What to do with the babies??

[kimichan]

I'm interested in getting a few guppies for my soon to be community tank. It's 12 gallons and right now I only have 5 neon tetras. I'm a little worried about what to do with the little guppy babies, that seem inevitable. Will I be soon overstocked? I have a 2.5 gallon tank that I could prepare for the babies first few months, but what next? Does the pet store take them? Should I consider a different fish?

Thank you!

 

[ferrikins]

most of the fry will be eaten.

I'd ask your LFS fist to see if they will take them, and make your desition based on there responce, and weather you mind the fry being eaten.

HTH

 

[WILDER]

What about just male guppys, or you soon will be over run with fry.

 

[GSD]

i have the opposite problem ,my lvebearers wont breed!!!!!!!!!

 

[WILDER]

i have the opposite problem ,my lvebearers wont breed!!!!!!!!!

I would be grateful for that.

 

[Raechal]

What about just male guppys, or you soon will be over run with fry.

The male guppies will be aggressive towards each other. It is always a good idea to put 2-3 females with each male. I had 2 males together in a 10 gallon without any females and they fought non-stop until one eventually died...I took the other back to the LPS.

 

[WILDER]

Never had that problems and kept males twice, if you buy them from the same tank you shouldn't have much trouble.

 

[LoachLover]

You could always get a large predatory fish

 

[kimichan]

Yes, I thought about all male, but also read about the aggression problem. Although if some have noticed no problems at all, it's worth a shot.

Has anyone done all female? I hear they are not as colorful, but are they happy without the boys?

I don't know about a large predator fish. What would that do?

Thanks!!

 

[WILDER]

Eat the fry but most fish will do that anyway.

 

[ferrikins]

I exspect the most happyest fish is a female guppy, with no males.

 

[Leigh1316]

Most females that you buy from lfs are already pregnant. If you don't buy any males the female will still reproduce for a few monthes, if you leave the babies to fend for themselves a few will survive. Once the babies start to get bigger you can see gravid spots on the baby females(those will be OK to leave in your tank), seperate the ones that you think have a possibility of being male. By about 4 monthes all the females should be finished being pregnant and you won't have to worry about them being agressive as females are not aggressive at all.