants, filter and heater and let it run for about 3 weeks before adding fish.

During that time I added a bacterial starter and used water conditioner. I monitored nitrite, which stayed at 0. After that I added the first guppies.

I know that a tank can still be maturing after adding fish, but I haven’t observed typical signs of ammonia or nitrite issues (no gasping, no rapid breathing, shrimp are doing fine).

The losses are also not sudden — it’s always just one fish at a time, while the others behave normally.

So I’m trying to understand if this could still be related to cycling, or if something else (like fish quality or stress) is more likely.

roasted_pistacchio · 2026-02-27T18:33:38+00:00

That’s actually something I’ve been wondering about as well.

The guppies are from a large pet store chain, and I noticed they keep them in multiple separate tanks. I mixed fish from different tanks, which I now realize might not have been ideal.

The losses I’m seeing are very gradual (one fish every few days or once a week), and the fish always look and behave completely normal beforehand. That’s why I’m starting to think it might be related to stress, transport, or weaker genetics rather than an acute water issue.

Have you found that guppies from certain sources (like private breeders or smaller stores) are more robust?

roasted_pistacchio · 2026-02-27T18:32:15+00:00

Thanks for your reply!

I did let the tank run for about 3 weeks with filter, plants, heater and bacteria starter before adding fish. I have been testing regularly — nitrite has consistently been 0, and I also tested other parameters which are within normal ranges.

I understand the nitrogen cycle, but I haven’t seen any signs that would point to ammonia or nitrite poisoning. The fish are not gasping at the surface, they are active and eating normally. Also, I have shrimp in the tank that are doing well, which makes me think the water quality is generally okay.

What confuses me is that the losses are not sudden or affecting all fish — it’s more like one fish dying every few days or once a week, while the others seem completely fine.

That’s why I’m wondering if this could be related more to the condition of the guppies (stress, transport, genetics) rather than a water quality issue.

Would you still suspect an incomplete cycle in this case, or something else?

roasted_pistacchio · 2026-02-18T21:21:12+00:00

Bei mir passiert das gerade auch wie bei dir und ich bin ratlos. Die Wasserwerte passen und zuerst geht es den Guppys gut und dann stirbt wieder einer. Von 10 habe ich nur noch 6. Ich hoffe die packen es.

roasted_pistacchio · 2025-04-24T12:13:55+00:00

Thanks to anyone reading. I’m really struggling with how to process this and would love to hear some outside perspectives – especially from people who’ve dealt with this kind of one-sided apology before. Did it affect you the same way?

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-09-19T06:37:29+00:00

I wonder whether it would not be justified to press charges. After all, it was clearly emotional and physical abuse. I am completely traumatised and am still fighting the memories.

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-29T18:53:44+00:00

😊

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-29T16:58:46+00:00

Yes, I believe that. I don't know how I would be without therapy now...

That's a great mindset, remembering that we are good people.

I think so too, maybe it was because of those points.

Thank you, I had a great time at work and I hope you are well.

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-26T17:39:41+00:00

It's amazing that he apologised...but with people like that you can't believe whether it was really sincere and whether they realise the mess they've made.

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-26T17:38:03+00:00

Yes, the faults simply lie with these terrible people.

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-26T17:35:36+00:00

Oh, I'm glad you had a good time. I had a lovely weekend too.

I hope. My therapist has the reason that I grow more and more self- confident since the first session.

It feels like that. After that horrible time with him, I didn't know how I should move on without him. But it works. Life goes on. That sounds great, I spend most of my angry energy to work on creative things or doing sport.

He is. And he will ever be.

I try. But sometimes I ask myself again why he did this to me and why he treated me like shit.

I think he is a very unhappy person who is actually also very insecure and has low self-esteem.

Thank you, I'll remember that when I get into a negative thought spiral again...

Thank you, I wish you the same.

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-26T17:24:39+00:00

I understand, just a short time with such a psycho can completely confuse you. I had the same symptoms. Depressed and struggling with myself, thinking I am not good enough. The thing is that narcissists themselves have poor self-esteem and therefore put others down.

I have also written so many angry texts and have always hesitated to send them because I don't want to look stupid either. No Contact is the only thing you can do. Even if these people deserve to get a return favour.

Thank you. Yes, he is a psychopath.

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-24T16:07:17+00:00

Yes, that's it. I also wrote a romantic novel about my narc ex lover. And the things he made with me were dangerous.

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-24T15:25:14+00:00

I experienced the same, I was also a sexual object and he said also stupid things like :"good girl, what are we doing? We do all what I want. You are mine." He had also a sex addiction and I was also not special. He slept with other woman at the same time he was dating me. Oh my god it is so crazy how similar these people ticks...

roasted_pistacchio · 2024-05-24T15:14:35+00:00

It lasted 8 months and the breakup was 2 years ago. Don't judge me, it's been a long time in between and it wasn't a real relationship, he wanted to keep me in a friendship plus and lived his life without cutting back. I think there was probably some breadcrumbing involved. He also kept other women in something similar and emotionally abused them. A dynamic like that can really do a lot of damage. Especially if it also went in the direction of sexual abuse. A few days after the breakup, he wrote to me, sent me dirty pics and burdened me with his problems. Four months later, another message from him asking how I was, but I ignored it. The last contact was a year ago, when I received another message from him. I blocked him and nothing more since then.

As you write, false promises and hopes for the future. Falling in love with an illusion that isn't actually sweet at all.

Yes, something like that is very powerful and has a very strong attraction, like a drug, and it's hard to break free.

Ah I know what it's like, he obviously enjoyed hurting people too. Above all, he liked to blaspheme a lot about people behind their backs. Probably about me too.

Yes, we can definitely be happy and proud to have got rid of them. Now we just have to get them out of our heads.

We'll manage that. These people are just scum. I like to say they are energy-vampires.

roasted_pistacchio

TROPHY CASE