Would you do this?

AnnetteG

getting back to basics
Sep 24, 2007
937
0
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Okay, so I realize I got a little bit ahead of myself and my 10 gal. tank might be just a smidge overstocked. :newbie:

When I decided to get guppies, I was in love with how pretty the males are, but I wanted to have a few babies too, but not TOO many, so I got 6 males and 2 females. Of course the fish gal at Petsmart said that'd be fine and don't get more females than that because I wouldn't want all those babies. I also fully intend to feed guppies - should I ever end up with enough extra - to my clawed frogs.

Anyhoo, now that I've lost one of the females, and the other one is doing a lot of hiding and was acting a lot like the first one was before she died, I'm thinking of going ahead and moving a few of the males in with the clawed frogs now. The frogs are tiny still, I really doubt they can eat a guppy yet. They aren't even eating the few ghost shrimp I put in there with them the other night. The shrimp are however, doing a great job cleaning up after the frogs, so it's all good. Anyway, so for now, I could continue to enjoy those guppies, but know that they could get eaten, but then maybe my last girl would be okay. Do you think it'd be okay to end up with 3 males and 1 female? I have 3 particularly pretty boys that I don't want to get eaten. I don't really want to buy anymore females though and reducing the numbers in this tank is probably a good idea.

We do have the two larger tanks we're going to be setting up, but I can't start on those till next month. I feel really bad about this. :uhoh: I'm getting so attached to these fish! I'm a major animal lover though, so that shouldn't have surprised me. ;-)

On the up side, this tank has Plenty of faux plants and caves to hide under and behind and in so if the mollies or guppies do end up giving birth, a few are sure to make it. I will post a picture soon, I know it's not one of those gorgeous huge planted tanks I've seen posted, but I'm proud anyway. :)
 
Personally I find it best to keep several females for every male when keeping any live bearing fish like Mollies and Guppies. Reducing the number is a good thing at least till you have more space for them. I think you should be safe to temporarily keep 3 males and 1 female. Move them to the larger tanks when you can and get more females once they are moved.
 
Keeping more males than females is nothing less than cruel because the males are going to be constantly after her to mate with her. If you don't want babies, keep just males. If you want babies, 1M to multiple females.
 
alright, I got it. With everything else I did (checked ammonia, neutralized ammonia, added air pump), the female looks a lot healthier and happier today. There are 3 males left in with her right now, 2 of which follow her around some but they also follow the other male around picking on him, but he seems to be fast and picks back so I'm not moving him right now. I moved 2 of the males this morning and one of them died today, but he was on the way out before I moved him. He had gotten really skinny, and looked like the other males had worn him down. :( Anyway, I probably won't buy guppies again, unless it's just males. And as soon as I have my larger tank up and running (and cycling), I'll move all the boys there and leave the girl by herself in the 10 gallon with the cat, mollies and the betta (who by the way, keeps to himself and doesn't bother anyone).
 
alright, I got it. With everything else I did (checked ammonia, neutralized ammonia, added air pump), the female looks a lot healthier and happier today. There are 3 males left in with her right now, 2 of which follow her around some but they also follow the other male around picking on him, but he seems to be fast and picks back so I'm not moving him right now. I moved 2 of the males this morning and one of them died today, but he was on the way out before I moved him. He had gotten really skinny, and looked like the other males had worn him down. :( Anyway, I probably won't buy guppies again, unless it's just males. And as soon as I have my larger tank up and running (and cycling), I'll move all the boys there and leave the girl by herself in the 10 gallon with the cat, mollies and the betta (who by the way, keeps to himself and doesn't bother anyone).


Your frogs are in a much too small tank! Clawed frogs demand between 7 and 10 gallons PER frog, so two in a 5 gallon is, sorry, but almost cruel! These frogs can get big, 7-9 inches for a full grown female, so they need plenty of room to swim. I keep my 5 clawed frogs in a 55 gallon.


Disregard, disregard! Just read you would be moving them to a 29 gallon, so you're one step ahead of me! Got to this post before the other, sorry! LOL!
 
I'm always surprised what an African Clawed Frog can fit into it's mouth...........here's a pic my son took, the guppy was dead but the frog was still small and still ate it. That frog is now in a 10 gallon all by itself, loves to hide under tha java moss. I feed her salmon 8)

CIMG5834.JPG
 
alright, I got it. With everything else I did (checked ammonia, neutralized ammonia, added air pump), the female looks a lot healthier and happier today. There are 3 males left in with her right now, 2 of which follow her around some but they also follow the other male around picking on him, but he seems to be fast and picks back so I'm not moving him right now. I moved 2 of the males this morning and one of them died today, but he was on the way out before I moved him. He had gotten really skinny, and looked like the other males had worn him down. :( Anyway, I probably won't buy guppies again, unless it's just males. And as soon as I have my larger tank up and running (and cycling), I'll move all the boys there and leave the girl by herself in the 10 gallon with the cat, mollies and the betta (who by the way, keeps to himself and doesn't bother anyone).


sounds like your tank is still cycling.(checked ammonia and added neutralizers)

when ever you start seeing lethargic fish, hiding etc.
you should test the water for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates.

there is a possibility that the males were bothering the female too much but the Sx are showing in other fish which would lead me to consider possible issues with water quality.
 
if there was any ammonia in your water you need to do a water change.
did you read the sticky about freshwater cycling?
 
I would have a boy tank and a girl tank. Then you can breed as many as you want.I don't know too much about guppies, but it sounds like your males are harassing your lone female to breed.

Whoops saw your next response about moving them.
 
Yes, it does seem that the males are harassing the female too much. I'm afraid to put all of them in the 5 gal tank though, that seems a bit much. I'm working on getting the supplies I need to get the 29 gal. set up so I have more room. I'll have the frogs in one 29 gal. tank with just their snail buddies and a few ghost shrimp and then I've agreed to give the other 29 gallon to my husband for a lizard and I'll move the girl guppy into the 5 gallon by herself and get her a few girly friends and give them all one boy to play with. In exchange for giving hubby the 29 gal. for a lizard, he's letting me get a 55 gallon from this guy off craigslist! It's a great deal and this guy is super nice and is including a stand and filters and everything. SO I'll be able to get started on a really nice community tank! I can't wait!

OH and anyway, back to the 10 gallon with cycling issues, I did about a 33% water change this morning and added in stress zyme and coat and a bit of aquarium salt. Tomorrow I'm going to go get a few more ghost shrimp to put in there as they are turning out to be excellent little cleaners of leftover food!

How do you all determine how much and how often to feed? I've been giving everyone a mixture of Tetra color pellets and flakes 2x a day and I alternate between frozen brine, frozen bloodworms, and frozen tubifex, dividing 1 cube between the 2 tanks about every other day or so. I also put in a couple of betta bites for the betta and I'm dropping in a sinking tetra pellet for bottom feeders for the cory and for the frogs, plus the frogs get a few frog & tadpole bites every day, but I really think the snails are eating more of those than the frogs. The only time I see the frogs get excited about eating is when I put in the frozen worms or brine.

I'm pleased to report that the 5 gal. tank actually has a very low ammonia reading and a 20ppm in nitrates and 0 nitrites! That's good, right? The 10 gallon still shows between 0 and 20 in nitrates, 0 nitrites and high ammonia, however, the box says that even once the ammonia is neutralized, it still shows up on the test.
 
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