Kids Guppy Tank Troubles

So the guppy tank in the boy's room has been fully cycled for a few weeks and ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels are 0, 0, -35+.

We had three guppies that survived the cycle (wish I'd known about fishless cycling)

Added three more a fortnight ago and they all looked to be thriving.

Early this week we had a sudden death. One of the original three was floating and one of the new batch was hiding and lethargic with fins down and tail closed. I think he looked a bit white, not cotton wool-like, and not spotty, but like a milky sheen on his flanks.

I gave this fish a salt bath and he perked up immediately and has been fine since.

Then last night another of the new batch started showing the lethargy and hiding away, so I gave a salt bath but he didn't pick up at all and I found him dead this morning. Examining him showed nothing, no fungus, no fun rot, no red gills, no white spots, just lifeless.

Unfortunately my Junior Fishkeepers are a little upset.
They would like to replace their fish ASAP, but I've told then we must wait, to make sure we've treated the problem.

I've been testing water frequently and performing a couple of water changes a week.
The remaining four fish seem to be fine, including the one I have the salt bath earlier in the week. They're all feeding normally and swimming normally.

I've seen eSHa 2000 mentioned elsewhere on the forum - so I'm going out today to pick some up if I can find any.

Any thoughts?

Thanks Sue.

Yeah, when I was fishkeeping 25years ago, Guppies were considered a hardy species. I should have done more research before setting this tank up.

Thinking about switching them over to Platies when we replace their lost Guppies.

Hi when stocking tank my wife and  2 grandkids were given free choice my wife choosing platy's and granddaughter guppy's. I am afraid the Guppy's are not doing at all well and now down to 2 males and 2 females from 3 and 9 in roughly 6 months. I have decided that the Guppy's will not be replaced and how I am going to convince Iona is another matter. The Platys however are going from strength to strength and now have more than originally purchased with only 1 sudden death of no apparent cause.

Lots of good advice thank you.


I've been to three different LFS (starting at 20 miles out and working my way back home) and nobody so far, has stocked the eSHa 2000.

The range of contradictory 'advice' at these professional establishments has been staggering.
I shan't be going back to MA again!

I've stopped for a lunch break and I have three more places to try ...

Fingers crossed.

Just one more bit of advice if you dont already know; it's much cheaper to buy meds, food and water conditioners etc online via ebay or amazon if you can, you'd be surprised how much of a difference there is.

MS staff can be a bit hit and miss as far as the quality of the staff go, the 2 stores I use have some amazing staff that are as passionate about their fish as I am, they also have one or two complete idiots (like the guy that told me bettas live in puddles in the wild so can put up with terrible water conditions    and the young lad that held the net out the water for ages ferreting around to find the fish I wanted, I told him to put them back, thanked him for his help and went to get a coffee and then came back and found a sensible person to help me. ) So don't give up on your MA yet