Breeding nets....My opinion

[ramesses]

I know that most people would concider a breeding net if they have pregnant livebearers;After all it would protect the new fry from adults and other bigger fish trying to eat them.I see no problems with that but,I also know of people who have lost pregnant fish inside these traps 'cause they don't know how to use them properly.
Remember you shouldn't keep fish inside these breeding nets for too long,most females would get so desperate that sometimes it leads to premature birth,abortion and in some cases death of the female.
To avoid this from happening make sure the fish is about to or close to having babies.If you see the female desperate to get out agitated and crashing against
the netting wall,take her out.I rather loose a few babies than the female.
Personally I rather females having babies in the big tank,when I see that babies
I scoop them up and put them in a smaller one.I know that I might loose many babies that way but in nature most die and don't make it to adulthood,besides the ones that are eaten serve as great nutritional meal.

 

[haaris]

it totally agree!

 

[Jo]

I agree too, one of my mollies recently gave birth in the tank to six fry (I know, not a lot...but I don't think that any got eaten before I saw them) and so far (touch wood) all six are surviving well alongside the adults, so I would probably suggest that unless you are breeding fry for sale, etc, leave nature to take its course (just my opinion...)

 

[spanky_pp_]

i agree too....

 

[mmwhit2]

I agree 100%. It makes less stress for the fish and you just have to have lots of places for them to hide.

 

[haaris]

glad to see lots of ppl like the natural way

 

[Humphshouse]

Are breeding nets useful for keeping injured, stressed, or worn out fish that have been chased around all day by amorous males and are in need of a break, particularly if you don't have any where else to put them?

 

[haaris]

yes they can be used as a hospital

 

[ramesses]

I agree with you HAARIS but I also might add that not for too long.HUMPHSHOUSE if you need to isolate a fish for whatever reason,sure,why not.But remenber only as a temporary asylum.A breeding net,at least the ones I can find around here,are not that large and any fish after feeling better needs more space.If your female is getting chased and being sexualy harassed then by all means put her there for a day or two but,make sure to get at least another girl that way "Mr. Casanova" will leave her along for a change.If a particular fish has been injured for whatever reason-That means torn fins,bleeding,missing scales,cuts etc.-put the fish there until you get a second tank.This you MUST DO.Do not leave an injured fish inside a breeding net in the same tank with the rest of them.Fungi and bacteria might appear and then you might have a massive infestation,and you might loose some of your fish.
If you can't afford a small tank,say 3 or 5 gall. tank,look around see if you have any tapperware,any big container ,add an air pump,some tubbing and an airstone,you also need to keep temp.a bit higher than normal and maybe introduce some salt.You MUST keep fungus and bacteria medications always handy.
I hope this help some.

 

[guppymonkey]

When my guppy gave birth I took some of the fry that I found and put them in a breeding net. The ones that I couldn't catch, in that hour of trying, I left in the community tank. The fry in the breeding net are still alive and doing well. I haven't seen a single fry in the community tank in about a week. I have a heavily planted (mostly fake plants) tank, they had plenty of places to hide. The adult fish were just regular fry hunters though.

 

[ramesses]

I have no problem with that.I do the same thing you do,catch them and put the babies in the breeding net.What I am agaist is that some people leave the pregnant females there for days,and in many cases they get so desperate to get out that they abort and sometimes die trying to give birth.Keeping the babies inside these nets I have no problems with.

 

[UM3R]

Hmm.. a lot of ppl concur with u ramesses and this is why I spent nearlt £70 getting a new set up..

Wanted a 5 gallon one for like £30 all in but thought of buying something bigger

now got a 18X12X12 with a deluxe hood
fluval 2 filter
power heater
and some live plants.

TOTAL: £89

 

[guppy97]

the only reason that i would use a breeders net is to raise the frys. if i leave them in the community tank then they won't have a chance to live. even if you have plants, the frys will pop out and find food. when they do that, the other fish will see and eat them. i don't know if this is smart but i'm raising over 60 frys in 1 breeders net and i'm expecting more frys by next week. just hope they grow faster so that i can make way for the newer frys in the future.

 

[ramesses]

Hey Guppy97 nice transformer dude!I think that 60 babies in a single breeding net is a bit too many.Get yourself at leat a 10gallon tank.They need space and they wont get the exercise they need to develope their bodies.
Profesional breeders usually take babies out and place them in a 10 gall tank.It is true that a baby will grow faster in a regular tank than in a breeder net,of course this is not the case here 'cause your adult guppies are "fry hunters".
Concider that by separating the babies you have control of just about anything from the water quality to temperature to what they eat to......who gets to survive.Yes, think about it.There's no way youll want to keep them all.If your friends dont want them or your lfs wont take them even for free,think about getting rid of the weakest,smallest,the ones with deformities.Feed them to the other fish,they'll appreciate the protein value.I know it may sound evil and mean but,thats the law of the jungle----or in this case,your fish tank-----Survival of the fittest!Only the strongest,most beautiful should survive.Even if you think its not OK.chances are you've already done it.When you picked the parents you probably chose the prettiest and most livebly, leaving the ugly and weak.the ones you didnt pick might be bigger fish next meal at the local pet store.Its just the way it is,besides,you say youre waiting for another female to pop.You definatly need the space.