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In the rainy area, fish keepers are interested in knowing “Can guppies live in rainwater?”
| No, guppies cannot live in rainwater. To your surprise though rain water seems to be pure and natural source of water but it has low pH level and full of pollutants which makes rain water unsafe for guppies. |
In this article, I will discuss
– Is rainwater good for guppy fish?
– Pros and cons of using rainwater for guppies.
– How to collect and treat rain water for guppies?
Table of Contents
Can Guppies Survive In Rain Water?
No, guppies cannot survive in rain water.
Rain water is soft and lacks essential minerals which guppies need for their well-being and growth.
The quality of rain water depends on your location.
Firstly, if you are staying in a crowded city then the rain water is acidic and guppies cannot survive in it.
Secondly, if you are living in small town or village, then rain water can be used for guppies after mineralizing and treating it correctly.
Is Rain Water Good For Guppies?
No, rain water is not good for guppies.
Many new fishkeepers believe that rain water is a natural source of water and is good for guppies. But the truth is different.
When you use rain water without testing and treating it properly in a guppy fish tank then soon you will find guppies dying one by one.
In industrial areas or large cities, the rain water contains pollutants formed due to air pollution and pH level falls below 5.6 which is acidic for guppy fish.
Guppies will not tolerate pH levels below 6.8.
Don’t use rain water collected from roof as it is dirty as well as avoid the first rain as it kills guppies instantly.
As guppies are tropical fish, the temperature of rainwater is not ideal for them.
Can We Use Rain Water For An Aquarium At Home For Guppies?
The use of rain water for an aquarium at home for guppies depends on certain factors:
1. You cannot use rain water in polluted areas as water contains harmful chemicals and containment.
2. If you collect rain water directly in a large container is good but when rain water is collected from rooftop then it is risky for guppies.
3. The rain water is cold which is below minimum water temperature for guppies.
4. Guppies prefer hard water while rainwater is soft and slightly acidic.
After understanding factors which affects rain water usage for guppies, let’s know what are pros and cons of using rain water for guppies.
Advantages Of Using Rain Water For Guppies
Availability
Rain water is easily available in rainy regions which encourages many new fish lovers to use for guppy fish tank.
Free of cost
You don’t have to pay anything, so fish keepers get attracted to use rainwater for guppy.
No Chlorine
Rain water doesn’t have added chlorine and chloramine just like tap water.
Water change
Sometimes, tap water is very hard for guppies, so to make it soft many aquarists use rain water along with tap water during water change. You should test the water parameters before adding in guppy fish tank.
Disadvantages Of Using Rain Water For Guppies
Low in minerals
Rain water does not contain the necessary minerals required for guppies which makes it difficult for them to survive.
Polluted and acidic
The normal rain water has 5.6 pH which is acidic and not ideal for guppies. The gases in the atmosphere form clouds and then it rains. Hence, in polluted area, the rain water is full of pollutants.
This is the reason why not to use rain water for guppies.
Fluctuating pH
The rain water has a low pH and is also unstable.
Guppies thrive in constant water parameters. If there is continuous fluctuation in water pH then guppies feel stress and become prone to diseases.
Difficulty in storing
Rains are uncertain. So, when you are planning to use rain water as the only source of water for guppies, then you need to store gallons of rain water which is inconvenient for many fish keepers.
Time-consuming
Collecting and storing rain water takes too much time which does not suit to all fish keepers.
These are some pros and cons of using rainwater for guppies.
How To Collect Clean Rain Water For Guppy Fish Tank?
It is important to know how to collect rain water which ensures the safety of guppies.
Lets, collect clean rain water for guppy fish tank using following steps:
Step-1
Select a large container that is made up of plastic and avoid using metal vessel.
Step-2
Ensure the container must have a lid to make it safe from any dirt.
Step-3
The rain water should be collected directly in containers and not from a rooftop.
Step-4
The first rain has more pollutants and bacteria, so do not use it.
Step-5
Cover the lid of container and put it away from sunlight to prevent growth of algae.
Step-6
Aerating the rain water is an important step as it increases dissolved oxygen for guppies. So, you can use air pump or air stone to quicken the process.
By following these steps correctly helps in collecting clean rainwater for guppies. So, the next thing is to make rainwater safe for guppies.
How To Treat Rain Water For Guppies?
After collecting rain water safely, you should treat it correctly to make water safe for guppies.
You can use below-mentioned steps to treat rain water for guppy fish tank:
Step-1
Use API Master Test Kit to check water parameters which helps in determining that water is suitable for guppies and in their ideal range.
Step-2
If water parameters are not optimum for guppies, you should filter rain water using water filter system.
Step-3
You should raise or drop pH level as required to make rain water appropriate for guppies.
Step-3
Further, you are required to use water conditioner to treat rain water and remove any harmful chemicals.
Step-4
After conditioning water, you should test it before adding rain water to guppy fish tank which ensures safety of guppies.
Do Pond Guppies Like Rain?
No, pond guppies don’t like rain.
The rain water is colder in comparison to pond water which makes it hard for guppies to breathe. Further, too much rain flows out fish from the pond and guppies start dying.
The pond water temperature drops, when rain disappears.
Guppies cannot bear this drastic change in water.
Conclusion
Guppies do not live in rain water because of poor quality of water, no minerals and acidic.
When you decide to use rain water for guppies, you should collect rain water carefully and make it safe before using it for guppies.
If you have any questions, please mention them in the comment box.
FAQS
How long can a guppy live out of water?
Guppy can live out of water for 10 minutes to 1 hour.
Why do guppies jump out of water?
Guppies jump out of water to catch insects, to avoid enemies and to bypass barriers when they are moving to a new place.
I am Alexa with 5+ years of experience in fishkeeping industry with expertise in taking care of guppies, aquariums, and dealing with diseases. Moreover, I am lovely wife, dedicated mom, and passionate guppy fish keeper. If you are into guppy fish keeping like me, you are in the right place. Explore the blog, ask questions, and enjoy guppy fishkeeping journey with GuppyAdvisor.
