ANOTHER ONE DIES TODAY

Question
I'VE HAD A 10G GLASS AQUARIUM FOR A COUPLES MONTHS NOW.  HEATED AT 78 DEGREES WITH WHISPER FILTER.  1 GOLDFISH, NO PROBLEMS. ADDED PREGNANT FEMALE GUPPY, MALE GUPPY AND SHRIMP, NO PROBLEMS.  A COUPLE WEEKS LATER THE FEMALE HAD 15 BABIES WITH NO PROBLEMS AND I HAVE MOVED THE BABIES TO THEIR OWN 5G TANK.  A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I ADDED ANOTHER FEMALE AND MALE GUPPY, NO PROBLEMS. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER I ADDED 4 NEON TETRAS (FROM PETCO)... A COUPLE DAYS LATER 2 TETRAS DIED, THE NEXT DAY THE 3RD DIED... THE LAST ONE IS STILL ALIVE AND DOING WELL.  A WEEK LATER, THE ORIGINAL FEMALE GUPPY (MAMA) STARTED ONLY SWIMMING AT THE TOP, NEXT DAY SHE DIED ALONG WITH THE SHRIMP.  2 DAYS LATER THE NEWER FEMALE GUPPY WHO I SUSPECT WAS PREGNANT (FAT) STARTED SWIMMING ONLY AT THE TOP, NEXT DAY SHE DIED.  NOW TODAY THE LAST 2 GUPPIES BOTH MALES ARE SWIMMING AT THE TOP AND ONE OF THEM KEEPS STOPPING TO REST, HE SEEMS TIRED OR WEAK.  

I TESTED THE WATER AFTER THE FIRST 2 DIED AND EVERYTHING WAS IN NORMAL RANGE.  TODAY I DID A 50% WATER CHANGE AND ADDED A LITTLE AQUARIUM SALT ALONG WITH WATER CONDITION.

I DIDN'T LOOK AT THE FISH BEFORE I FLUSHED (I WILL NEXT TIME) BUT I DID NOT NOTICE ANYTHING STRANGE.  WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? AM I GOING TO LOSE THE REMAINING GUPPIES?  

Answer
Hi Jennifer;

There are several possibilities that could be causing the fish to have trouble;

The guppies may have an infection of some kind or they just need more frequent water changes. Guppies require very clean water to thrive. It would be best to separate the guppies for now to help them through this. Just a little 5 gallon tank will do. Change 50% of their water every day to get them in better shape. Look carefully at their skin, eyes and fins and see if anything looks unusual. Look for spots, dots, lifted scales, bulges, etc. If you see anything strange, go to this page for help in diagnosing and treating them;

http://guppyplace.tripod.com/Ailments.html

Your tank is still new and has probably just finished going through the break-in period. Break-in can be a very difficult time for fish and they can die if you aren't familiar with how to handle it and get them through safely. I will include a link to my article about it at the end of this letter. It explains what has been going on in your tank for the last few weeks. In the meantime, make a series of water changes to help the fish all feel better. Fresh water to fish is kind of like fresh clean air to us. It boosts their immune system and revitalizes them. Change 25% of the tank water every day for the next 3 days. Once the crisis is over your tank needs a regular maintenance water change of 25% with gravel vacuuming once a week, every week.

You also have some compatibility trouble in there. Your tank is set up for tropical fish at a temperature of 78f. Your neons are tropicals so the temperature is okay for them. Guppies are a cooler water fish and prefer a temperature about 70f to 74f. Goldfish are cold water and prefer a temperature even lower, under 72f. They may not stay healthy when it's too high all the time because it stresses their systems. Guppies and goldfish really can't live together even though they are both cooler water fish. Goldfish get very large very fast and will eat your guppies. A ten gallon tank is only big enough just for the one single goldfish and no other fish anyway. He will grow to be over 6 inches long and they are very messy guys. The minimum size tank for one goldfish is ten gallons.

Here are some links to help you further, starting with one to my own page about the break-in period;

http://www.xanga.com/Expert_Fish_Help

http://www.firsttankguide.net/goldfish.php

http://www.firsttankguide.net/capacity.php

At Your Service;
Chris Robbins