How to Help Guppy Fry Live?

[finsNfur]

I totally agree with Excuzzzme.

Back when I was desperate to save all my guppy fry, I just netted out the fry and put them in a 14g tank. Now I have more guppies than I can count, and instead of netting out the fry I have an all-female guppy tank and an all-male guppy tank. The 14g is now used for breeding my favorite guppies. The female tank always has fry in it (they store sperm for several months) and they hide effectively from the adult females in java moss and some kind of plant similar to Water Sprite, I think it is this:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://alecto.bittwiddlers.com/fish/Tropica/images/plants/560.jpg&imgrefurl=http://alecto.bittwiddlers.com/fish/Tropica/5.htm&h=550&w=456&sz=101&tbnid=B2zJojfyP5fHqM:&tbnh=133&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3DCeratopteris%2Bcornuta&usg=__46cceJ6DuAlNhSsDQDk-pUpqLOQ=&ei=69RtS6LbMpKD8QbnkImnAQ&sa=X&oi=image_result&resnum=4&ct=image&ved=0CA0Q9QEwAw

The plant was slow-growing at first, but now I am regularly tossing them out by the handful, it is so prolific.

Peixe, you will definitely need a larger tank very soon if you want healthy fish all around, with the amount of fry you are accumulating. The fry grow very quickly.

 

[Piranha86]

cover the intake. panty hose or a spare sponge filter work very well. I personally use a sponge from one of my cannisters to cover the intake, this also increases your filtration.

:cry: I just realized why I can only ever see a few fry in my tank.

 

[summer_of_41]

Nylon lint traps also work well. Just make sure what you use does not cut off the flow, burn out the motor. Most DON'T, but there are a few on the market not designed - too thick - for this purpose.

 

[huffmagx]

Keep your adults well fed and heavily plant your tank and you will provide enough cover for the fry.

I also agree with what some of the other folks have said you need a bigger tank for sure and you need to cover the filter intake with something a sponge/pantyhose ect. to keep from getting the babies sucked into the filter.

Lots of Java moss and frilly plants will help out.

 

[Peixe]

OK so i decided the fry are going in their own tank a 5.5g, they have a sponge filter, with a heater, and its also fully planted. I set it up last night.

Thanks for all the responses Everyone.

 

[excuzzzeme]

I am not offended as I stated what I do, not what I might do. As I pointed out before, I have 2-3 per gallon (except for fry and that might be as high as 5 per gallon). I have been told many times that is far too many but like you, no one pays attention to the plants and their impact. It is a completely different set-up when breeding for "profit" rather than breeding for enjoyment. At one point my 29 gallon had almost 200 guppies and yet I could go 6 weeks between water changes due to the plants.

Your OP was how to maximize fry survivability, A separate tank is the answer. Having used different breeding devices, I have found thy netting out of the main tank is the less traumatic on the mother. One thing that most people do not realize is that the females will self-regulate tank population. So stuff as many in a tank as you want. Let the nay-sayers have their input but do as you see fit.

I do NOT cover my intakes simply because healthy fry avoid it naturally. Filter size has to be considered. I maintain filter flowrate of 10 turnovers per hour regardless of tank size.

 

[Peixe]

I am not offended as I stated what I do, not what I might do. As I pointed out before, I have 2-3 per gallon (except for fry and that might be as high as 5 per gallon). I have been told many times that is far too many but like you, no one pays attention to the plants and their impact. It is a completely different set-up when breeding for "profit" rather than breeding for enjoyment. At one point my 29 gallon had almost 200 guppies and yet I could go 6 weeks between water changes due to the plants.

Your OP was how to maximize fry survivability, A separate tank is the answer. Having used different breeding devices, I have found thy netting out of the main tank is the less traumatic on the mother. One thing that most people do not realize is that the females will self-regulate tank population. So stuff as many in a tank as you want. Let the nay-sayers have their input but do as you see fit.

I do NOT cover my intakes simply because healthy fry avoid it naturally. Filter size has to be considered. I maintain filter flowrate of 10 turnovers per hour regardless of tank size.

Totally Agree, i was surprised with the filter intake, i have a AC20 and a 1 day old fry swam right past it with not problem, my heart jumped when i saw him passing it.

Also i forgot to add, i use a turkey baster to get the fry out, it is way safer and causes less stress on both fry and parents and it doesn't ruin my aquascaping, lol which is a pain if things get up-rooted.

I also think people under estimate planted tanks, i mean they are filters for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and other things in the water, in my eyes plants are a life saver and everyone should have them, they are just that good.If my tank wasn't planted i might of not put as many guppies in there as i have now, they are that good.

Thanks Everyone
Chris