Guppy Population Control?

[McInnis]

I hope someone can help me out here. I have a 55 gallon aquarium with three big orandas. This past summer I put them in an outside pond, and while the aquarium was empty I got bored with it so I bought a few guppies. At the end of summer, I put the orandas back. I know, goldfish and tropicals aren't supposed to be mixed, but they don't know they difference and seem to get along great. But, the guppies are multiplying like, well, guppies.

Is there any kind of fish I could put in the tank that would eat the baby guppies but not bother the adults or pick at the oranda's fins? A few years ago my wife bought a betta and when she got tired of keeping him in a bowl, we put him in the aquarium. He never bothered the goldfish, and finally died of old age. Would another betta keep the guppies in control?

What else can I do? I really kind of like the guppies in there, in some moderation of numbers.

 

[Colin_T]

Some male Bettas are fine with other fish, but some get grumpy. It depends on the individual fish. But male Bettas will often eat baby guppies and could be used to control the number of fry in the tank. Alternatively just keep male guppies so you have the colour but not the babies.
Goldfish are fine in warm water but do create a lot of waste. Make sure you do regular water changes and gravel cleans so the fish don't get sick.

 

[paul_219]

Don't add any betta in the tank because it will become aggressive and nip ur bettas.

 

[McInnis]

How about a Dwarf Gourami? They get along with almost anything I think. Would they eat the guppy fry?

 

[nosoup4you]

I would have thought that your Orandas would have taken care of your unwanted fry. Perhaps you could go with a less mutated and therefor quicker variety of goldfish like Shubunkins or Comets.

 

[Jazzzz]

oranders should slowly eat everyone don't feed them for a day or 2.

 

[McInnis]

oranders should slowly eat everyone don't feed them for a day or 2.

I'll try that! Figured they were just vegetarians, but they'll eat worms so I should have thought of that. They seem too fat anyway.

 

[Jazzzz]

mine ate 2 white cloud mountain minnows fully grown.