I have been a goldfish person for years, now my husband and I were ready to try something different. We purchased a 10 gallon take around January. We used it as a hospital tank for awhile. In Late February I started growing plants in it. Only 4 of the 15 roots grew. The others had this slime around it. I left it in the tank hoping they would grow. The lps told me that adding fish will promote their growth. The tank has been cycled for quite awhile. Nitrites 0, ammonia 0, Nitrates 20. ph level 7.4. Water temp is kepted at 76. Anyways we purchased over the weekend, one female molly, one male molly, 2 female guppies, and 2 male guppies. The male guppy and the male molly both died within 72 hours. I took them to the petstore with a water sample. They spent 30 minutes trying to figure out why the passed. They said my water was perfect. The showed no signs of disease. The received a new male guppy and a new male molly. Brought them home today. The new male guppy died within 5 hours. Then I couldn't find the male molly. I looked around and he was on the floor. He had jumped out between the hood and filter somehow. Fortunately, he was still alive when I found him. I put him in a separate container with air. My females are percect. The molly likes to run up and down one side of the tank. The other two female guppies just hang out. The male that is alive, hangs out at the top all the tip looking at the light. He doesn't want to move from the surface. I just can't figure out why I can't keep the males. I have watched them, they don't fight. Any advice would be appreciated. thank you

How strange! I do not know much about tropical fish, but I do know that their water needs are the same. They need good healthy water to thrive, you are obviously giving them that! I really do not know what to say about this. I am sure it is nothing to do with the plants in the tank. There is nothing that could be affecting it.

I guess you'll just have to stick to females.