Hello,

My sons are really enthusiastic about having fish. We got them a 1 gallon tank with a bubbler, plant and filter system. Then we put a couple male guppies in it. Do they need a heater?

That was two weeks ago... this morning, one of the guppies was dead and covered in white spots (looks like mold to me, but I'm guessing it's a type of Ick?) I plan to treat the other fish, which has white spots also, but isn't dead yet.

I've removed the dead fish, but what precautions do I need to take to get the tank cleared of the problem and save the fish? Also, what are some easy maintainance fish that will give my boys a good experience of caring for fish?

Thanks in advance for your help!!!

Hi, advice you on how to treat white spot 1st. Change all you water and apply 20g salt into new water, and those affected, please remove it and let go...

2nd, talk about easy fish... emmm... I think Guppy, ya its easy.. to me at least. Ok, nothing easy. If you can maintain water condition, if you understand what kind of environment suitable for your preferred fish, then its easy. eg. gold fish best live in pH7.0 ~ pH8.0, temp about 26 ~ 30dc. Then guppy, pH6.5 ~ pH7.5, temp about 25 ~ 28dc and etc.. and always take extra care on water treatment, clear water doesn't mean good water, ok!

Sonshavefish try a few barbs. I have rosy and cherry. The rosy seems the best to me, although I have not had the cherry long. The cherry seems really hardy and is very pretty and active. Mine is just a tiny little thing, probably only 1/2" long. He is bright red with a black stripe in center. My rosy barb I have had for six months or more. Let me tell you they are hardy, strong fish. This rosy barb went through three tanks with ick, and never once did he get it. They are very active, and never seem to rest. I think that may be the reason they are not so prone to ick. I think the fish who tend to rest on the bottom are the one's who tend it get it worse. The rosy barb is a beautiful gold on top and red on bottom metallic color. He has a black spot on his tail area. The females are all gold with a lighter black spot on tail area. I have males, as they are much more colorful. A tank of your size I have only two fish in though. I believe the same tank, by the way you describe it. One rosy barb and one cherry barb in that tank would look good, be active, and not much trouble at all. These rosy barbs are pigs when it comes to eating, and their tanks stay amazingly clean. If you don't like the cherry barbs, get three of the smallest rosy barbs you can find. Otherwise, you might like the cherry barb instead, but still get three. Two fish tend to chase each other too much, because they have nothing else to do. When there are 3 fish, they tend to concentrate on themselves more. Either of these fish only get to be about 1 1/2-2 1/2" in length, so not too big. My rosy barb hates flake food, and will only eat blood worms, and tubifex worms. I'm sure they will eat shrimp, and other food also though, mine just don't like flakes. I think your boys will find these fish fun and exciting to watch since they are so active. The rosy is by far the more active though. I don't care for the tiger barbs myself, but up to you. And please make sure you do a water change at least once a week of 10%, and 25% every 2-3 weeks. Make sure you scrub the tank also, as these tanks tend to get warm fast, and algae tends to grow on sides, and plastic cover. Does yours have a small hood light? If it does, I have a thermometer in my tank, and those little lights can raise the temperature to 80 or more if left on all day. Don't leave it on all day, because the algae will build up fast in that warm water. You should only have it on for 6-8 hours. Barbs are hardy, and can handle a wide range of temps from 62-80. Good luck. Let us know what you decide. Hope this helps a little for your boys. I have a little one too, and she loves her fish. 3 Fancy goldfish, 1-rosy barb, 1-cherry barb, two guppies (males) and 4 bettas and one black mystery snail. We love fishes. The rosy now recogonizes me, and will come to the glass when you scratch on it. Just wanted to add, if you like the bettas, you can put more than one female in a tank your size. I had two in a tank that size and they did great. They died when I moved them to the big tank though. They do have some pretty females, and they get along fine. They stay small too, so that helps. I had a beautiful blue, and a white with purple, and red fins. GOOD LUCK...

For me, guppy isn't an 'easy' fish to rear at all. I've so far bought 20 guppies since my new tank setup abt 3 months ago, sadly 19 have died. Only 1 female is surviving & I think she will go soon.

I think a big problem with guppies is the extent of inbreeding has caused an 'inferior' fish. selective breeding to get the fancy colours and finnage can also lead to health problems and genetic disorders. people have said that when they were kids back in the 60s you could throw guppies in a bowl and they'd be fine, but nowadays it's almost impossible. even feeder guppies have major health problems, like feeder goldfish. they have poor immune systems because they have been raised in less than favourable conditions. personally, i've had enormous problems with fancy guppies, male and female. it seems that pregnancy is too stressful on fancy females and they get very sick when they have babies inside them.

dar, let me know if u want free guppies. Got dang a lot la...need to give away.

Bought 10 last week and only left one. LFS advise to add salt into my tank. For 1G tank add 2 spoon full of salt. Will try and see. Anyone hv try b4?

kslian, thx a lot for the offer but not at the moment as thing is not 'stable' yet.

guppy seem easy to kepp but actually it is not. guppy is a sensitive fish but small ikan lampam is more sensitive. 10% of the water condition is not good, surely died. but guppy,i think u need a new fresh water tank first fill with other cheap local fish inside. see the condition of the fish about 3-4 days. if no fish died, remove all the fish and put all guppy inside. if the cheap local fish in there 3-4 days, there is a bubble around the surface of the water tank, that mean the water have problem oledi. pour out all the water until ur testing on the cheap local fish water condition is good, then put inside the gupy. hope this help u.

i totally agree.... i dont know why so many people (especially LFS ) claim that guppies are hardy and good for beginners... , in fact it's not at all ! My guppies death rate is the most ! Compare to this, neon tetras are much more hardier... hehe

i believe guppies are not hardy is because their tails always get bitten by other fishes, and therefore very easy infected by germs/bacteria... but not sure ..

adding salt will help? do we need to add salt for every water change ? i read some posts that its not necessary to add salt anyway

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