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How to acclimate shipped guppies with minimal stress

Simple drip-free acclimation, what to check in the bag, and how to keep fins pristine after shipping.

Guides
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Fast, gentle acclimation keeps guppies eating and showing colour within hours of arrival.

On arrival

  • Float the unopened bag for 15–20 minutes to match temperature.
  • Check the bag: clear eyes, upright swimming, and no torn fins.
  • Dim the room lights to reduce startle responses.

Mix water slowly

  1. Open the bag, roll the edge, and let it sit in a small bucket.
  2. Add half a cup of tank water every 5 minutes for 20–30 minutes.
  3. Net the fish into the tank; discard bag water to avoid ammonia spikes.

First 72 hours

  • Keep lights low; offer a tiny pellet meal after they settle.
  • No big maintenance — skip gravel vacs and rescapes for a week.
  • Watch for clamped fins or flashing; if seen, test ammonia and nitrite immediately.

Shipping to WA, NT, and TAS isn’t available due to biosecurity, but the same acclimation steps apply across the rest of Australia.