Fish Have Had Babies, How? When? New To This...

[nicky2kuk]

Hiya every1,
I brought a fish tank just over a week ago. I brought the tank second hand with fish already in it. A few days after having the tank I brought 2 more fish (the glass catfish and the white fish (not sure what its called). Then friday night, just as I turnt the fish tank light off, I found a baby fish! We thought we saw 2 but only managed to catch 1. I placed the baby fish in a container in the tank untill the next morning when I went out and brought a nursery. That day when I went to change the pad in the filter, when opening the filter I found another baby fish in there that was alive so I placed that fish in the nursery aswell. Am trying to work out what fish has had these babies. Have they come from eggs? Or have the fish actually given birth? Im new to all this so have managed to put names to the fish by going through some library books and trying 2 match the fish to the pictures. What are the most commonly bread fish that are in my tank? I have listed the fish in the poll above. Any help would be greatley appreciated! 1 of the fish were quite dark when we found it and the other quite light, they are both now starting to lighten up. I hope somebody can help me as I want to give my fish the best possible start

 

[JamieMRatcliffe]

guppies, they literally breed like rabbits, they can store sperm as well, so there doesn't necessarily have to be a male in the tank with the female.

 

[Monty-2010]

It's more than likely that it was the guppy, they breed pretty much non stop! You can probably expect some more in another 3-4weeks

 

[nicky2kuk]

Really? Even though there is only one in the tank? So this is likely to be a female? Do you think I should put the mesh down or mables that I have read about on the internet to stop the other fish eating the eggs? How do I know when theyve have laid the eggs? can you see them?

 

[Ben M]

Guppies are livebearers, so don't lay eggs. If you want the fry to survive it is best to catch them as soon as you see them and put them in a breeding trap/container.

cheers

 

[fluttermoth]

It's almost 100% certain to be the guppy. Most of the other fish you have won't breed in a normal community tank. I guess it could be the catfish, if they're Corydoras, but I think you'd recognise them as catfish.

Guppies don't lay eggs; they give birth to live young and, as JamieMRatcliffe says, the females can store sperm for up to 6 months, so it doesn't matter that you only have one.

How big is your tank and is there any chance you can put up some pics of the fish so we can identify them for you? As there are a few potential problems with your current stock.

 

[nicky2kuk]

Thanks everyone for you help My tank is length 2 1/2 foot, by height 16 inchs, width 14 inchs. All of the fish came with the tank and the man I got it off of reckons hes had all these fish in there for atleast a year. Camera battery needs charginig but il attemp to take some on my phone now, not entirley sure how well they will come out but will give it a go and post. thanks

 

[nicky2kuk]

 

[fluttermoth]

Ok...the clown loach, the glass catfish, all the tetras and probably the stripey fish (which I'm guessing are zebra danios) need to be in groups of at least 6.

The red tailed shark and the clown loach really need to be re-homed as your tank is too small for them unfortunately.

We really need to see pics of the 'silver backed shark', the plec, the catfish and the white fish to identify them.

They could be species that grow to anywhere between a foot and 3 feet long or they maybe agressive to your other fish. Don't want to sound too harsh; it's always a problem when you take on a second hand tank with stock; you just don't know what you're getting! Hope I haven't depressed you

 

[nicky2kuk]

Im not sure if im doing the right thing to add the photos, is it the picture url? direct link? or html code? sorry

photos are absoloute rubbish, will get the proper camera out tomorrow and take some decent ones. Ok... no you havnt depressed me, its good to know, I dont want my fish to be under any stress so its all helpfull information. Thanks

http/s1128.photobucket.com/albums/m484/nicky2kuk/fish/

 

[fluttermoth]

Well; it's a start! The fish in pic one; the 'silver backed shark' is a silver or bala shark; that can grow to 14 inches and needs to be in a shoal, so that needs to go too, I'm afraid. The white fish looks like a platy or a mollie; I'd need a clearer pic to tell for certain; either way that one can stay