Live Bearers Hassle or Joy?

[thecatdidit]

I've almost completely cycled my 1st tank, a 25 gallon. It will eventually be home to only Tetras and a few Rasboras.
I have a 2nd 10 gallon tank as well. While I haven't started yet, I'd like to have guppies. It seems to me, guppies in particular are very horny and I fear lots of fry.
My Tetra tank is slightly acidic, 6.5 pH because I assume this is closer to ideal for Tetras. My plan would be to have the pH around 7.0 for the guppies. I'd rather keep the guppies separate from Tetras not only for the slightly different water, but because it seems to me not many other fishes appreciate male guppies. They kinda like to show off their huge tails, but most other fish aren't impressed and will nip tails.
Seeing it is only 10 gallons, it's obviously going to be a handful of small fish. I'm going to be well stocked with little fish in the 25 gallon. I think Mollies are too big for 10 gal. Platties and Swords are a thought too, but I fear their mode of operation is pretty much the same as the guppy's.
The LFS will take guppy fry for 25¢ each store credit. I don't know if they will take Platties or Swords. If I invest in quality guppies, rather than LFS mutts and culls, I suppose I could sell the fry on Aquabid or something, though I suspect plenty of culls are sold there as well. I wouldn't be looking to make a profit, just clear out the space. I have no plans on being a professional fish seller.
Should I stay clear of livebearers? Thanks.

 

[dwarfgourami]

You could go for males only- or, you could simply not provide much cover in your tank and let nature take its course.

 

[3fsh]

If you aren't prepared to find a home for the fry, then I would say yes, that you should steer clear of livebearers. If, however, you find several ways to re-sell them then I would encourage you to do it. Just make sure that the trio you start out with is very high quality (usually expensive) and a strain that is in high demand. Otherwise, no one will want them. Check out the auctions on aquabid and make a note of which strains sell the quickest or for the most money. That will be a good indication of what will sell well. Hope that helps you a little!

 

[Def]

I didn't even read all of that, so I'm an ass. But if you're referring to platys, dwarfgourami's post (2 up) is bad advice. If you don't want platys to breed, get all females. If you get all males, they will fight.

 

[Squishiebabe]

An all-male guppy tank won;t have problems....well mine doesnt.
I had 4 and a black molly in it before, all males, they get along fine. Its pretty easily determined male from female in livebearers (most, there are exceptions) but a male/female only tank is fine i think.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

I didn't even read all of that, so I'm an ass. But if you're referring to platys, dwarfgourami's post (2 up) is bad advice. If you don't want platys to breed, get all females. If you get all males, they will fight.

Just because yuou get all females doesn't mean you can't have fry- female livebearers like platys can store sperm in them for up to 7 pregnancys so they only have to be in contact with one male in their whole life to later produce fry.
All-male tanks do tend to have moe issues but if you stock them slowly and carefully they can work well.
If you want to raise fry you are going to need a 10gal tank all for the fry on their own to grow up in.

 

[dwarfgourami]

" I didn't even read all of that, so I'm an ass. But if you're referring to platys, dwarfgourami's post (2 up) is bad advice. If you don't want platys to breed, get all females. If you get all males, they will fight."

No, sorry, it was me who didn't read carefully. I was thinking of the store sperm issue, as I've had experience in the past of livebearers turning out to be pregnant even though kept in separate tanks at the lfs (but obviously not at the breeders).