How Many Guppies?

[Doll]

Hello,

This is my first post on this forum. I have been very much enjoying all the information!

I have a 29 gallon tank. I just started my fishless cycle a few days ago and so far everything is going great.

When the tank is cycled, I would like to start with a few guppies. Eventually, I would like a community tank. So here's my question:

How many guppies should I get, leaving room enough for more kinds of fish later? I will not be breeding the guppies, I plan to get all males as I don't have the knowledge, time or dedication right now to deal with fry Everything I have read says this is OK, is it really ok or will they fight each other having no females around?

So would it be ok if I just got like two or three guppies to start with or is that too few? I want them to be in a big enough school that they are happy (they are a schooling fish right?) but I want to leave enough room for other kinds of fish, too.

Any advice would be helpful!!

 

[afishdude]

you can not get all males im afraid, they will infact fight eachother. you want 2-3 females to 1 male, i would go 1 male 3 females or 2 males 5 females, then you have room for other fish.

 

[Kevinator]

you can not get all males im afraid, they will infact fight eachother. you want 2-3 females to 1 male, i would go 1 male 3 females or 2 males 5 females, then you have room for other fish.

I tried all males once and that is exactly what happened and I lost a few in the process til I got females.

 

[FishySarah]

You could get 1 male and 2-3 females and then get tetras or barbs to make short work of any fry. That is the only real way to avoid fry, imo. Otherwise, resign yourself to just one male.

 

[Doll]

So, if I only get one male and no other male guppies, just other kinds of fish, can I do that or will he be cranky and attack the other fish?

I'm pissed that the petstore would tell me all males are ok if they are not I guess that's probably the first of many eh...

 

[lilfishie]

you can keep male guppies together with no females you just have to have a minimum of 5, the more you have the less aggression there will be, try add them all at the same time, i have kept 2 males together before they got on great but were brothers, generally 5+ seems to work

 

[afishdude]

you can keep male guppies together with no females you just have to have a minimum of 5, the more you have the less aggression there will be, try add them all at the same time, i have kept 2 males together before they got on great but were brothers, generally 5+ seems to work

let me add that that should only be tried with a big tank, ex; if you put 5 males in a 10g there is going to be a big fight.

 

[Doll]

What about a 29 gal (with other fish?)

So I guess getting 2 male guppies is pretty risky than eh..

What about platys? Could I get 3 or so male platys or would it be the same deal?

What if I only had 1 male guppy, 1 male platy, and some tetras or barbs - will they attack each other or will they be ok? Like.. do they only get aggresive toward other guppies or will they become aggresive in general (toward other types of fish?)

Aurgh. All this fish stuff is so confusing, and there's so much conflicting information I love guppies and platys but I really don't want to deal with fry (at least not yet!)

 

[theotheragentm]

Livebearers equal lots of fry. That is unfortunately the way it goes. If you want to add some plants (real or fake), I highly recommend Harlequin Rasboras. You can put a dozen in a 29 gallon and put in some bottom dwellers like Corydora Catfish.

 

[lilfishie]

you can keep male guppies together with no females you just have to have a minimum of 5, the more you have the less aggression there will be, try add them all at the same time, i have kept 2 males together before they got on great but were brothers, generally 5+ seems to work

let me add that that should only be tried with a big tank, ex; if you put 5 males in a 10g there is going to be a big fight.

i have kept at least 5 in my 15 gal before with no problems but had 10 at one point no problem at all

 

[monica]

My sister kept 4 or 5 males (guppies) in her 10 gallon. Allong with an algae eater. That was all she had, and they all survived for aty least a year. And the longest living was about 3 years. Your 29 gallon should be perfectly fine with 4 +, the weaker male will have plenty of places to swim to IF there even is any agression.

 

[afishdude]

look into black skirt tetras, thats what i use for fry control. then you can have male and female livebarers because the tetras will eat the fry. i used to have fry every 2 weeks but since i added 5 black skirt tetras about 6 months ago i havent had any fry since. and if i want them i just move a female into a sepret 10g tank and get the fry. seroulsy look into them, they are great birth controll and look great.

 

[Doll]

afishdude - I will definately look into them. Just a question though - do you often see the babies, or do they pretty much get eaten right away? I have a weak spot for little things, I'm not sure I could handle actually seeing it

Not to mention explaining to my daughter one day

 

[rowdyburns21]

i used to keep male guppies together and they never used to fight!! my mate has got 4 male guppies in his tank at the mo and they have been there for nearly a year and theres no aggression they get on really well

 

[afishdude]

afishdude - I will definately look into them. Just a question though - do you often see the babies, or do they pretty much get eaten right away? I have a weak spot for little things, I'm not sure I could handle actually seeing it

Not to mention explaining to my daughter one day

heck no, i havent seen one in months, they eat them as soon as they are born.