My Guppy Gang

[fourthtimelucky]

I currently have four male guppies in my 5g hex. I was planning on adding 2 or 3 cherry shrimp as well. I read that shrimp don't add as much to your bioload as the equivalent size of fish as they eat mainly leftovers supplemented with algae wafers etc. That made sense.

But I also read that male guppies are happier in groups of at least 5 or 6. That made sense too.

So would I be better off adding another male guppy to the group and leaving out the shrimp?

The guys have only been there 24hrs after I did a long and annoying fishless cycle. So I assume they haven't had time to get too territorial yet.

I am so happy with them. They seem to have settled in well!

 

[randallhart]

If it were me, I wouldn't add any more fish. Your space is pretty limited.


But you want to know if you should add another male or leave out the shrimp. You should probably go ahead and add the shrimp... if you really want to.

 

[kewskills]

5+ males is usually suggested so any aggression is spread out.
not sure about the shrimps i always fancy them but never got any

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Yes, it is the aggro I am worried about. I am not desperate for another fish. I just thought it might help the ones I already had.

Maybe I will wait and see how they all get on for a few weeks before making any decisions, and hold off on the shrimpies in the meantime.

Now that I spent the empty-tank time obsessing over fish on the interweb, I'm fairly sure that I will end up getting a bigger tank in a few months -- heh heh heh... and so it begins!

 

[kewskills]

I'm fairly sure that I will end up getting a bigger tank in a few months -- heh heh heh... and so it begins!

oh oh you'll end up with a house full of tanks like me

 

[lilfishie]

i wouldn't add any more guppies to the tank mainly because of its size, the general guideline is 1" of adult sized fish per gallon of water, and guppies get to 2" so already you have 8" in a five gallon, which isn't too bad but if you want more then you'll have to get a bigger tank then consider the shrimp too. what colour boys you got?

 

[AmberMc]

Variety is always good, as well. I'd go for the shrimp.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Thanks all -- I think I will leave the shrimp until I have a bigger tank -- I don't mind doing plenty of housework to keep it nice and tidy in there & I know I'm already pushing it a bit with the stocking.

I have an orange & yellow one (Mo), a yellow one with a pink hat (Meeny), a yellow one with very blue sheen to him (Eeny) and a slightly endler-ish one with black back and yellow fins & tail. He isn't actually the one i picked... wanted a blue one, the girl chased one around the tank for ages and obviously got fed up and scooped Miny instead... should have checked the bag before she wrapped it up for me! None of them are very fancy, but I like 'em.

Took some pics on my phone -- not the greatest quality but here goes!

 

[lilfishie]

aw there gorgeous lil guys

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Thanks Lilfishie! Not as spectacular as your sig though... gotta get me some of those flashing ones

 

[lilfishie]

i don't have any like that either but i have 1 matalic lil guy that was blue yesterday and today is turning orange, he is the only male i have and i bred him myself wonder if he will change colour again

 

[fourthtimelucky]

Aw, you must be so excited. I'd love to breed some fry... but have heard too many stories of "I started out with one male guppy and one female guppy and now I have to live in a tent in the garden cos my whole house is full of tanks..."

If only you could just put them all on the pill when you had enough babies...

How old are your fry?

 

[lilfishie]

well i have 4 at 3 months old one is the male and 1 just over a month which i also think is going to be male then i have the month olds mother who must be close to 3 years old she was bred by myslef too, yer you often here of people with many tanks due to guppies but luckly mine tend to have few larger fry rather than lots of small fry

 

[kribensis12]

I would leave it the way it is. I would go to the lfs, pick up a 10g without stand or anything for 8 dollars( E 4) and use all your equipment for the 10, and use the already cycled filter media so you wont have to wait but 24hours or so.

 

[fourthtimelucky]

I'm in the uk and seems tanks are a bit pricier here... or maybe I was just in the wrong shop when I got mine! Going to leave them where they are at the mo and see how things progress when they get a bit older & bigger.

I know they're meant to get to two inches... does that include the tail? And how long should it take them to get that big? At the mo they are all about an inch and a half including tails.

Lilfishie -- have you got pics of them? I'm curious to see how early on you can tell what colour they're going to be etc. Just for future reference you understand!!!