My pregnant guppy hasn't eaten in two days. What should I do?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
My guppy Female adult pregnant fish has not ate for two days should I worry?
2 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on June 24th, 2019
Check water chemistry using a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform partial water changes, if necessary, to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Check the temperature as well. Low temps can affect appetite and activity in fish. Once water parameters are stable, she may begin to eat again. If not, you can soak food in a bit of garlic juice to stimulate the appetite and provide a boost to the immune system.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on February 12th, 2019
Thanks for reaching out about Sleepy and including photos. Good job keeping the water parameters ideal. Lethargy and sickness can have multiple causes ranging from infectious (bacterial, parasitic) to a metabolic disorder (kidney, liver). If is obviously difficult to collect blood from a fish this small but a microscopic fecal examination might give some answers. Contact local veterinarians to see if they can help. have you tried to feed brine shrimp or tubiflex worms. These might stimulate appetite. Good luck.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Health & Wellbeing
My Neon Tetra is not eating and I am feeding it the right amount and the water is at the normal temperature for Neon Tetras also what should I do?
Check the water chemistry. This is done using a liquid home test kit or by submitting a sample for testing. Most pet or fish stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Ammonia and nitrites should be at 0 ppm and nitrates can be 40ppm or less. Partial water changes can be done to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Try soaking food in garlic juice to stimulate the appetite. A 2-3 day fast followed by hand feeding bits of cooked and shelled green peas or spirulina may also promote regularity.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
My fancy goldfish has a huge belly, is sitting on the bottom of the tank and hasn't eaten in 3-4 days. What do I do?
Check the water chemistry and quality. This can be done by using a home test kit ( https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/api-freshwater-master-test-kit ) or by submitting a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence (0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites. Nitrates can be 20 ppm or less. Perform a partial water change if necessary. use conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent additional stress or shock. Goldfish are cold water fish and do best between 65 F and 72 F. You can add plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) as a general tonic. Dissolve 1 teaspoon per gallon of water in a cup or two of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. It can improve gill function, reduce stress, treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Treat for 14 days then reassess the condition. Perform more partial water changes afterwards to reduce salinity. In case he is constipated, you can offer bits of cooked and sh
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I went on vacation and put a vacation feeder in the tank when I came home his tank was a sandy color. After cleaning his tank complete I put him back in and after that he hasn't been the same going on a week with out eating. What did I do wrong? Now
Check the water chemistry. Confirm ammonia and nitrite levels are 0.25ppm or less and nitrates are 40ppm or less. Use a liquid test kit or submit a sample for testing. Most pet stores or aquarists will do this for free or for a small fee. Partial water changes, about 30% can be done to decrease high levels. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. My preferences for water conditioning are AmQuel Plus and NovAqua in addition to StressCoat. Confirm water temperature between 78F and 80F. You can soak pellets in some garlic juice to stimulate his appetite.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My guppy has been very inactive and won’t eat. I have another male guppy in the tank with him and he is very healthy. My tanks amonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels are zero. My ph is 7 and my tempature is constantly 78 degrees Fahrenheit. The inactive
Thanks for reaching out about Sleepy and including photos. Good job keeping the water parameters ideal. Lethargy and sickness can have multiple causes ranging from infectious (bacterial, parasitic) to a metabolic disorder (kidney, liver). If is obviously difficult to collect blood from a fish this small but a microscopic fecal examination might give some answers. Contact local veterinarians to see if they can help. have you tried to feed brine shrimp or tubiflex worms. These might stimulate appetite. Good luck.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
i have a platy fish she's a female and she hasn't eaten anything all day (i gave her food but she didn't care) she keeps pooping long redish things and she hides behind decorations or stays in a corner. When i put my finger close to the aquarium to c
If the tank was not properly cycled before she went in, the water qualityu may be affecting her. Check the water parameters first. Temperature should range bewteen 68 F and 78.8 F (20C to 26C). Using a home test kit, ammonia and nitrites should read 0 ppm. Nitrates should be 40 ppm or less. Platys do best in a pH of 7 to 8.3. Adjust parameters as needed and see if it makes a difference in her behavior. Offer a variety of appropriate pelleted and flaked food as well as freeze dried to see if she has a preference. Platys are livebearers with a gestation of around 28 days. She will become noticeably bigger as her date approaches. If she is pregenant and has fry, you will need to separate her or give the fry plenty of cover in the tank. If not, she will eat them. The stress of a new tank and water may also be a factor. Hopefully, with some adjustments and different foods, she will perk up.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
I recently got a tropical fish tank off of craigslist. There's two black skirt tetras, one white tetra (might also be a skirt), and one guppy. All 4 recently had ick. The three tetra get along well but the guppy is making me worried. He was at the bo
Check the water chemistry. Ammonia and nitrites should be 0ppm. Nitrates can be 40ppm or less. When performing a water change, be sure to use aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. It may take the guppy some time to acclimate. If he doesn't improve, consider separating him to a hospital tank in case he is ill or infectious. You can use plain aquarium salt (NOT table or Epsom salt) as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function, treat minor infection and aid in any recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess his condition.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
My fish is acting sick. He is not really eating and he keeps going to the surface to breathe . He is also getting these little what looks like panic attacks and swims very fast and even hits his head constantly on the edges of his tank. I started to
Check water chemistry first. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. The local Petco may do this for free or for a small fee. Aim for an absence ( 0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. Perform partial water changes, no more than 30% at a time, to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Check water temp as well. Any of these can drive a fish to the surface.
