Guppy Tank

[evofish]

how big is your 3 gallon?

 

[evofish]

i would say it would be ok yes they do need a bit of swimming space but if its got a few plants and hiding places i would think they would be happy,oh yeh if the bloke who posted 2nd after u has 2koi and 3 coldfish in a 10 gallon!! i cant see why 3 guppy in a 3 gallon wouldnt be any worse!

 

[IovaykInD]

Can't really say. It's about 13"x6"x9".
I was really surprised as well, when I saw that he had 2 koi and 3 goldfish in a 10 gallon. That 10 gallon should hold only 1 goldfish, and you're saying that I can't keep 3 guppies in a 3 gallon.

Isaac

*EDIT*
I also have a 29 gallon tank that I just set up, and it is still empty. There is a lot of current in the tank, so how can I keep guppies in it. The two powerheads create huge currents, because they power the undergravel filter. Could putting some java moss to float be a good idea?

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Breeding guppys is no challenge at all and they have been known to breed in appalling conditions- just because your friend got them to produce fry is no indicator of their happyness, what is to say the females were already pregnant when he got them and they gave birth out of stress? It is quite common for stress in guppys to induce birth...
Long tailed fancy guppys do not do well in large tanks but plain old normal length tailed guppys do fine and would thrive in a 29gallon tank

 

[IovaykInD]

Okay,
So I will get a couple of guppies from my LFS today, and see how they do in the 29. Are they good for cycling tanks, because the tank is uncycled?

Isaac

*EDIT*
So I shouldn't get long tailed guppies? Then I will get the regular guppies.

 

[thecatdidit]

Alright, I won't put them in there. I really want to know how my friend got it to work though. He had 2 male, and 4 female guppies. Then, he got them to mate, and now he has a bunch of guppy fry. His tank is planted pretty well, maybe that's why the fry are surviving.

I talked to my friend last night, and he said he might trade his 3 gallon tank for my extra 20 gallon long tank. I think it's a bad trade, but I really want a small tank, not a large one.

Isaac

My LFS tells me this. 1" per gallon for "average" fish, say Chichlids or Discus. For a "husky" fish probably more like 1.5-2 gallons per inch. Depends on how "husky" like goldfish are husky.
If the fish is "petite" like a guppy or a tetra, you can get away with 1.5" per gallon, so long as you keep the tank clean, well monitored, and highly filtered, like my 25 gal has an undergravel (with Rena 100 airpump) and a power filter.
This only works with 10 gallons or more, as there's just too little room in the smaller tanks for them to "stretch their fins" and swim.
He stocks his own tanks (10 gallon for small fish, a mix of 20H, 20L and 29 gallon for medium fish, a limited number of saltwater fish in two 55 and a 40 gallon) about 25% more than what he suggests someone does at home. Go look at Petco or Petsmart. They will have up to 5" of fish per gallon. They have a lot of filtration, but it seems excessive.

 

[evofish]

i would prefer danios to cycle a tank guppys should be ok if there not heavy inbred i would say chose some of large size as the more inbred they are the smaller they get,i cycled with 2 guppys and 2 platys the platys died and i still have the guppys today but i might just have been lucky with the guppys and not the platys

 

[IovaykInD]

Hmm...I don't know if they have really large guppies, but i'll ask for them. How many should I get to start a 29 gallon cycle.

Isaac

 

[thecatdidit]

Okay,
So I will get a couple of guppies from my LFS today, and see how they do in the 29. Are they good for cycling tanks, because the tank is uncycled?

Isaac

*EDIT*
So I shouldn't get long tailed guppies? Then I will get the regular guppies.

Guppies don't handle cycling well. Get White Cloud Mountain Minnows. About 1 per 5 gallons will do the trick within 3-4 weeks. They do well in the unstable conditions. Solo they freak out. A pair or trio in a small tank makes things easier for them to cope with. Later on, they will not bother guppies. They like the water closer to 70°. If you were to go up to 76° for the guppies, this is warm, but not dangerous for White Clouds, though they will lose color. Zebra Danios are also prefering cool water, and can take the same wild swings White Clouds can. Zebra Danios will nip at male guppies in small tanks. Not a fight to the death, but not good buddies either.

 

[evofish]

well not really large ones just ones that look of normal size people say go for single colour guppys but it think its just pot luck what u get some will be hardy some will be weak

 

[evofish]

The Guppy has undergone years of intensive breeding to produce the staggering number of forms and colours available today, unfortunately a side effect of intensive breeding is a lack of natural immunity and an overall weaker fish. Most Guppies on sale today are in fact very weak and prone to bacterial problems, which can wipe out an entire tank of guppies in days. It is still possible to obtain good specimens but it is very difficult to tell from appearance alone. Guppies should only be placed in a mature tank (they are not suitable as first fish) (taken from thinkfish.co.uk) they have been ok for me though

 

[IovaykInD]

I'm probably gonna get some kind of fish that my dad approves. He's had fish for over 10 years, but gave up when I was born I'll ask him for minnows first because I know they can take the condition better than guppies.

Isaac

 

[thecatdidit]

You really can't go wrong with White Clouds... easiest to care for. Most tolerant. Not bad looking. I've got all males, as I'm not prepared to breed. White Clouds are less likely to eat their eggs, fry, unless they are super hungry. Raising white clouds is probably as easy or easier than guppies.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

To be honest, i think you should do a fishless cycle in the tank- it'll be much quicker to cycle the tank, is easy to do and you don't put any fish's health at risk, hence fishless cycle

 

[IovaykInD]

Yea, I think I'm going to go with fishless cycling. Put's a lot less stress on me and the fish Does Pathmark sell pure ammonia? I went to Walmart, and Home Depot and they said they don't sell pure ammonia, but Supermarkets should.

Isaac