Breeding Platys And Guppies

[Sweetheart]

I would like to breed platys and guppies. How many tanks do I need? I already have a 10 gallon tank for my platys. I don't have any guppies yet. So I have 3 female platys and soon to get 1 male. I'm going to keep the guppy and platy parents in my first 10 gallon, so when one or two fish get pregnant I can just put them in another tank. But what size tank? Should I buy two 5 gallon tanks or buy another 10 gallon tank for them? or something bigger. I really like both fish and hope to breed them without spending too much for them. I already know to sell them half price as well.

 

[kribensis12]

Okay, isnce your a newbie, im going to ask you a few questions BEFORE i give advice. Is your tank that you keep your platies cycled? How long has it been set up? Are you usuing a filter? Okay, now that im done w/ those questions, i would think that if you want to get them to grow out and sell, a minnimum or 20 gallons. 30 gallons would be best, becasue each group of fry will need room to grow, and i guess that once your "hatchery" gets into full swimg, you'll have atleast 100 fry in there at one time. But make sure you CYCLE the tnak before adding anything to it. If you plan on putting the females in there to drop ( i personally do that), i would suggest usuing alot of plastic or live plants, or a combination of both. When feeding the fry, BBS ( Baby Brine Shrimp) is the best possible food, as it makes them grow faster.

 

[Sweetheart]

The tank is cycled, it has been running 5 days straight, and yes I am using a filter it came with the tank.
Where can I get the cheapest 20 gallon tank? Also they are very healthy I feed them once a day. I have three long plants 1 short one and 1 cave in the tank. The tank temperature is 79/80 degrees.

 

[kribensis12]

Did you just set it up? Or did you use mature filter media?

 

[Sweetheart]

I just set it up like 6 days ago.

 

[Tolak]

First read up on cycling, by your tank sitting running empty, with no mature media added it is not cycled. http/www.fishforums.net/content/Beginner...esource-Center/

Before breeding anything, you have to have someplace to give or sell the fry to. Platys & guppys are common fish, and easy to breed, often the market isn't there.

The cheapest place for a 20 gallon is Petsmart or Petco. You want floating plants, and plenty of them, to the point that you really can't see through the tank. A 10 gallon set up this way with a breeding trio beats any breeder net. Use the 20 to grow out the fry.

 

[Sweetheart]

Thanks, it helped lots.

 

[Sweetheart]

What should I do I already have fish in my tank

 

[Thomas 2507]

there's not much you can do except leave them there and pray. but it would be a good idea to get your water tested.

 

[Sweetheart]

there's not much you can do except leave them there and pray. but it would be a good idea to get your water tested.

Ok, I'll get it checked, What is the levels of the water supposed to be?

 

[kribensis12]

Well, i would HIGHLY Suggest doing 50 percent daily water changes to keep all your levels down. If you go to like petsmart, make sure they write down your levels on a piece of paper ( becasue "its okay" for them, really means " there all gonna die!" i know this from first hand experince). Now, here are what your levels should be idealy:

Ammonia: 0
NitrIte: 0
NitrAte: 0 - 40 is okay, but no higher.
Ph: dosent matter, Ph cannot really be changed unless you use a chemical.
Gh: dosent really matter ( as far as im aware)
Kh : same as Gh

again, MAKE SURE THEY GIVE YOU THE RIGHT LEVELS, dont let them off the hook by saying "its okay"!

 

[Sweetheart]

Pets mart 20 and 30 gallon tanks price is way to high, what other store is cheaper?

 

[debbie888]

What should I do I already have fish in my tank

A common mistake...I did it too....but now I know how important cycling is....!

 

[kribensis12]

^ me too, but i never lost any fish ( i have set up tanks many times w/o cycling, when i was unaware, but never lost anything, now i clone filters). You might want to look in your local classifed adds int eh paper, they always have good deals, and you might even find a tank w/ fish thats already cycled! Now that would be a score.

 

[Sweetheart]

^ me too, but i never lost any fish ( i have set up tanks many times w/o cycling, when i was unaware, but never lost anything, now i clone filters). You might want to look in your local classifed adds int eh paper, they always have good deals, and you might even find a tank w/ fish thats already cycled! Now that would be a score.

Ha Ha yeah that would be. It be awesome! But my fish is doing fine though, I love them, it is my first time to have platys. Also why is my platys nipping at the heater? that's really weird.