The "flashing" (darting about) can be due to infection (bacterial, fungal or parasites). Consider a broad spectrum antibiotic or an "all in one" product to treat multiple infections. Look in the Aquarium section of the local Petco for options. Follow label directions carefully and remove the carbon filter insert during treatment if indicated.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Training & Behavior
Charlie is not eating anymore. I fed him yesterday morning,after school, and just now and he is not eating he has a poop hanging from his but but it is yellow not clear I am very worried because he is very special to me I think you relate to how I am
Check the water temperature. Low temps can affect appetite and digestion in fish. Angels do best between 78 F and 80 F. You can soak food in garlic juice to stimulate his appetite. Next, check the water chemistry. This can be done using a home test kit or by submitting a water sample for testing. Most pet stores will do this for free or for a small fee. Confirm 0 ppm ammonia and nitrites with nitrates at 40ppm or less in a tank with live plants or 20 ppm or less in an unplanted tank. Partial water changes can be done, if indicated, to stabilize chemistry and/or maintain water quality. use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent stress or shock. Although they do best in slightly acidic and soft water, they are quite adaptable. Fast him for 2-3 days then feed bits of cooked and shelled green peas. if he is constipated then this should him him get regular again. A broad spectrum parasite medication, such as PraziPro, should be considered. You can find it in t
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Health & Wellbeing
Hello. I have a female Koi Betta fish named Coral. I estimate she is about 8-9 months old. So far she is doing very good but for the past few days her color has faded and she has been near the top of the water and she has not been eating. I am not su
Check the water chemistry. Elevated ammonia or nitrites can drive her towards the surface. Perform a partial water change daily to stabilize chemistry and maintain water quality if indicated. Use only aged or conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. Bettas do best between 78F and 80F. Plain aquarium salt (NOT table salt) can be used as a general tonic to reduce stress, improve gill function and aid in any recovery. Dissolve 1 teaspoon of salt per gallon of water in a cup of tank water and gently pour it into the tank. Treat for 10-14 days then reassess the condition. These steps should get her eating again. If not, try soaking the pellets in some garlic juice to stimulate the appetite and provide an immune system boost.
Updated on September 24th, 2025
Food & Nutrition
Hello I have a koi Betta fish and when I got it it use to eat all the time. Now it has stop eating for a week almost. It is bloated and hides in her house most of the time. I can't tell if its dropsy or ick or something else. I did treat it with salt
Check water temperature first. Low temps can affect activity and appetite in fish. Bettas are tropical fish and do best between 78 F and 80 F. Next, confirm stable water chemistry. Use a home test kit or submit a water sample for testing. Aim for an absence ( 0 ppm) of ammonia and nitrites, with nitrates at 20 ppm or less. The local Petco may test water for free or for a small fee. Perform partial water changes to stabilize chemistry and/or to improve water quality. Use only conditioned water that is temperature matched to prevent further stress or shock. By the images, it does not appear to be ich. If it is, it is early on in the infection. Dropsy is characterized by swelling, lethargy and a loss of appetite. A classic sign is a pinecone appearance. If you see this symptom, chances for recovery are very slim. Offer live or frozen blood worms to stimulate the appetite. She should only need 1 or 2 at each feeding. An antibiotic that is effective against gram negative bacteria can be us
Updated on September 24th, 2025
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