10 Gallon Live

[Mike83]

I found an old 10 gallon in the shed, I just cleaned it up. I dont know much about livebearers so bear with me. I want them to mate and have baby, what would you put in there?

I like platties and swordtails, whats a good amount to put in there, how many male to female?

 

[Annastasia]

Swordtails will outgrow a 10 gallon, I'd go for the Platies. The rule of thumb is 2-3 females per male, so I'd just start out with 2-3 females and 1 male. You'll definitely have babies, so this way you'll have a bit of room to keep some. Before you breed though, figure out a place to put the fry. It's very easy to become overrun, so it's always good to have a LFS or something similar that will take them. I'd suggest you take a look at the pinned topics and FAQs. You'll find a lot of information there.

 

[Mike83]

I have a small 5 gallon for that , thanks

After I start off, no more then 5 or so?

 

[Annastasia]

Okay, so you're going to raise the fry in there? Good choice. What I ment though, is that with 2-3 females having fry every month, you'll get a lot of fry. Your tanks can't handle many more fish, so it's good to have a place to take them to, or someone to sell them too, so you don't end up getting overrun and overstocked with fry.

I personally wouldn't start off with more then those. I assume by 5 you mean 4 females, 1 male? That's what I'd do if 5 was my number.

 

[Mike83]

You like better 4 females, 1 male or 3 female 2 male?

when my tank is done cycling and I go get some fishys add all those you recomended me at once or 2 per week or what?

 

[Annastasia]

In that size tank, probably only one male is best. It gives the females less stress.

How are you cycling? Fishless?

 

[Mike83]

Fisheless would be the best thing to do correct, You sure reply back fast!

Do I really need a heater? I live in Miami, FL

 

[Annastasia]

Yes, Fishless is best. When you do fishless, you can almost fully stock the tank after it's done. You have too, to keep the bacteria alive and going. I'd maybe go for the first 4 and then put the last one in a week or so later. You could probably do all 5 at one time, so it's your choice.

You don't need a heater as long as the tank's temperature will stay consistent around 72-80 and you don't have large temperature swings at night.

 

[blitztidus]

Are you interested in the fascinating world of guppies at all, they can be quite pretty? They would also be a better size for the tank, also as Anna mentioned, you can EASILY be overrun by fry soon if you are not prepared, but it seems you should be fine for a while,

p.s. Don't get attached to the fry too well, you may end up buying more and more tanks, but that is the livebearer form of MTS

 

[Nevergone815]

Are you interested in the fascinating world of guppies at all, they can be quite pretty? They would also be a better size for the tank, also as Anna mentioned, you can EASILY be overrun by fry soon if you are not prepared, but it seems you should be fine for a while,

p.s. Don't get attached to the fry too well, you may end up buying more and more tanks, but that is the livebearer form of MTS

very well put. and for those who don't know i'm assuming blitz is referring to MTS as malaysian trumpet snails (livebearing snails) which once you get a female that is pregnant... well... GAME OVER! no not really but it can be a pain to get rid of and such. but anyways livebearers are great and anna is great with advise so good luck!

 

[jimi priest 0189]

my mom once had a snail problem so bad that they started to eat sleeping fish for nurish ment

 

[Annastasia]

p.s. Don't get attached to the fry too well, you may end up buying more and more tanks, but that is the livebearer form of MTS

...and for those who don't know i'm assuming blitz is referring to MTS as malaysian trumpet snails (livebearing snails)...

I think he means Multiple Tank Syndrome, from buying all the tanks for the fry.

 

[Nevergone815]

either way you'll end up with more than you want or can handle

edit: i need to get up to speed on all the abbreviations. i always used MTS for malaysian trumpet snail. do use it as mulitple tank syndrome sometimes. either way i put the long term in perentheses so i can just abbreviate throughout the rest of the post.