Female Beta As Population Control In Guppie Tank?

[solsed]

Hi!
I hope I'm in the right place, I figured you guys, who know betas and their doings best of all, would know best if my plan would work!

I have a mid size tank (I never remember exactly how much but I'll measure it up in the morning if it's important,I think around 250L?).
It's stocked with a whole heap of Guppies, originating from about 5 females and 5 males from good few years ago. They've bread like crazy (as they do) and I'm afraid my tank's become overcrowded and in-bred. There really are far, far too many, my area does experience power blackouts, and I'm rarely home during the day which, obviously has me fearing oxygen deprivation amongst waste build up ect. I want this generation to be the last from this 'batch' as I'm worried about their quality of life.

So I'm thinking of introducing a female beta in the hope that she will consume all fry as they're born. What are your thoughts? The tank has a bit of a current due to its airstone and filter so I was thinking a lovely short-finned lady. The tank has plenty of plants, rocks and nooks for her, which do make some still-er parts. I'm afraid of adding any more than one fish, because there really are too many. What are your thoughts? Will my plan work? Are there any better options than betas? Shrimp perhaps? Will she be happy in a community in the future? Will the tank be too stressful for her now? Would/should I get two Betas to be sure no fry slip through? I just don't have the heart to manually kill all my female guppies (who are mostly pregnant) and I have a housemate who hates ugly things so a tank divider is a no-go.

I'd love to hear any thoughts you have!

 

[solsed]

Just read the bit about keeping 6+ female betas if you're keeping more than one. So I'll plan on getting one. Do you recon she'll do the job?

 

[snake007]

Why not just keep all male guppies?
Also bettas and guppies are a nono.

 

[solsed]

Why not just keep all male guppies?
Also bettas and guppies are a nono.

Because that would mean killing all my females.. Which I'm very reluctant to do, it doesn't seem fair.
I should add that these guppies have degenerated over the generations so that they are rather dull, closer to feeder guppies, in colour.

Can you explain why keeping guppies with a beta is a 'nono'?

What will go bad?

 

[snake007]

Why not rehome the females, sell them or give to a lfs. No need to kill them

Because a guppies fancy tail would make a betta think its another betta so it will tear it apart and cause war.

 

[solsed]

Why not rehome the females, sell them or give to a lfs. No need to kill them

Because a guppies fancy tail would make a betta think its another betta so it will tear it apart and cause war.

I can't imagine a lfs taking them as anything but feeders.
My guppies are really dull, like i said earlier. Nothing fancy anymore. When my father picked them he got a blend of all different strains, so their colours mingled to form 'boring'/wild kinds of tones. Haha!

Even a female Beta? I thought they were alright, the males being the fighters/territorial sex, and that females generally could be put into a well managed/selected community. This post, among others, lead me to beleive so..

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/382234-betta-fish-compatibility/

 

[sausagewinkle]

Rather than just 'use' a betta to help the population I would certainly look into getting rid of the males or the females.
Considering how many guppies you have (by the sounds of it) I doubt 1 female would eat all the fry.

And like snake said, some bettas and guppies rarely get on. Its mainly male betta and male guppies but females can also attack them, depending on the females temperament.

 

[lilfishie]

From experience generally all bettas don't get on with guppies specifically male guppies, female guppies can be done sometimes.

As said with the number it sounds like you have a single female would probably only eat 3-4 each day if she can catch them.

In my opinion if you want something to eat them then a medium sized cichlid would be better

 

[snake007]

I'd say keyhole cichlids but im not sure if they will eat your adult guppies to.

 

[OldMan47]

Endlers average smaller than guppies and you can tell how well this guy was controlling fry.

My fish population exploded with him there.

 

[Fishball7]

Endlers average smaller than guppies and you can tell how well this guy was controlling fry.

My fish population exploded with him there.

That's a male betta and females are much faster.

If your guppies are so bland then I think you're right in your worry that people will just kill them. But it also means betta shouldn't take a big interest in them. However, betas have very different water parameter requirements to thrive ie soft acidic very warm water. I suggest looking into black widow tetra or silvertip tetra. These are fast voracious fish that in a school should do the trick and get along with the adult guppies. Also cheap to get a group of them, perhaps a dozen.